Patent ID: 7444419

Claim:
A computer-readable medium having processor-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, performs a method comprising: receiving a request to start a new media stream from a media-stream presentation device on a media-stream network having one or more bandwidth-limiting chokepoints therein; calculating an available data-rate reservation on a time-dependent basis through the network to the presentation device, wherein the available data-rate is limited by the one or more chokepoints in the network and their already-reserved time-dependent data-rate usage; inserting delivery deadlines of data of the new media stream into a delivery deadline schedule of outgoing media streams being sent via the network, wherein data scheduled proximate to a start of the new stream is scheduled to be delivered via the network to the presentation device at a data-rate equal to or greater than the calculated available data-rate, wherein the delivery deadline schedule determines a minimum bit-rate and a deadline by which data from the outgoing media streams will be delivered via the network.