Patent ID: 8171153

Claim:
A method of obtaining via a network an encoded layered media content stream, the method comprising: requesting, by a client device from a hosting device, the encoded layered media content stream comprising a plurality of media information layers, wherein: said plurality of media information layers comprise non-redundant media information; each of said media information layers can be decoded into a media content stream in combination with one or more other layers of said plurality of media information layers; and the decoded media content stream improves as more of said plurality of media information layers are combined; obtaining, by said client device, portions of a first set of said plurality of media information layers, said portions of said first set corresponding to a first time window of the media content stream; determining a change in a client terminal condition; notifying said hosting device of said change in said client terminal condition; obtaining, by said client device, portions of a second set of said plurality of media information layers in accordance with said change in said client terminal condition, said portions of said second set corresponding to a second time window of the media content stream, said second set differing from said first set; and rendering the media content stream, including combining said portions of said first set of said plurality of media information layers and after said change in said client terminal condition, combining said portions of said second set of said plurality of media information layers.