Sprint Communications Comapny L.p.

Sandy Cuskaden

Arvid Evans

Christos Tryfonas

Jay Cee Straley

Mike O'Brien

The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for preparing a transmission schedule that when utilized results in the smooth transmission of a time-sensitive file over a communications network. According to one embodiment of the invention, for each frame, each potential ambiguity zone is analyzed to determine whether it would result in a feasible transmission, and the cost of each feasible ambiguity zone is found. Thereafter, the optimal feasible ambiguity zone for the frame is found and used to create a transmission schedule. A method for transmitting a file utilizing such a transmission schedule is also described.

Method for smoothing the transmission of a time-sensitive file

A communication interface is coupled to an exercise machine and the public communication network. The communication interface receives first exercise information from an exercise machine wherein the first exercise information indicates exercise performance. Some examples of exercise information are video and audio files for competitive tracking with voice and video interaction. The communication interface then generates first communication information based on the first exercise information. In one embodiment, the communication information is in Internet Protocol packets. The communication interface then transmits the first communication information over the public communication network. The communication interface then receives second communication information from the public communication network. The communication interface then generates second exercise information based on the second communication information wherein the second exercise information indicates a response to the exercise performance. The communication interface then transmits the second exercise information to the exercise machine.

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Foster City, CA, United States of America

Sandy Cuskaden