Patent ID: 8046811

Claim:
A computer-implemented method of processing media data from a network, the method compromising: obtaining, by the computer, at least a portion of the media data via the network; monitoring, by the computer, a varying data transfer rate associated with obtaining at least said portion of the media data via the network; storing, by the computer, at least said portion of the media data in a local preset media storage; categorizing, by the computer, said local preset media storage as currently accessible or currently unaccessible according to a copyright-based access restriction associated with the media data; and when the media data is categorized as currently accessible according to said copyright-based access restriction: enabling, by the computer, read access to said local preset media storage; predicting, by the computer, in accordance with at least the monitored varying data transfer rate, whether processing of the media data is likely to be interrupted; and when processing is unlikely to be interrupted, playing back, by the computer, at least said portion of the media data in real time.