Startup methods and apparatuses for use in streaming content

• US 20050044166A1
• Filed: 08/30/2004
• Published: 02/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Klemets, Anders E., Batterberry, Troy, Bhatt, Sanjay, Colville, Scott E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,594,025 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/215
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23805 Controlling the feeding rate to the network, e.g. by controlling the video pump
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4384 involving operations to reduce the access time, e.g. fast-tuning for reducing channel switching latency
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44209 Monitoring of downstream path of the transmission network originating from a server, e.g. bandwidth variations of a wireless network arrangements for maintenance or administration in data switching networks involving bandwidth and capacity management H04L41/0896
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6373 for rate control , e.g. request to the server to modify its transmission rate flow control in packet networks H04L47/10

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses are provided for use with a client and server device connected through a communication link. The client device sends a startup request to the server device. The startup request identifies a streamable media content that is to be provided to the client device, a communication link bandwidth associated with the communication link, and an amount of the desired streamable media content that is to be provided at a bitrate greater than the encoded bitrate but no greater than about the communication link bandwidth. The server device buffers at least the amount of the streamable media content, and transmits the amount of the buffered streamable media content at the higher bitrate. The server device locates a discrete rendering point in the amount of the buffered streamable media content and initiates transmission beginning with the discrete rendering point. After transmitting the amount of the buffered streamable media content, the server device transmits subsequent portions of the streamable media content to the client device at a bitrate about equal to the encoded bitrate. The client device buffers received streamable media content, and subsequently renders the buffered streamed media content.

Claims

1. A method for use in a client device, the method comprising:

selecting streamable media content on a server device over a communication link;

specifying a fast startup transfer of the streamable media content; and

providing information to the server device regarding the communication link to facilitate the fast startup.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the streamable media content has an associated encoded bitrate, the providing information comprising:

identifying the streamable media content;

identifying a communication link bandwidth; and

identifying an amount of the streamable media content to be transferred at a higher bitrate greater than the encoded bitrate.

3. A method as recited in claim 2, wherein the higher bitrate is no greater than about the communication link bandwidth.

4. A method as recited in claim 2, further comprising:

receiving the amount of the streamable media content at the higher bit rate;

receiving subsequent portions of the streamable media content at about the encoded bitrate;

buffering the received streamable media content; and

rendering the buffered streamable media content.

5. A method as recited in claim 2, wherein the identifying a communication link bandwidth comprises:

employing non-compressible packets to calculate a bandwidth measurement between the client device and the server device;

tracking recent bandwidth measurements in a history list; and

calculating a median from the history list as the communication link bandwidth.

6. A method for use in a server device, the method comprising:

identifying available streaming media content to a client device over a communication link;

receiving a request to transfer the streaming media content to the client device;

receiving a request for a fast startup regarding the transfer; and

receiving information regarding the communication link to facilitate the fast startup.

7. A method as recited in claim 6, wherein the streaming media content has an associated encoded bitrate, the receiving information comprising:

receiving an identification of the streaming media content;

receiving a communication link bandwidth; and

receiving an amount of the streaming media content to be transferred at a higher bitrate greater than the encoded bitrate.

8. A method as recited in claim 7, wherein the higher bitrate is no greater than about the communication link bandwidth.

9. A method as recited in claim 7, further comprising:

buffering at least the amount of the streaming media content;

transferring the amount of the streaming media content at the higher bit rate; and

transferring subsequent portions of the streaming media content at about the encoded bitrate.

10. A method as recited in claim 7, wherein the transferring the amount at the higher bit rate comprises:

scanning the buffered amount of the streaming content; and

identifying a discrete rendering point within the buffered amount of the streaming content at which to start the transferring the amount.

11. A method as recited in claim 10, wherein the discrete rendering point is an earliest discrete rendering point of a plurality of discrete rendering points within the buffered amount of the streaming content.

12. A method as recited in claim 10, wherein the identifying a discrete rendering point comprises:

balancing startup time minimization at the client device with propagation time minimization to the client device.

13. A method as recited in claim 10, wherein the balancing comprises:

reducing an amount of time-shifted content of the buffered amount of the streaming content as the encoded bitrate approaches the communication link bandwidth.

14. A client device comprising:

means for identifying streamable media content available from a server device over a communication link, the streamable media content having associated with it an encoded bitrate;

means for providing a startup request to the server device over said communication link, said startup request identifying said streamable media content, a communication link bandwidth, and an amount of said streamable media content to be transmitted at a bitrate greater than said encoded bitrate and no greater than about said communication link bandwidth.

15. A client device as recited in claim 14, further comprising:

means for receiving the amount of said streamable media content from said server device over said communication link;

means for buffering said received streamable media, and

means for subsequently rendering said buffered streamed media.

16. A client device as recited in claim 15, wherein the means for receiving said amount of said streamable media content from said server device over said communication link further includes:

means for initially receiving streamed media content associated with a discrete rendering point.

17. A client device as recited in claim 16, wherein the discrete rendering point includes a key frame.

18. A client device as recited in claim 14, wherein said amount of said streamable media content identifies an initial period of playback time.

19. A client device as recited in claim 14, wherein said communication link bandwidth is actively determined by said client device.

20. A client device as recited in claim 14, wherein said streamable media is selected from a group of streamable media comprising on-demand media and broadcast media.

21. A client device as recited in claim 14, wherein the means for identifying said streamable media content available from said server device includes means for transmitting at least one session description protocol (SDP) message to said server device.

22. A client device as recited in claim 14, wherein the means for providing said startup request to said server device includes means for transmitting at least one message formatted according to at least one streaming media protocol selected from a group of protocols comprising MMS, Real Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP), and HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP).

23. A server device comprising:

means for identifying streamable media content available to a client device over a communication link, said streamable media content having associated with it an encoded bitrate;

means for receiving a startup request from said client device over said communication link, said startup request specifying said streamable media content to be transmitted to said client, a communication link bandwidth, and an amount of said streamable media content to be transmitted at a bitrate greater than said encoded bitrate and no greater than about said communication link bandwidth.

24. A server device as recited in claim 23, further comprising:

means for buffering at least said amount of said streamable media content; and

means for transmitting said amount of said buffered streamable media content to said client device at said bitrate greater than said encoded bitrate and no greater than about said communication link bandwidth.

25. A server device as recited in claim 24, further comprising:

after transmitting said amount of said buffered streamable media content, means for transmitting subsequent portions of said streamable media content to said client device at a bitrate about equal to said encoded bitrate.

26. A server device as recited in claim 24, wherein the means for transmitting said amount of said buffered streamable media content to said client device further includes:

means for locating a discrete rendering point in said amount of said buffered streamable media content; and

means for initiating transmission of said amount of said buffered streamable media content beginning with said discrete rendering point.

27. A server device as recited in claim 26, wherein said discrete rendering point includes a key frame.

28. A server device as recited in claim 24, wherein said amount of said streamable media content identifies an initial period of playback time.

29. A server device as recited in claim 24, wherein said streamable media is selected from a group of streamable media comprising on-demand media and broadcast media.