Patent ID: 7631088

Claim:
A computing device for receiving streaming media data from a plurality of media servers via a public network, wherein the computing device comprises: a processor; a first buffer; and a second buffer; wherein the computing device, in response to receiving a user input selecting a first media stream, is configured to establish a connection with a first media server via a public network and receive first media data of the first media stream from the first media server; wherein the computing device is configured to store the first media data in the first buffer; wherein the computing device is configured to output the first media data from the first buffer when the first buffer is filled to a predetermined first level; wherein the computing device is configured to, in response to receiving a next user input selecting a second media stream: establish a connection with a second media server and receive second media data of the second media stream from the second media server; store the second media data in the second buffer; direct the first media server to cease transmission of the first media data to the computing device and cease storing further first media data in the first buffer; continue outputting the user selected first media data from the first buffer, and ceasing output of any remaining user selected first media data in the first buffer in response to the second buffer being filled with second media data to a predetermined second level; and output the second media data from the second buffer when the second buffer is filled to the predetermined second level.