A method for serving a data stream from a transmitter to a receiver includes: determining an underlying structure of the data stream; determining at least one objective, selected from a group of (1) reducing a start-up delay between when the receiver first starts receiving the data stream from the transmitter and when the receiver can start consumption of blocks of the data stream without interruption, according to the underlying structure, (2) reducing a transmission bandwidth needed to send the data stream, and (3) ensuring that the blocks of the data stream satisfy predetermined block constraints; and transmitting the blocks of the data stream consistent with the at least one objective and the underlying structure.