Variable size linear video content buffers for uninterrupted handover in a multi-beam satellite system

1. A method for providing media content from a remote media server to a media server on a craft, comprising:

establishing a first streaming media session between the remote media server and the media server on the craft using a first communication link, the media server on the craft in communication with a plurality of media clients on the craft;

first transmitting linear media data associated with the first streaming media session from a remote media buffer associated with the remote media server at a first transmission rate over the first communication link for buffering of the linear media data in a media buffer of the media server on the craft, the first transmission rate supporting a first buffer size of the media buffer on the media server on the craft; and

second transmitting, prior to an expected link transition time between the first communication link and a second communication link, linear media data associated with the first streaming media session from the remote media buffer associated with the remote media server at a second transmission rate over the first communication link for buffering of the linear media data in the media buffer of the media server on the craft, the second transmission rate being larger than the first transmission rate and supporting a second buffer size of the media buffer on the media server on the craft larger than the first buffer size.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving a selection of the linear media data from the media server on the craft at the remote media server.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining the expected link transition time between the first communication link and a second communication link.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving a request at the remote media server for the second transmitting operation from the media server on the craft in advance of the expected link transition time between the first communication link and the second communication link.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

obtaining media content at the remote media server from a content server; and

storing the media content as linear media data on the remote media buffer.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:

maintaining the remote media buffer at a first remote media buffer size during the first transmitting operation; and

decreasing the remote media buffer to a second remote media buffer size during the second transmitting operation, wherein the second remote media buffer size is smaller than the first remote media buffer size.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

increasing the remote media buffer to at least the first remote media buffer size during a link transition time between the first communication link and the second communication link.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

establishing a second streaming media session with the media server on the craft using a second communication link; and

third transmitting linear media data associated with the second streaming media session from the remote media buffer at the first transmission rate over the second communication link for buffering of the linear media data in the media buffer of the media server on the craft.

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

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first communication link is a first satellite communication link.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second communication link is a second satellite communication link.

12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

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

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

comparing the expected link transition duration to a threshold, the second transmitting operation only being performed in response to the expected link transition duration being greater than the threshold.

14. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

determining the second transmission rate at least in part based on the expected link transition duration.

15. A system for providing media content from a remote media server to a media server on a craft, comprising:

a memory comprising computer-executable code;

a remote media buffer at the remote media server;

a ground terminal; and

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

establish a first streaming media session between the remote media server and the media server on the craft using a first communication link, the media server on the craft in communication with a plurality of media clients on the craft;

first transmit linear media data associated with the first streaming media session from a remote media buffer associated with the remote media server at a first transmission rate over the first communication link for buffering of the linear media data in a media buffer of the media server on the craft, the first transmission rate supporting a first buffer size of the media buffer on the media server on the craft; and

second transmit, prior to a determined expected link transition time between the first communication link and a second communication link, linear media data associated with the first streaming media session from the remote media buffer associated with the remote media server at a second transmission rate over the first communication link for buffering of the linear media data in a media buffer of the media server on the craft, the second transmission rate being larger than the first transmission rate and supporting a second buffer size of the media buffer on the media server on the craft larger than the first buffer size.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the processor is further configured to cause the system to:

receive a selection of the linear media data from the media server on the craft at the remote media server.

17. The system of claim 15 , wherein the processor is further configured to cause the system to:

determining the expected link transition time between the first communication link and a second communication link.

18. The system of claim 15 , wherein the processor is further configured to cause the system to:

receive a request at the remote media server for the second transmitting operation from the media server on the craft in advance of the expected link transition time between the first communication link and the second communication link.

19. The system of claim 15 , wherein the processor is further configured to cause the system to:

obtain media content at the remote media server from a content server; and

store the media content as linear media data on the remote media buffer.

20. The system of claim 19 , wherein the processor is further configured to cause the system to:

maintain the remote media buffer at a first remote media buffer size during the first transmitting operation; and

decrease the remote media buffer to a second remote media buffer size during the second transmitting operation, wherein the second remote media buffer size is smaller than the first remote media buffer size.

21. The system of claim 20 , wherein the processor is further configured to cause the system to:

increase the remote media buffer to at least the first remote media buffer size during the link transition time between the first communication link and the second communication link.

22. The system of claim 15 , wherein the processor is further configured to cause the system to:

establish a second streaming media session with the media server on the craft using a second communication link; and

third transmit linear media data associated with the second streaming media session from the remote media buffer at the first transmission rate over the second communication link for buffering of the linear media data in the media buffer of the media server on the craft.

23. The system of claim 15 , wherein the second buffer size is such that the media buffer will not be depleted during the link transition time.

24. The system of claim 15 , wherein the first communication link is a first satellite communication link.

25. The system of claim 15 , wherein the second communication link is a second satellite communication link.

26. The system of claim 15 , wherein the processor is further configured to cause the system to:

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

27. The system of claim 26 , wherein the processor is further configured to cause the system to:

compare the expected link transition duration to a threshold, wherein the processor is configured to cause the system to perform the second transmitting operation only being performed in response to the expected link transition duration being greater than the threshold.

28. The system of claim 26 , wherein the processor is further configured to cause the system to:

determine the second transmission rate at least in part based on the expected link transition duration.