Variable playback rate of streaming content for uninterrupted handover in a communication system

1. A method for providing media content to a media client on a craft, comprising:

by a media playback system of the craft:

initiating a first streaming media session with a remote content server using a first communication link;

receiving, from the remote content server, linear media data associated with the first streaming media session at a first transmission rate over the first communication link;

buffering the linear media data associated with the first streaming media session in a media buffer at a first buffer size;

providing a first portion of the buffered linear media data associated with the first streaming media session from the media buffer for consumption on the media client at a first frame rate;

predicting an expected link transition initiation time based at least in part on the craft's heading and speed;

determining an expected link transition duration between the first communication link and a second communication link;

prior to the expected link transition initiation time, determining to increase buffering of the received linear media data in the media buffer from the first buffer size to a second buffer size if the expected link transition duration exceeds a threshold, by providing a second portion of the buffered linear media data associated with the first streaming media session from the media buffer for consumption on the media client at a second frame rate, the second frame rate being lower than the first frame rate; and

providing, during a link transition time associated with the expected link transition initiation time, a third portion of the buffered linear media data associated with the first streaming media session from the media buffer for consumption on the media client.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

after the link transition time, initiating a second streaming media session with the remote content server using the second communication link;

receiving, from the remote content server, linear media data associated with the second streaming media session at a second transmission rate;

buffering the linear media data associated with the second streaming media session in the media buffer; and

providing a portion of the buffered linear media data associated with the second streaming media session from the media buffer for consumption on the media client at the first frame rate.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second frame rate is less than or equal to 10% lower than the first frame rate.

4. The method of claim 2 , further comprising: prior to providing the buffered linear media data associated with the second streaming media session from the media buffer for consumption on the media client at the first frame rate, providing the buffered linear media data associated with the second streaming media session from the media buffer for consumption on the media client at a third frame rate, wherein the third frame rate is higher than the first frame rate.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second frame rate is such that that the media buffer will not be depleted during the link transition time.

6. The method of claim 2 , wherein at least one of the first communication link and the second communication link is a satellite communication link.

7. The method of claim 2 , wherein the first communication link and the second communication link are satellite communication links.

8. The method of claim 2 , wherein one of the first communication link and the second communication link is an air-to-ground communication link.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining an expected link transition duration between the first communication link and a second communication link; and

determining the second frame rate based on the expected link transition initiation time and the expected link transition duration.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein predicting the expected link transition initiation time comprises:

obtaining a position of the craft;

obtaining coverage areas of a plurality of communication links; and

determining the expected link transition initiation time based on the position of the craft relative to the coverage areas.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining to increase the buffering of the received linear media data if the expected link transition initiation time corresponds to a transition between different communication access networks.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the transition between different communication access networks includes repointing an antenna.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the different communication access networks are different satellite networks.

14. A media playback system of a craft, comprising:

a memory comprising computer-executable code;

a media buffer;

a transceiver;

at least one processor in data communication with the media buffer, the transceiver, and the memory, and configured to execute the computer-executable code and cause the media playback system to:

initiate a first streaming media session with a remote content server via the transceiver using a first communication link;

receive, from the remote content server via the transceiver, linear media data associated with the first streaming media session at a first transmission rate over the first communication link;

buffer the linear media data associated with the first streaming media session in the media buffer at a first buffer size;

provide a first portion of the buffered linear media data associated with the first streaming media session from the media buffer for consumption on a media client at a first frame rate;

predict an expected link transition initiation time based at least in part on the craft's heading and speed;

determine an expected link transition duration between the first communication link and a second communication link;

prior to the expected link transition initiation time, determine to increase buffering of the received linear media data in the media buffer from the first buffer size to a second buffer size if the expected link transition duration exceeds a threshold, by providing a second portion of the buffered linear media data associated with the first streaming media session from the media buffer for consumption on the media client at a second frame rate, the second frame rate being lower than the first frame rate; and

provide, during a link transition time associated with the expected link transition initiation time, a third portion of the buffered linear media data associated with the first streaming media session from the media buffer for consumption on the media client.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to cause the system to:

after the link transition time, initiate a second streaming media session with the remote content server via the transceiver using the second communication link;

receive, from the remote content server via the transceiver, linear media data associated with the second streaming media session at a second transmission rate;

buffer the linear media data associated with the second streaming media session in the media buffer; and

provide a portion of the buffered linear media data associated with the second streaming media session from the media buffer for consumption on the media client at the first frame rate.

16. The system of claim 14 , wherein the second frame rate is less than or equal to 10% lower than the first frame rate.

17. The system of claim 15 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to cause the system to, prior to providing the buffered linear media data associated with the second streaming media session from the media buffer for consumption on the media client at the first frame rate, provide the buffered linear media data associated with the second streaming media session from the media buffer for consumption on the media client at a third frame rate, the third frame rate is higher than the first frame rate.

18. The system of claim 14 , wherein the second frame rate is configured so that the media buffer will not be depleted during the link transition time.

19. The system of claim 14 , wherein the first communication link is a satellite communication link.

20. The system of claim 15 , wherein at least one of the first communication link and the second communication link is an air-to-ground communication link.

21. The system of claim 14 , wherein:

the increasing the buffering of the received linear media data in the media buffer is in response to the predicted expected link transition initiation time.

22. The system of claim 14 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to cause the system to:

determine an expected link transition duration between the first communication link and a second communication link; and determine the second frame rate based on the expected link transition initiation time and the expected link transition duration.

23. The system of claim 14 , wherein, to predict the expected link transition initiation time, the at least one processor is further configured to cause the system to:

obtain a position of the craft;

obtain coverage areas of a plurality of communication links; and

determine the expected link transition initiation time based on the position of the craft relative to the coverage areas.

24. The system of claim 14 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to cause the system to determine to increase the buffering of the received linear media data if the expected link transition initiation time corresponds to a transition between different communication access networks.

25. The system of claim 24 , wherein the transition between different communication access networks includes repointing an antenna.

26. The system of claim 25 , wherein the different communication access networks are different satellite networks.