Dynamically adapting media content streaming and playback parameters for existing streaming and playback conditions

• US 20080177893A1
• Filed: 01/22/2007
• Published: 07/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Bowra, Todd, Speicher, Ashley, Fang, Nicholas
• Granted Patent: US 8,914,529 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/231
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2834 Switching of information between an external network and a home network access arrangements H04L12/2856
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/285 Generic home appliances, e.g. refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/752 adapting media to network capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/756 adapting media to device capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2401 Monitoring of the client buffer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25808 Management of client data terminal profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/303
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44004 involving video buffer management, e.g. video decoder buffer or video display buffer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6408 Unicasting

Abstract

Adjusting media streaming parameters of a media streaming device and media playback parameters of a media playback device is disclosed. In one embodiment, the system probes a network infrastructure to determine a network type, a playback device type, a streaming device type, a media content type, a preroll duration, and a playback device buffer size. Based upon these streaming and playback conditions, values of streaming parameters of a streaming device and values of playback parameters of a playback device are determined. Streaming parameters include the aggressiveness of the network transmitter, the slope of the transmit rate ramp-up, and the maximum transmit rate. Playback parameters include the amount of data prerolled by the playback device. The aforementioned values are sent to streaming and playback device control systems to control the streaming and the playback of the media, during and/or before playback.

Claims

1. A method for adjusting media streaming and playback parameters, comprising:

determining characteristics about the playback and streaming environment;

determining values of parameters for controlling media streaming and media playback, said values based on the determined characteristics; and

sending said values to media streaming and media playback device control systems to control said streaming and said playback of said media.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the characteristics of the playback and streaming environment include the determination of one or more of a network type, a streaming device type, a playback device type, a media content type, and a playback device buffer size/preroll duration.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said parameters comprise one or more of an aggressiveness of a network transmitter, an amount of data prerolled by a playback device before playback starts, a slope of a transmit rate ramp-up, and a maximum transmit rate.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining a format of said content and whether said content is file based or live.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said adjusting is performed before a commencement of media content streaming.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said adjusting is performed during media content streaming and playback.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein a transmit rate of said media content is based on a maximum receive rate of said media content.

8. The method of claim 4 wherein the proximity of a seek position to a live position is determined so as to determine an amount of prerolling that the media receiver needs to perform.

9. A computer useable medium having computer-executable components comprising:

a condition set collection component for collecting and/or identifying a set of existing conditions relating to streaming and playback of a media content sequence;

a parameter value analysis and determination component for determining values of parameters for controlling said streaming and playback, said parameters based on said conditions; and

a parameter value configuration component for sending said values to streaming and playback control systems for adapting the operation of those systems.

10. The medium of claim 9 wherein said conditions comprise one or more of a network type, streaming device type, playback device type, media content type, and playback device buffer size.

11. The medium of claim 9 wherein said parameters comprise one or more of an aggressiveness of a network transmitter, an amount of data to be prerolled by a renderer before rendering starts, a slope of a transmit rate ramp-up, and a maximum transmit rate.

12. The medium of claim 9 wherein said set of conditions further comprises a format of said media content and whether said media content is file based or live.

13. The medium of claim 9 wherein said adapting is performed before a commencement of media content streaming.

14. The medium of claim 9 wherein said adapting is performed during media content streaming and playback.

15. The medium of claim 9 wherein a transmit rate of said media content is based on a maximum receive rate of the media receiver.

16. The medium of claim 12 wherein the proximity of a seek position to a live position is determined so as to determine an amount of prerolling to provide.

17. An apparatus comprising:

a computer readable memory unit; and

a processor coupled to said memory unit, said processor for setting streaming and playback parameters of media content based upon existing conditions for streaming and playback of a sequence of media content.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said information related to said existing conditions for streaming and playback of said sequence of media content comprises one or more of the network, device, content, and buffer size information

19. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said parameters comprise one or more of an aggressiveness of a network transmitter, an amount of data prerolled by a renderer before rendering starts, a slope of a transmit rate ramp-up and a maximum transmit rate.

20. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said information related to said existing conditions further comprises a format of said media content and whether said media content is file based or live.