Patent ID: 8341284

Claim:
A method comprising: providing a user interface at a receiving device located at a particular location, wherein the user interface is configured to: receive a request for delivery of media content; and receive input from a user relating to user preference information, wherein the user preference information identifies at least one of a delay value and a playback stoppage value, wherein the delay value corresponds to a delay before playback of the media content begins, and wherein the playback stoppage value corresponds to a likelihood that playback stoppages will occur after playback of the media content begins; determining, at the receiving device, a first connection speed between the receiving device and a host; determining a media content delivery method based on the first connection speed and the user preference information, wherein determining the media content delivery method includes selecting one of: streaming the media content; and downloading the media content; providing an indication of the media content delivery method to the user via the user interface; requesting delivery of the media content from the host using the media content delivery method; determining, during delivery of the media content to the receiving device located at the particular location, a second connection speed between the receiving device and the host; and determining, during delivery of the media content to the receiving device, whether to modify the media content delivery method based on the second connection speed and the user preference information.