Method and apparatus for altering bandwidth consumption

• US 10,110,647 B2
• Filed: 09/25/2013
• Issued: 10/23/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Srinivasan, Chandrasekar, Pandey, Umesh, Polisetty, Chandra Mouli, Mani, Deepti, Minder, Lorenz C., Putchala, Deviprasad, Krishna, Arvind Subramanian
• Primary Examiner(s): Avellino, Joseph E
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kunwar, Binod J
• Application Number:
  US14/036,860
• Publication Number:
  US 20140297883A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,854 Days
• Field of Search: 709231, 345156
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/613 for the control of the source by the destination control signals issued by the client directed to the server or network components specially adapted for selective content distribution H04N21/637
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/756 adapting media to device capabilities

Abstract

A method for altering bandwidth consumption when receiving content in a user device includes determining a first user device status where the first user device status indicates whether content, which is being accessed by a content-rendering application, is viewable on a display of the user device, based on the first user device status, selecting one of a plurality of available alternative content segments, and receiving the selected content segment.

Claims

1. A method for altering bandwidth consumption when receiving content in a user device, comprising:

accessing, by a content-rendering application using an adaptive streaming protocol file that identifies alternative sets of content segments for first content including a first set of content segments for the first content encoded for displaying the first content at a first content quality and an alternative second set of content segments for the first content encoded for displaying the first content at a different second content quality, one or more content segments of the first set of content segments for the first content encoded for displaying the first content at the first content quality;

determining a first user device status where the first user device status indicates whether content, which is derived from the one or more content segments of the first set of content segments for the first content accessed by the content-rendering application using the adaptive streaming protocol file that identifies the alternative sets of content segments for the first content including the first set of content segments for the first content encoded for displaying the first content at the first content quality and the alternative second set of content segments for the first content encoded for displaying the first content at the different second content quality, is viewable on a display of the user device; and

based on the first user device status that indicates whether the content, which is derived from the one or more content segments of the first set of content segments for the first content accessed by the content-rendering application using the adaptive streaming protocol file that identifies the alternative sets of content segments for the first content including the first set of content segments for the first content encoded for displaying the first content at the first content quality and the alternative second set of content segments for the first content encoded for displaying the first content at the different second content quality, is viewable on the display of the user device, accessing, by the content-rendering application using the adaptive streaming protocol file that identifies the alternative sets of content segments for the first content including the first set of content segments for the first content encoded for displaying the first content at the first content quality and the alternative second set of content segments for the first content encoded for displaying the first content at the different second content quality, one or more content segments of the second set of content segments for the first content encoded for displaying the first content at the different second content quality.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a first user device status comprises determining whether a tab, which is associated with the content-rendering application, is selected.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a first user device status comprises determining whether a window, which is associated with the content-rendering application and configured to display content, is visible.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a first user device status comprises determining whether a window, which is associated with the content-rendering application and configured to display content, is minimized.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a first user device status comprises determining whether a first window, which is associated with the content-rendering application and configured to display content, is at least partially covered by a second window.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

based on the first user device status that indicates whether the content, which is derived from the one or more content segments of the first set of content segments for the first content accessed by the content-rendering application using the adaptive streaming protocol file that identifies the alternative sets of content segments for the first content including the first set of content segments for the first content encoded for displaying the first content at the first content quality and the alternative second set of content segments for the first content encoded for displaying the first content at the different second content quality, is viewable on the display of the user device;

switching from requesting via Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) and rendering at least one content segment of the first set of content segments for the first content encoded for displaying the first content at the first content quality; and

switching to requesting via Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) and rendering at least one content segment of the second set of content segments for the first content encoded for displaying the first content at the different second content quality.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a first user device status comprises analyzing a proximity parameter of the user device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a first user device status comprises determining whether a display of the user device is covered.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein determining whether a display of the user device is covered comprises using a light sensor to sense ambient light to determine whether a display of the user device is covered.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein determining whether a display of the user device is covered comprises using a photocell to sense ambient light to determine whether a display of the user device is covered.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein determining whether a display of the user device is covered comprises using a camera to determine whether a display of the user device is covered.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the user device is a pair of glasses having a display;

and

wherein analyzing a proximity parameter of the user device comprises determining whether the glasses are being worn.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the user device is a pair of glasses having a display;

and

wherein determining a first user device status comprises determining whether the glasses are closed.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the user device is a pair of glasses having a display;

and

wherein determining a user device status comprises determining whether the glasses are folded.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the user device is a pair of glasses having a display;

and

wherein determining a first user device status comprises determining whether the user is viewing the display of the glasses.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising determining whether the user is viewing a live-action scene, where the user viewing a live-action scene indicates that the user is not viewing the display.

