Abstract: Enhanced trick-play modes for video content that is being streamed to a client from a server are described. In an embodiment, the enhanced trick-play modes are provided with relatively low latency and high quality using trick-play optimization techniques for a streaming environment, avoiding the need to stream the entire contents of the portions through which the viewer is fast forwarding. By employing sophisticated selection criteria of which parts of the content to download at what time, the quality of the playback experience is improved versus that which would conventionally be possible when using a simple sequential frame data download. The streaming client maintains a cache of nearby significant frames, such as nearby key frames, in forward and/or reverse directions of the current playback position, without having to download the entire portions of the video stream in which the significant frames reside. The trick-play modes utilize these frames.

Abstract: A shower curtain which is slidable in relation to a suspension rod, and yet the lower portion thereof is selectively raisable for cleaning operations in and about the bathtub, as well as for other reasons such as for example aesthetic reasons. The selectively raisable shower curtain is composed of a flexible sheet of shower curtain material to which is affixed a plurality of rows of releasable fastener components. Each row is provided with a plurality of releasable fastener components, a predetermined spacing therebetween being provided. Accordingly, the shower curtain material may be raised to selected levels by being progressively folded horizontally and corresponding first and second components of the releasable fastener will hold the shower curtain in the at each raised level until the releasable fastener is released by a user. A shower curtain liner having the selectively raisable lower portion feature may be included.