Monitoring streaming related to connectivity

1. A method of delivering content to a device, comprising:

receiving a prediction of a journey of the device, the journey of the device having a plurality of different segments between mapped locations;

determining a communication profile for the device for the journey by mapping the predicted journey against information about connectivity of the segments of the journey;

receiving an identification of content to be transferred to the device; and

planning a data transfer to the device in dependence on the determined communication profile for the journey and the identified content to be transferred to the device during the journey; and

determining, for each segment of the journey, if a data transfer rate is sufficient to allow download of the identified content to meet a playback rate for that segment, and responsive to determining that the data transfer rate is not sufficient for that segment, performing at least one of the steps of:

changing at least one of the mapped locations associated with that segment in order to replace that segment with a new segment having an increased data transfer rate; and

decreasing a playback rate in a preceding segment to allow an increased data transfer rate in the preceding segment to cache content for playback in that segment.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the communication profile is a data connectivity of the device for the journey.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of planning the data transfer to the device comprises determining a varying of the rate for transferring content.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of planning the data transfer comprises varying a transfer rate of content to ensure that the identified content will be transferred completely during a period of time of the predicted journey.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of planning the data transfer comprises varying a transfer bit rate for the content to ensure that the identified content can be consumed in accordance with a playback rate in a specified time period.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of determining the communication profile comprises mapping the segments of the journey against information about connectivity of the mapped locations.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the data transfer is adjusted if an actual communication profile during transferring the content does not match with the determined communication profile.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of planning the data transfer comprises reducing a playback rate of the identified content in a current segment, thereby requiring a reduced data transfer rate.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein changing at least one of the mapped locations changes a time period associated with the journey.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of planning the data transfer comprises increasing a data transfer rate in one period of time to compensate for a reduced data transfer rate in a later period of time.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of planning the data transfer comprises decreasing a playback rate in one period of time to allow the same playback rate in a later period of time in which the data transfer rate is not sufficiently large.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of planning the data transfer is in further dependence on a communication associated with a further application requiring access to the device and consuming part of an available transfer rate to the device.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of planning the data transfer comprises downloading a content required for playback prior to a playback period.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of planning the data transfer comprises streaming a content required for playback such that a portion of the content to be played back is transferred prior to it being played back.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of planning the data transfer comprises varying a transfer rate differently for different time periods during which the content is one or both of transferred and accessed for playback.

16. The method of claim 1 in which the device is a system device connected, in an environment, to a plurality of user devices, the method further comprising:

receiving, at the system device, content transferred from a remote content provider;

delivering, from the system device, the transferred content to one or more of the plurality of user devices;

receiving a prediction of a context of the environment during a time period;

receiving an indication of the content to transfer to the one more of the user devices during the time period; and

planning a transfer of content from the remote device to the system device for the time period in dependence on the prediction and the indication.

17. A device for receiving content, comprising:

an interface for receiving a prediction of a journey of the device, the journey of the device having a plurality of different segments between mapped locations;

a processor configured to determine a communication profile for the device for the journey by mapping the predicted journey against information about connectivity of the segments of the journey; and

an interface for receiving an identification of content to be transferred to the device, wherein the processor is further configured to:

plan a data transfer to the device in dependence on the communication profile of the predicted journey and the identified content;

determine, for each segment of the journey, if a data transfer rate is sufficient to allow download of the identified content to meet a playback rate for that segment, and responsive to determining that the data transfer rate is not sufficient for that segment, perform at least one of:

change at least one of the mapped locations associated with that segment in order to replace that segment with a new segment having an increased data transfer rate; and

decrease a playback rate in a preceding segment to allow an increased data transfer rate in the preceding segment to cache content for playback in that segment.

18. A system comprising:

a device according to claim 17 configured to:

receive content transferred from a remote device;

deliver the received content to one or more playback devices connected to the device according to claim 17 ;

receive a prediction of a context of an environment in which the device according to claim 17 will be in during a predicted time period;

receive an indication of content to transfer to the one or more playback devices during the predicted time period; and

plan a transfer of content from the remote device to the device according to claim 17 for the predicted time period in dependence on the predicted context and the identified content.