17. An apparatus for altering bandwidth consumption when receiving content in a user device, comprising:

a content-rendering application configured to access, using an adaptive streaming protocol file that identifies alternative sets of content segments for first content including a first set of content segments for the first content encoded for displaying the first content at a first content quality and an alternative second set of content segments for the first content encoded for displaying the first content at a different second content quality, one or more content segments of the first set of content segments for the first content encoded for displaying the first content at the first content quality;

a device status determination element configured to determine a first user device status where the first user device status indicates whether content, which is derived from the one or more content segments of the first set of content segments for the first content accessed by the content-rendering application using the adaptive streaming protocol file that identifies the alternative sets of content segments for the first content including the first set of content segments for the first content encoded for displaying the first content at the first content quality and the alternative second set of content segments for the first content encoded for displaying the first content at the different second content quality, is viewable on a display of the user device;

streaming content logic configured to access, by the content-rendering application using the adaptive streaming protocol file that identifies the alternative sets of content segments for the first content including the first set of content segments for the first content encoded for displaying the first content at the first content quality and the alternative second set of content segments for the first content encoded for displaying the first content at the different second content quality, one or more content segments of the second set of content segments for the first content encoded for displaying the first content at the different second content quality, based on the first user device status that indicates whether the content, which is derived from the one or more content segments of the first set of content segments for the first content accessed by the content-rendering application using the adaptive streaming protocol file that identifies the alternative sets of content segments for the first content including the first set of content segments for the first content encoded for displaying the first content at the first content quality and the alternative second set of content segments for the first content encoded for displaying the first content at the different second content quality, is viewable on the display of the user device; and

the content-rendering application configured to render the accessed content segment.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the device status determination element comprises logic configured to determine whether a tab, which is associated with the content-rendering application, is selected.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the device status determination element comprises logic configured to determine whether a window, which is associated with the content-rendering application and configured to display content, is visible.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the device status determination element comprises logic configured to determine whether a window, which is associated with the content-rendering application and configured to display content, is minimized.

21. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the device status determination element comprises logic configured to determine whether a first window, which is associated with the content-rendering application and configured to display content, is at least partially covered by a second window.

22. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising:

the user device, based on the first user device status that indicates whether the content, which is derived from the one or more content segments of the first set of content segments for the first content accessed by the content-rendering application using the adaptive streaming protocol file that identifies the alternative sets of content segments for the first content including the first set of content segments for the first content encoded for displaying the first content at the first content quality and the alternative second set of content segments for the first content encoded for displaying the first content at the different second content quality, is viewable on the display of the user device, configured to;

switch from requesting via Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) and rendering at least one content segment of the first set of content segments for the first content encoded for displaying the first content at the first content quality; and

switch to requesting via Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) and rendering at least one content segment of the second set of content segments for the first content encoded for displaying the first content at the different second content quality.

23. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the logic configured to determine a first user device status comprises logic configured to analyze a proximity parameter of the user device.

24. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the device status determination element configured to determine a first user device status comprises logic configured to determine whether a display of the user device is covered.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the logic configured to determine whether a display of the user device is covered comprises using a light sensor to sense ambient light to determine whether a display of the user device is covered.

26. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the logic configured to determine whether a display of the user device is covered comprises using a photocell to sense ambient light to determine whether a display of the user device is covered.

27. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the logic configured to determine whether a display of the user device is covered comprises using a camera to determine whether a display of the user device is covered.

28. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the user device is a pair of glasses having a display;

and

wherein the logic configured to analyze a proximity parameter of the user device comprises logic configured to determine whether the glasses are being worn.

29. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the user device is a pair of glasses having a display;

and

wherein the device status determination element comprises logic configured to determine whether the glasses are closed.

30. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the user device is a pair of glasses having a display;

and

wherein the device status determination element comprises logic configured to determine whether the glasses are folded.

31. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the user device is a pair of glasses having a display;

and

wherein the device status determination element comprises logic configured to determine whether the user is viewing the display of the glasses.

32. The apparatus of claim 31, further comprising logic configured to determine whether the user is viewing a live-action scene, where the user viewing a live-action scene indicates that the user is not viewing the display.

