RealNetworks was granted a patent for core media streaming technology called "Click to Stream." The patent dates back to technology developed over 10 years ago in 1994 when RealAudio was first released.

The Click-to-Stream patent and technology are a part of Real's licensing program called the Helix Community. Real has over 35 media delivery patents 100 more pending.

From the press release:

About the "Click-to-Stream" patent

The "Click-to-Stream" patent covers the core methods used when an end user selects a digital media asset (audio and accompanying video or other metadata) to be played, causing digital packets of the selected digital media to be transmitted over an Internet Protocol network and received by the end user's playback device when playback begins prior to delivery of the entire digital media asset to the consumer's device. The patent applies whether the digital media is played back on a personal computer, mobile phone, or other hardware device. The patented "Click-to-Stream" method is most commonly initiated when an end user accesses media links from web browser pages, embedded multimedia advertising, and links managed by network-enabled software media players.