Patent ID: 7831991

Claim:
A method of transmitting broadcast information over the Internet, said method comprising: registering with a broadcast manager; receiving from said broadcast manager a list comprising a plurality of different content selections; sending to said broadcast manager a content selection; after said sending said content selection, establishing a communication connection with a broadcast source in response to control information from said broadcast manager; based on said content selection, receiving broadcast information representing said content selection to render to a first user via said communication connection from said broadcast source that is receiving, buffering, and rendering to a second user said broadcast information; providing a buffer comprising a first portion and a second portion; storing said broadcast information to be rendered in said first portion of said buffer; storing said broadcast information that has been rendered and may be retransmitted in said second portion of said buffer; separating said first and second portions with a rendering pointer, which points to said broadcast information currently being rendered; if said broadcast information in said first portion of said buffer falls below a first predetermined threshold, sending a first message to said broadcast source to transmit more broadcast information, wherein said first predetermined threshold is indicated with a first pointer; and if said broadcast information in said first portion of said buffer falls below said first predetermined threshold and a second predetermined threshold, sending a second message to said broadcast manager to assign a different broadcast source, wherein said second predetermined threshold is indicated with a second pointer.