33. A user device comprising:

means for accessing, by a content-rendering application using an adaptive streaming protocol file that identifies alternative sets of content segments for first content including a first set of content segments for the first content encoded for displaying the first content at a first content quality and an alternative second set of content segments for the first content encoded for displaying the first content at a different second content quality, one or more content segments of the first set of content segments for the first content encoded for displaying the first content at the first content quality;

means for determining a first user device status where the first user device status indicates whether content, which is derived from the one or more content segments of the first set of content segments for the first content accessed by the content-rendering application using the adaptive streaming protocol file that identifies the alternative sets of content segments for the first content including the first set of content segments for the first content encoded for displaying the first content at the first content quality and the alternative second set of content segments for the first content encoded for displaying the first content at the different second content quality, is viewable on a display of the user device; and

means for, based on the first user device status that indicates whether the content, which is derived from the one or more content segments of the first set of content segments for the first content accessed by the content-rendering application using the adaptive streaming protocol file that identifies the alternative sets of content segments for the first content including the first set of content segments for the first content encoded for displaying the first content at the first content quality and the alternative second set of content segments for the first content encoded for displaying the first content at the different second content quality, is viewable on the display of the user device, accessing, by the content-rendering application using the adaptive streaming protocol file that identifies the alternative sets of content segments for the first content including the first set of content segments for the first content encoded for displaying the first content at the first content quality and the alternative second set of content segments for the first content encoded for displaying the first content at the different second content quality, one or more content segments of the second set of content segments for the first content encoded for displaying the first content at the different second content quality.

34. The user device of claim 33, wherein the means for determining a first user device status comprises means for determining whether a tab, which is associated with the content-rendering application, is selected.

35. The user device of claim 33, wherein the means for determining a first user device status comprises means for determining whether a window, which is associated with the content-rendering application and configured to display content, is visible.

36. The user device of claim 33, wherein the means for determining a first user device status comprises means for determining whether a window, which is associated with the content-rendering application and configured to display content, is minimized.

37. The user device of claim 33, wherein the means for determining a first user device status comprises means for determining whether a first window, which is associated with the content-rendering application and configured to display content, is at least partially covered by a second window.

38. A non-transitory computer-readable medium including processor-executable instructions for performing a method for altering bandwidth consumption when receiving content in a user device, the method comprising:

accessing, by a content-rendering application using an adaptive streaming protocol file that identifies alternative sets of content segments for first content including a first set of content segments for the first content encoded for displaying the first content at a first content quality and an alternative second set of content segments for the first content encoded for displaying the first content at a different second content quality, one or more content segments of the first set of content segments for the first content encoded for displaying the first content at the first content quality;

determining a first user device status where the first user device status indicates whether content, which is derived from the one or more content segments of the first set of content segments for the first content accessed by the content-rendering application using the adaptive streaming protocol file that identifies the alternative sets of content segments for the first content including the first set of content segments for the first content encoded for displaying the first content at the first content quality and the alternative second set of content segments for the first content encoded for displaying the first content at the different second content quality, is viewable on a display of the user device; and

based on the first user device status that indicates whether the content, which is derived from the one or more content segments of the first set of content segments for the first content accessed by the content-rendering application using the adaptive streaming protocol file that identifies the alternative sets of content segments for the first content including the first set of content segments for the first content encoded for displaying the first content at the first content quality and the alternative second set of content segments for the first content encoded for displaying the first content at the different second content quality, is viewable on the display of the user device, accessing, by the content-rendering application using the adaptive streaming protocol file that identifies the alternative sets of content segments for the first content including the first set of content segments for the first content encoded for displaying the first content at the first content quality and the alternative second set of content segments for the first content encoded for displaying the first content at the different second content quality, one or more content segments of the second set of content segments for the first content encoded for displaying the first content at the different second content quality.

39. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 38, wherein determining a first user device status comprises determining whether a tab, which is associated with the content-rendering application, is selected.

40. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 38, wherein determining a first user device status comprises determining whether a window, which is associated with the content-rendering application and configured to display content, is visible.

41. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 38, wherein determining a first user device status comprises determining whether a window, which is associated with the content-rendering application and configured to display content, is minimized.

42. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 38, wherein determining a first user device status comprises determining whether a first window, which is associated with the content-rendering application and configured to display content, is at least partially covered by a second window.