Method for streamed data delivery over a communications network

• US 20020144276A1
• Filed: 03/30/2001
• Published: 10/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Web Event Broadcasting, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Web Event Broadcasting, Inc.
• Inventors: Boyd, David Alexander, Radford, Jim
• Application Number:
  US09/823,451
• Publication Number:
  US 20020144276A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/87
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2402 Monitoring of the downstream path of the transmission network, e.g. bandwidth available traffic monitoring in data switching networks H04L43/00; monitoring data switching networks utilization H04L43/0876
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25808 Management of client data terminal profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/303
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2662 Controlling the complexity of the video stream, e.g. by scaling the resolution or bitrate of the video stream based on the client capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/485 End-user interface for client configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6437 Real-time Transport Protocol [RTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6587 Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8173 End-user applications, e.g. Web browser, game
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

The invention provides a system and methods for the delivery of streamed content over a network. The system and methods of the invention are suited for the delivery of streaming video content over a network at a variety of data rates. The system allows a user to dynamically select the quality level of data to be delivered while a video is being displayed. Moreover, the system also can automatically select content suitable for a client device'"'"'s connection speed as well as hardware, software, network and firewall configurations.

Claims

3-1. The method of claim 3, wherein the position is less than about 10 seconds from the initial time pointer.

4. The method of claim 4, wherein the position is less than about 5 seconds from the initial time pointer.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the position is less than about 1 second from the initial time pointer.

22. A method for the delivery of streamed data content from a server to a client device over a communications network, the method comprising:

requesting a streamed data content from a listing server;

determining a connection speed of the client device to a hosting server;

determining an available network protocol on a client device;

delivering to the client device an initial streamed data content file from one or more hosting servers having a plurality of streamed data content files stored therein;

displaying the initial streamed data content to the client device;

implementing a user interface program on the client device, wherein the program allows a user of the client device to adjust the quality level of the streamed content being displayed.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the user interface is a graphical user interface program displayed on a video display device.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein quality level interface comprises one or more means for interacting.

23. A system for controlling the display of streamed data content, the system comprising:

a client device;

a hosting server or servers, having a plurality of data content files stored therein;

a user interface program, wherein the program allows a user of the client device to streamed content being displayed, the user interface program comprising;

a data content display region;

a quality level interface, wherein a user action at the quality level interface results in the display of the video content without the necessity of restarting streaming of the content from the beginning of the content file.