CPC H04L 65/60 (2013.01) [G06F 15/16 (2013.01); H04L 65/80 (2013.01); H04L 67/01 (2022.05); H04L 67/104 (2013.01); H04L 67/1076 (2013.01); H04L 67/2885 (2013.01); H04L 67/61 (2022.05); H04N 7/17336 (2013.01); H04N 21/222 (2013.01); H04N 21/234327 (2013.01); H04N 21/2393 (2013.01); H04N 21/25808 (2013.01); H04N 21/25841 (2013.01); H04N 21/2662 (2013.01); H04N 21/440227 (2013.01); H04N 21/47202 (2013.01); H04N 21/632 (2013.01); H04N 21/643 (2013.01); H04N 21/8456 (2013.01); H04L 65/403 (2013.01); H04L 67/56 (2022.05); H04L 67/568 (2022.05)] | 19 Claims |
1. An automated process executable by a client device operating as one of a plurality of local clients operating on a local network during streaming of a media stream made up of a series of media segments available from an external server via an external network, the method comprising:
receiving, by the client device, segment mapping information from an other one of the plurality of clients via the local network, the segment mapping information describing a subset of the series of media segments representing at least a portion of the media stream that was previously requested from the external server via the external network for playback of the media stream by the other client and that is now available to the client device directly from the other client via the local network, wherein the segment mapping information identifies each media segment in the subset that is available directly from the other client via the local network;
placing a request for a requested media segment from the client device directly to the other client via the local network using the segment mapping information; and
receiving, in response to the request, the requested media segment directly from the other client via the local network to thereby allow the client device to present the requested media segment to a viewer.
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