System and method for transferring multiple data channels

Abstract

A system and a method transfer multiple data channels between a server and a terminal via a stream session over a network. The system and the method utilize a bitstream switching, a fast buffer filling and/or a fast playback start to facilitate a switch from a first data channel and a second data channel. The server transfers second data of the second data channel to the terminal via one or more tracks which are encoded at more than one bitrate and/or are configured in one or more configurations. The terminal requests a change between the first track and/or the second track without terminating the stream session for the first data channel between the terminal and the server. As a result, the system and/or the method minimizes the delay period of time between requesting the switch to the second data channel and displaying the second data channel.

1 . A system for transferring multiple data channels, the system comprising:
 a server storing first data and second data wherein the first data is encoded at a first bitrate and the second data is encoded at a second bitrate;   a terminal connected to the server via a communication network wherein the terminal and the server communicate via the communication network and further wherein the terminal has a buffer wherein the server and the terminal establish a streaming session via the communication network and further wherein the server transmits the first data to the terminal at the first bitrate wherein the terminal displays the first data at a first playback rate wherein the server transmits a first portion of the second data to the buffer of the terminal at a transmission rate after the first data is transmitted and further wherein the server transmits the first portion of the second data without terminating the streaming session wherein the transmission rate is a faster rate than the second bitrate and further wherein the buffer receives the first portion of the second data wherein the terminal displays the first portion of the second data from the buffer at a second playback rate and further wherein the server transmits a second portion of the second data to the terminal at the second bitrate after the server transmits the first portion of the second data wherein the terminal displays the second portion of the second data at the first playback rate.   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a first content source and a second content source that are different content sources wherein the first content source transmits the first data to the server in a first data channel and the second content source transmits the second data to the server in a second data channel wherein the server transmits the first portion of the second data in response to selection of the second data channel.   
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the first portion of the second data is transmitted in response to user input using the terminal. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the communication network is wireless. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the first playback rate is approximately equal to a normal playback rate of the first data and further wherein the second playback rate is a slower rate than a normal playback rate of the second data. 
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the first playback rate and the second playback rate are approximately equal rates. 
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the first data is video frames and audio signals and further wherein the second data is video frames and audio signals. 
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a first media file and a second media file that is a different file than the first media file wherein the first data is provided by the first media file and the second data is provided by the second media file and further wherein the first media file and the second media file are stored entirely on the server.   
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the first data is a first set of audio signals and further wherein the second data is a second set of audio signals. 
   
   
       10 . A method for transferring multiple data channels using a terminal connected to a server by a communication network wherein the terminal has a buffer, the method comprising the steps of:
 transmitting a first data channel to the server wherein the first data channel encodes first data at a first bitrate;   transmitting a second data channel to the server wherein the second data channel encodes second data at a second bitrate;   transmitting a first bitstream at the first bitrate from the server to the terminal wherein the terminal receives the first data via the first bitstream wherein the terminal displays the first data;   storing a first portion of the second data on the server during transmission of the first bitstream to the terminal;   switching from the first bitstream to a second bitstream without terminating communication between the terminal and the server wherein the server transmits the first portion of the second data to the terminal in response to switching from the first data channel to the second data channel and further wherein the server transmits the first portion of the second data to the terminal at a transmission rate which is a faster rate than the second bitrate; and   transmitting the second bitstream at the second bitrate from the server to the terminal wherein the terminal receives a second portion of the second data via the second bitstream wherein the server transmits the second bitstream at the second bitrate after the first portion of the second data is transmitted to the terminal.   
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising the step of:
 establishing a streaming session between the server and the terminal wherein the streaming session provides the first bitstream and the second bitstream to the terminal without terminating the streaming session.   
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising the step of:
 transmitting a request from the terminal to the server wherein the request instructs the server to switch from the first data channel to the second data channel wherein the request is transmitted in response to user input using the terminal.   
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the communication network is wireless. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising the step of:
 transmitting the first data channel to the server from a first content source and transmitting the second data channel to the server from a second content source wherein the first content source and the second content source are different content sources.   
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising the step of:
 initiating playback of the first portion of the second data before the first terminal has received all of the first portion of the second data.   
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the first portion of the second data is a size that is based on a size of the buffer of the terminal. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the first data is at least one of video frames and audio signals and further wherein the second data is at least one of video frames and audio signals. 
   
   
       18 . A method for transferring multiple data channels, the method comprising the steps of:
 establishing a streaming session between a server and a terminal over a communication network wherein the server stores first data and second data wherein the server communicates the first data and the second data to the terminal via the streaming session wherein the terminal has a buffer;   transmitting a first bitstream at a first bitrate from the server to the terminal wherein the first bitstream delivers the first data from the server to the terminal wherein the terminal displays the first data at a first playback rate;   requesting a second bitstream from the server wherein the second bitstream delivers the second data from the server to the terminal wherein the second data is stored at a second bitrate by the server;   transmitting a first portion of the second data from the server to the terminal wherein the first portion of the second data is transmitted to the terminal at a third bitrate without terminating the streaming session between the server and the terminal wherein the buffer of the terminal receives the first portion of the second data from the server; and   displaying the first portion of the second data on the terminal at a second playback rate that is less than the first playback rate wherein the terminal displays the first portion of the second data using the buffer.   
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising the step of:
 transmitting a second portion of the second data in the second bitstream at the second bitrate from the server to the terminal wherein the terminal displays the second portion of the second data from the second bitstream at the first playback rate.   
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the third bitrate is a greater bitrate than the second bitrate. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the terminal is a mobile device. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the third bitrate is approximately equal to the second bitrate. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the communication network is wireless. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the first data is at least one of video frames and audio signals and further wherein the second data is at least one of video frames and audio signals. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 18  wherein a first media provider and a second media provider that are different media providers are connected to the server and further wherein the first media provider transmits the first data to the server in a first data channel and the second media provider transmits the second data to the server in a second data channel. 
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the first data is provided by a first media file and the second data is provided by a second media file that is a different file than the first media file and further wherein the first media file and the second media file are stored entirely on the server.