Abstract

This publication describes systems and techniques to buffer media data at an intermediate device based on a channel quality between a media source device and a media presentation device. In some environments with significant user movement, such as the gym or home, media packets may be dropped because a condition of a radio-frequency (RF) channel becomes worse over time. Consequently, media presentation may be interrupted. Users often have, however, multiple devices with different amounts of resources. For example, a user may have a smartphone, a smartwatch, and wireless headphones. The latter two are typically carried on a user’s person, but the smartphone may be placed elsewhere. This disclosure describes using the smartwatch as an intermediate delivery device for media data because the headphones may not have the resources to buffer audio packets. To do so, the smartphone monitors a condition of a channel extending to the wireless headphones. If the condition worsens, as determined based on missing acknowledgements (ACKs) or a received signal strength indicator (RSSI), the smartphone pre-positions a media portion on the smartwatch. The smartwatch assumes delivery of the media data to the headphones. A predictive algorithm attempts to maintain a suitable buffer of media data on the smartwatch, which media data is transferred to the smartwatch each time the user is within range of the smartphone.

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

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