Patent ID: 8046453

Claim:
A method of operating a peer playback device of a plurality of peer playback devices forming a Peer-to-Peer (P2P) network, comprising: downloading an illustration media content item derived from a desired original media content item where the illustration media content item is distinct from the desired original media content item; storing the illustration media content at the peer playback device; initiating streaming of the desired original media content item to the peer playback device from at least one second peer playback device of the plurality of peer playback devices hosting the desired original media content item after storing the illustration media content at the peer playback device; effecting playback of the desired original media content item as the desired original media content item is streamed to the peer playback device; monitoring a quality of a network connection over which the desired media content item is streamed to the peer playback device; and switching playback from the desired original media content item streamed from the at least one second peer playback device to the illustration media content item stored at the peer playback device if the quality of the network connection falls below a defined level.