Multimedia signal latency management by skipping

1. A client device configured to receive one or more media streams over a network, where each of the of media streams is available in one or more bandwidths or media types, the client device comprising a programmable processor and a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to cause the client device to:

receive information about media streams associated with a session including identifier, media type and bandwidth;

play one or more of the media streams associated with the session based on user selection, calculated priority, and available bandwidth;

monitor the quality of the one or more media streams played, wherein the quality of the media stream is determined at least in part as a function of the latency of the played media signal relative to its input media stream;

respond to decreased quality of the one or more media streams played by skipping a defined period of time of the stream; and

respond to frequent skipping of portions of a media stream by either playing a different stream of lower quality or stopping playing the stream if a stream of lower quality is unavailable.

2. The client device of claim 1 wherein the quality of the media stream is determined as a combination of the latency of the played media signal relative to its input media stream, bit error rate, and signal strength.

3. The client device of claim 2 wherein skipping portions of the stream is accomplished by moving ahead in a signal buffer by the defined period of time and at short intervals, wherein the defined period of time and intervals are determined by signal quality trend measurements.

4. The client device of claim 1 further comprising instructions executable by the processor to cause the client device to send requests to a server to publish or unpublish one or more multimedia signals associated with the client device and with the session for notification by the server of other interactive client devices of the availability of multimedia signals associated with the client device.

5. A server configured to enable a client device to receive one or more media streams over a network, where each of the media streams is available in one or more bandwidths or media types, the server comprising a programmable processor and a memory storing instructions executable by the processor and causing the server to:

receive or determine capabilities of a client device;

report available media streams to the client device, wherein the available media streams reported to the client device are a subset of media streams selected based on the received or determined capabilities of the client device;

accept a request from the client device to subscribe to one or more the multimedia signals corresponding to the available media streams;

send media stream information to the client device;

monitor a quality of the media stream as received by the client, wherein the quality is determined at least in part as a function of the latency of the played media signal relative to its input media stream; and

determine a course of action based on the quality of the media stream, wherein the course of action comprises skipping a defined period of time in the media stream, selecting a different media stream to play, or stopping playing the media stream.

6. The server of claim 5 , wherein the instructions executable by the processor stored in the memory further comprise instructions causing the server to:

receive requests from one or more client devices associated with a session to publish or unpublish one or more multimedia signals associated with the client device and with the session; and

notify all other interactive client devices of the availability of multimedia signals associated with the client device.

7. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon programming instructions that, when executed by a computer, causes the computer to perform a method for bandwidth balancing multiple media streams among heterogeneous clients, the medium comprising:

programming instructions for determining the capabilities of a client to play a media stream;

programming instructions for monitoring a quality of the media stream as received by the client, wherein the quality is determined at least in part as a function of the latency of the played media signal relative to its input media stream; and

programming instructions for determining a course of action based on the quality of the media stream, wherein the course of action comprises skipping a defined period of time in the media stream, selecting a different media stream to play, or stopping playing the media stream.