explanation numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention it will be obvious however to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details in other instances well known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to avoid obscuring the present invention the present invention is discussed primarily in the context of data caching of streaming media in an electronic system such as a desktop laptop or a handheld computer system it is noted that the present invention is well suited to be utilized with many other data types e g program software distributed by asps application service providers it is appreciated that the present invention can be used with other types of portable electronic devices that provide playback of streaming media such a portable dvd cd and mp3 players it is further appreciated that the present invention can be used with other electronic devices and computer systems that have the capability to access some type of central device or central site including but not limited to desktop laptop or handheld computer systems with reference to fig1 portions of the present invention are comprised of computer readable and computer executable instructions which reside for example in computer readable media of an electronic system such as a computer system fig1 illustrates an exemplary electronic device 150 upon which embodiments of the present invention may be practiced it should be appreciated that electronic device 150 of fig1 is an exemplary representation of a number of different computer systems and electronic devices in which the present invention can operate including but not limited to desktop computers e g desktop computer.