Patent ID: 7761901

Claim:
A method of transmitting data initially in a start-up mode over a network having initially undetermined transmission capacity, in which the data comprises a single first part including no alternatives therein relating to different resolutions and at least two alternative second parts in which the at least two alternative independent second parts respectively corresponding to different independently alternative resolutions which may be independently transmitted without regard for the other alternative second part(s), for synchronized presentation at a receiving terminal simultaneously with the first part, said method comprising: (a) in an initial start-up mode for starting data transmission over a particular communications channel, initially transmitting at least an initial portion of only the single first part; (b) receiving data indicative of the available transmission capacity for said initial transmission in step (a); (c) choosing one from among the alternative independent second parts corresponding to respectively different resolutions for immediate transmission following step (b) in a second phase of said start-up mode, as a function of the data indicative of the available transmission capacity received in step (b); and (d) thereafter, in a third phase of said start-up mode, transmitting only the chosen one independent second part and any remainder of the single first part for synchronized presentation at a receiving terminal simultaneously with the first part during said initial start-up mode, thereby quickly achieving initial transmission of said second part at a resolution suited to available transmission capacity.