Abstract: Techniques are described for facilitating the delivery of digital content using gossip protocols. A group of client devices share information about network conditions in sideband communications using a gossip protocol. Each of the client devices then uses this information to make decisions about how to access content. By providing accurate and current information about network conditions the occurrence of buffering events and/or fatal errors may be significantly reduced or eliminated.

Abstract: Techniques for delivering content are described that vary the bit rate with which the content is delivered to achieve a consistent level of quality from the user's perspective. This is achieved through the use of quality metrics associated with content fragments that guide decision making in selecting from among the different size fragments that are available for a given segment of the content. Fragment selection attempts to optimize quality within one or more constraints.

Abstract: An entertainment device, comprises a communication arrangement operable to receive audio segment data from an audio segment data source and to receive audio segment selection data from an audio segment selection data source in connection with an interactive audio segment data selection session as between the entertainment device and the audio segment selection data source; an audio segment selector operable to generate audio segment selection data in response to selections made by a user interacting with a user interface of the entertainment device; and a storage arrangement operable to store the received audio segment data; in which: the storage arrangement is operable to limit the duration of storage of audio segment data which was received from the audio segment data source and which was selected according to either the received audio segment selection data or the generated audio segment selection data.