A machine-implemented method: (A) maintains a value of a data time parameter representing an amount of time required by a rendering system to render a portion of temporal sequence presentation data at a default presentation rate; (B) provides the value of the data time parameter to a first component of the rendering system; (C) calculates, based on the value of the data time parameter, a value of a presentation time parameter representing an amount of time elapsed during rendering of the portion of the temporal sequence presentation data; and (D) provides the value of the presentation time parameter to a second component of the rendering system; wherein the value of the presentation time parameter is not equal to the value of the data time parameter.