Patent ID: 8325662

Claim:
A method for conducting a conversation, comprising: establishing a conversation between a first communication device and a second communication device over a connection on a network; persistently storing on the first communication device media of the conversation transmitted by the first communication device and received from the second communication device; determining during the conversation when the usable bit rate on the connection is either at or above a bit rate threshold or below the bit rate threshold, the bit rate threshold defining a transmission bit rate sufficient for the media to be decipherable when transmitted to and rendered by the second communication device in near real-time, and performing, depending on the determined usable bit rate, the following: transmitting the media as it becomes available at the first communication device to the second communication device at or above the bit rate threshold so that the second communication device can render the available media in near real-time when the usable bit rate on the connection is at or above a bit rate threshold; and transmitting the media from persistent storage to the second communication device as conditions on the connection permit when the ascertained usable bit rate on the connection falls below the bit rate threshold, whereby the conversation may continue in a time-shifted mode when the usable bit rate is below the bit rate threshold and may resume in near real-time when the usable bit rate is at or above the bit rate threshold.