Streaming media, such as audio or video files, is sent via the Internet. The media are immediately played on a user's computer. Audio/video data is transmitted from the server under control of a transport mechanism. A server buffer is prefilled with a predetermined amount of the audio/video data. When the transport mechanism causes data to be sent to the user's computer, it is sent more rapidly than it is played out by the user system. The audio/video data in the user buffer accumulates; and interruptions in playback as well as temporary modem delays are avoided.

A client device may receive encoded video via a transport stream based on a video coding protocol. When errors result in receiving the encoded video, the client device may use an Internet Protocol (IP) connection to recover from the error. For example, an encoder may insert markers inband in the transport stream, and a segmenter then segments the video using the markers. The content remains in the form of a continuous transport stream that is compatible with existing transport stream delivery mechanisms. When an error occurs, the client device can then determine a locator for a segment that can be used to recover from the error and requests the segment from a server through the IP connection. The server sends the segment to the client device at the level of the transport stream layer without adding another protocol layer to encapsulate the segment.

Systems and methods for dynamically multiplexing requested linear media channels and network data on forward link traffic streams of a communication link to a craft media delivery system are provided. Furthermore, systems and methods for receiving dynamically multiplexed requested linear media channels and network data on forward link traffic streams of a communication link by a craft media delivery system are also provided.