Abstract: Follow-up content items are determined for being played out when the current play-out of a content item has ended or is scheduled to end. The follow-up content items are determined, based on one or more bibliographic or semantic attributes of the item being played out and, on additional parameters such as the available bandwidth and the required data transfer rate. During the playing out of the content item, at least the first portions of the follow-up content items are retrieved and buffered in a buffer local to the equipment. Upon the playing-out of the content item being halted, the playing-out of the follow-up content items can be started right away from the buffer.

Abstract: When the user initiates the retrieval of the primary content information item by means of entering a user input into the data processing system, e.g. zapping a digital TV that switches channels upon receipt of the user input, he/she has to wait a noticeable time before the rendering and play-out of the primary content information item actually starts. The length of the delay is predicted, on the basis of which one or more secondary content items are rendered and played out to the user during this delay. The invention can also be used for bridging the waiting time in an online ordering system, when loading a program on a personal computer, and in an IMS-based IPTV network.

Abstract: A content distribution system 100 is provided comprising a content client 112, 114 and a content server 150 connected through a network. The content server is configured to send the content client a session description comprising at least one media description to enable it to receive over the network a content item. The system comprises a network monitor 130 for monitoring network traffic going through the network, and a recommender 140 for marking in dependency upon the network monitor, one or more of the media descriptions in the session description to obtain a marked 112 session description. The marked media description recommends the content client to prefer certain content above others in view of the current network condition. For example, if available bandwidth is low, content is recommended which requires low bandwidth. Network congestion is thereby avoided for all users of the system.

Abstract: Follow-up content items are determined for being played out when the current play-out of a content item has ended or is scheduled to end. The follow-up content items are determined, based on one or more bibliographic or semantic attributes of the item being played out and, on additional parameters such as the available bandwidth and the required data transfer rate. During the playing out of the content item, at least the first portions of the follow-up content items are retrieved and buffered in a buffer local to the equipment. Upon the playing-out of the content item being halted, the playing-out of the follow-up content items can be started right away from the buffer.

Abstract: An amount of bandwidth is allocated to a transport of content information as data via a data connection before initiating the transport. The content information is encoded in a layered coding scheme using a base layer and at least one enhancement layer. First it is determined if the data connection is in use for a further transport of further content information as further data via the data connection. Then one or more further attributes are determined of the further transport. Then, a number of the one or more enhancement layers of the content information are determined for the transport under control of a pre-determined policy depending on the one or more further attributes of the further transport.

Abstract: When the user initiates the retrieval of the primary content information item by means of entering a user input into the data processing system, e.g. zapping a digital TV that switches channels upon receipt of the user input, he/she has to wait a noticeable time before the rendering and play-out of the primary content information item actually starts. The length of the delay is predicted, on the basis of which one or more secondary content items are rendered and played out to the user during this delay. The invention can also be used for bridging the waiting time in an online ordering system, when loading a program on a personal computer, and in an IMS-based IPTV network.