Patent ID: 8230468

Claim:
A method comprising: in response to a request for a trick function associated with program data being streamed to a user terminal, retrieving pre-built first trick data frames for the trick function from a first computing apparatus where the pre-built first trick data frames are stored; generating second trick data frames for an initial portion of the trick function at a second computing apparatus while the pre-built first trick data frames are being received from the first computing apparatus such that sufficient trick data frames are generated to account for a delay in receiving the pre-built first trick data frames; streaming the second trick data frames to the user terminal as the second trick data frames are generated; receiving at the second computing apparatus the pre-built first trick data frames from the first computing apparatus; and streaming the pre-built first trick data frames to the user terminal for a remaining portion of the trick function such that there is no overlap or gap in data frames associated with the second trick data frames streamed to the user terminal and data frames associated with the pre-built first trick data frames.