Patent ID: 8891946

Claim:
A method for dynamically adjusting a bit rate used to encode units of digital content downloaded from a content server to a content player, the method comprising: receiving a user request to modify a playback speed at which the units of digital content are played back on the content player from a first playback speed to a second playback speed, wherein the second playback speed is faster than the first playback speed, and wherein the units of digital content are stored in a buffer on the content player prior to playback; decoding the units of digital content stored in the buffer at a first bit rate; rendering a display of the decoded units of digital content on an output display device at the second playback speed; and upon receiving the user request to modify the playback speed, and prior to downloading a next unit of digital content from the content server: determining that a buffer underrun event will occur if the next unit of digital content is downloaded from the content server at the first bit rate and playback at the second playback speed begins, based on a measure of currently available network bandwidth for data communications between the content server and the content player; determining a second bit rate at which to download the next unit of digital content, based on the second playback rate and the measure of currently available network bandwidth; and downloading the next unit of digital content from the content server to the buffer for playback at the second bit rate, wherein the second bit rate is lower than the first bit rate.