Patent ID: 8682139

Claim:
A computer-implemented method for playback of an audio stream before synchronized playback of the audio stream with a video stream, the method comprising: receiving, when playback of a selected digital media content having an audio stream and a video stream is initiated, an audio playback point within the digital media content, wherein audio stream and the video stream which are encoded as corresponding sequences of intervals; retrieving a first interval of the audio stream beginning at the audio playback point; initiating retrieval of one or more additional intervals of the audio stream that are subsequent to the first interval; playing the first interval of the audio stream without yet playing any interval of the video stream; and synchronizing playback of the video stream to the audio stream by: determining a video start transfer point that occurs subsequent to the audio playback point; and initiating retrieval of the video stream beginning at the video start transfer point; playing back at least a portion of the retrieved video by skipping playback of at least one frame of the video stream while playing a corresponding portion of the audio stream; upon determining that the audio stream and the video stream can be played synchronously, synchronously playing the audio stream and the video stream; and upon determining that the audio stream and the video stream cannot be played synchronously because the video stream is not available: continuing playback of the audio stream; determining a new video start transfer point that occurs subsequent to the video start transfer point; and initiating retrieval of the video stream beginning at the new video start transfer point.