Determining buffer refilling time when playing back variable bit rate media streams

Abstract

A playback device for playback of a media stream stored on a storage medium, the device includes a controller for controlling the reading, buffering and playback of the media stream. During playback, a buffer is filled by a reader and emptied by a playback unit. At each buffer, filling a buffer refilling time, i.e., the moment when the buffer will be empty and thus has to be refilled, is calculated. After each buffer filling, the storage medium can change to standby mode till buffer refilling is to occur. Thus, power consumption by the storage medium is minimized. The buffer refilling time depends on the total consumption time and the buffer filling period. The total consumption time is determined depending on playback mode control information. The buffer filling period is calculated depending on information about the retrieval of the media stream or an estimation of the buffer filling period is made.