1. A method for playing a media stream received over a network, the method comprising:
receiving the media stream;
storing the media stream in a buffer; and
initiating playback of the received media stream from the buffer at a decreased playback speed without waiting for the buffer to fill to a predetermined threshold.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the decreased playback speed is about 85% of a normal playback speed.
3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
playing the received media stream at a normal playback speed once the buffer is filled to the predetermined threshold.
4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:
upon increasing the playback speed, time-stretching an audio portion of the media stream while maintaining a pitch level therein.
5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
receiving a user command to control content in the media stream; and
responsive to receiving the user command, flushing the buffer and playing the received media stream.
6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:
responsive to receiving the user command, reducing the bit rate of the media stream.
7. The method of claim 5, further comprising:
after flushing the buffer, reducing the playback speed of the media stream to allow the buffer to accumulate data.
8. A computer program product for playing a media stream received over a network, the computer program product comprising a computer-readable medium containing computer program code when executed by a processor performs the method comprising:
receiving the media stream;
storing the media stream in a buffer; and
initiating playback of the received media stream at a decreased playback speed and from the buffer without waiting for the buffer to fill to a predetermined threshold.
9. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the decreased playback speed is about 85% of a normal playback speed.
10. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the method further comprises:
playing the received media stream at a normal playback speed once the buffer is filled to the predetermined threshold.
11. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the method further comprises:
upon increasing the playback speed, time-stretching an audio portion of the media stream while maintaining a pitch level therein.
12. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the method further comprises:
receiving a user command to control content in the media stream; and
responsive to receiving the user command, flushing the buffer and playing the received media stream.
13. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein the method further comprises:
responsive to receiving the user command, reducing the bit rate of the media stream.
14. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein the method further comprises:
after flushing the buffer, reducing the playback speed of the media stream to allow the buffer to accumulate data.
15. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving of the media stream comprises receiving the media stream in real time from a personal media broadcaster.
16. The method of claim 1, wherein the buffer fills at a rate slower than the media stream is received.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. An environmental data recorder for recording environmental factors acting on a plurality of micro-well plates defining micro-well plate exterior dimensions, said environmental data recorder comprising:
A) at least one sensor for sensing environmental factors,
B) a microcontroller programmed to receive and process inputs from said at least one sensor, and
C) a recorder housing unit for housing said at least one sensor and said microcontroller, wherein said recorder housing unit comprises exterior dimensions approximately equal to said micro-well plate exterior dimensions, permitting said environmental data recorder to be handled by a robotic device as if it were a micro-well plate.
2. The environmental data recorder as in claim 1, wherein said at least one sensor is a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor and at least one accelerometer.
3. The environmental data recorder as in claim 1, further comprising a battery for providing power to said microcontroller.
4. The environmental data recorder as in claim 3, further comprising a battery charging circuit for charging said battery.
5. The environmental data recorder as in claim 2, further comprising computer memory, wherein said microcontroller is programmed to calculate vibration based on said inputs from said accelerometer, wherein said microcontroller is programmed to record values for temperature, humidity and vibration in said computer memory.
6. The environmental data recorder as in claim 1, wherein said environmental recorder is connected to a remote computer for data storage of said inputs received from said at least one sensor.
7. The environmental data recorder as in claim 1, wherein said inputs are received at said microcontroller at programmed time intervals.
8. The environmental data recorder as in claim 1, wherein said inputs are received at said microcontroller when said at least one sensor senses a programmed threshold value.
9. The environmental data recorder as in claim 7, wherein said inputs are transmitted to said remote computer continuously.
10. The environmental data recorder as in claim 1, further comprising at least two status lights.
11. An environmental data recorder for recording environmental factors acting on a plurality of micro-well plates defining micro-well plate exterior dimensions, said environmental data recorder comprising:
A) at least one sensor means for sensing environmental factors,
B) a microcontroller means programmed to receive and process inputs from said at least one sensor means, and
C) a recorder housing means for housing said at least one sensor means and said microcontroller means, wherein said recorder housing means comprises exterior dimensions approximately equal to said micro-well plate exterior dimensions, permitting said environmental data recorder to be handled by a robotic device as if it were a micro-well plate.
12. The environmental data recorder as in claim 11, wherein said at least one sensor means is a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor and at least one accelerometer.
13. The environmental data recorder as in claim 11, further comprising a battery means for providing power to said microcontroller means.
14. The environmental data recorder as in claim 13, further comprising a battery charging circuit for charging said battery means.
15. The environmental data recorder as in claim 12, further comprising computer memory, wherein said microcontroller means is programmed to calculate vibration based on said inputs from said accelerometer, wherein said microcontroller means is programmed to record values for temperature, humidity and vibration in said computer memory.
16. The environmental data recorder as in claim 11, wherein said environmental data recorder is connected to a remote computer means for data storage of said inputs received from said at least one sensor means.
17. The environmental data recorder as in claim 11, wherein said inputs are received at said microcontroller means at programmed time intervals.
18. The environmental data recorder as in claim 11, wherein said inputs are received at said microcontroller means when said at least one sensor senses a programmed threshold value.
19. The environmental data recorder as in claim 17, wherein said inputs are transmitted to said remote computer means continuously.
20. The environmental data recorder as in claim 11, further comprising at least two status lights.
21. A method for recording environmental factors acting on a plurality of micro-well plates, each micro-well plate defining micro-well plate exterior dimensions, wherein said method comprises the steps of:
A) placing an environmental data recorder is close proximity to said at least one micro-well plate, said environmental data recorder comprising:
(1) at least one sensor for sensing environmental factors,
(2) a microcontroller programmed to receive and process inputs from said at least one sensor, and
(3) a recorder housing unit for housing said at least one sensor and said microcontroller, wherein said recorder housing unit comprises exterior dimensions approximately equal to said micro-well plate exterior dimensions,
B) handling said at least one micro-well plate and said environmental data recorder with at least one robotic device,
C) receiving at said microcontroller said inputs from said at least one sensor, and
D) processing at said microcontroller said inputs from said at least one sensor.
22. The method as in claim 21, wherein said at least one sensor is a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor and at least one accelerometer.
23. The method as in claim 21, further comprising a battery for providing power to said microcontroller.
24. The method as in claim 23, further comprising a battery charging circuit for charging said battery.
25. The method as in claim 22, further comprising computer memory, wherein said microcontroller is programmed to calculate vibration based on said inputs from said accelerometer, wherein said microcontroller is programmed to record values for temperature, humidity and vibration in said computer memory.
26. The method as in claim 21, wherein said environmental recorder is connected to a remote computer for data storage of said inputs received from said at least one sensor.
27. The method as in claim 21, wherein said inputs are received at said microcontroller at programmed time intervals.
28. The method as in claim 21, wherein said inputs are received at said microcontroller when said at least one sensor senses a programmed threshold value.
29. The method as in claim 27, wherein said inputs are transmitted to said remote computer continuously.
30. The method as in claim 21, further comprising at least two status lights.
31. The environmental data recorder as in claim 1, wherein said plurality of micro-well plates defining micro-well plate exterior dimensions is a plurality of standard size micro-well plates defining standard micro-well plate exterior dimensions.
32. The environmental data recorder as in claim 11, wherein said plurality of micro-well plates defining micro-well plate exterior dimensions is a plurality of standard size micro-well plates defining standard micro-well plate exterior dimensions.
33. The method as in claim 21, wherein said plurality of micro-well plates, each micro-well plate defining micro-well plate exterior dimensions is a plurality of standard size micro-well plates, each micro-well plate defining standard micro-well plate exterior dimensions.