Patent ID: 8032388

Claim:
A method for determining a playback sampling rate for audio playback, comprising: identifying, using a computer system a source sampling rate for content, where the source sampling rate is associated with a first group of playback sampling rates or a distinct second group of playback sampling rates; and determining, using the computer system, a playback rate for the source sampling rate as follows: (a) selecting the source sampling rate as a playback rate if the source sampling rate is supported by a playback environment; (b) otherwise if there is a highest first rate from the first or second groups of playback sampling rates which is supported by the playback environment and is lower than the source sampling rate, selecting the first rate as the playback rate; (c) otherwise if there is a slowest second rate from the group that the source sampling rate is associated with that is supported by the playback environment and is higher than the source sampling rate, selecting the second rate as the playback rate; and (d) otherwise selecting the slowest rate supported by the playback environment from the group that the source sampling rate is not associated with as the playback rate.