Media Stream Scheduling for Hiccup-Free Fast-Channel-Change in the Presence of Network Chokepoints
First Claim
1. A computer-readable medium having processor-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, performs a method comprising:
- receiving a request to start a new media stream from a media-stream presentation device on a media-stream network having one or more bandwidth-limiting chokepoints therein;
calculating an available data-rate reservation through the network to the presentation device using a portion of the new media stream, wherein the available data-rate is limited by the one or more chokepoints in the network;
inserting data associated with the portion of the new media stream into a schedule of outgoing media streams being sent via the network; and
generating a profile that indicates the conditions under which the presentation device should start presenting the portion of the new media stream.
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Abstract
An implementation, as described herein, facilitates fast start-up of a new media stream while avoiding temporal interruption (i.e., “hiccups”) of the presentation of that new media stream. At least one implementation, described herein, coordinates the delivery of multiple simultaneous media streams on a media-stream network. Its coordination accounts for traversal of bandwidth-restricted chokepoints; quickly stopping delivery of one or more media streams from the set of streams; quickly initiating delivery and presentation of one or more new media streams not previously in the set (i.e., a “channel change”); and producing clean playback of all of the streams in the set, despite their different timelines. This abstract itself is not intended to limit the scope of this patent. The scope of the present invention is pointed out in the appending claims.
99 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A computer-readable medium having processor-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, performs a method comprising:
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receiving a request to start a new media stream from a media-stream presentation device on a media-stream network having one or more bandwidth-limiting chokepoints therein; calculating an available data-rate reservation through the network to the presentation device using a portion of the new media stream, wherein the available data-rate is limited by the one or more chokepoints in the network; inserting data associated with the portion of the new media stream into a schedule of outgoing media streams being sent via the network; and generating a profile that indicates the conditions under which the presentation device should start presenting the portion of the new media stream. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A scheduling system comprising:
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a request receiver configured to receive a request to start a new media stream from a media-stream presentation device on a media-stream network having one or more bandwidth-limiting chokepoints therein; a calculator configured to determine an available data-rate reservation through the network to the presentation device using a portion of the new media stream, wherein the available data-rate is limited by the one or more chokepoints in the network; an inserter configured to modify a schedule of outgoing media streams being sent via the network by inserting data associated with the portion of the new media stream into the schedule; and a profile configured to be generated, wherein the profile indicates the conditions under which the presentation device should start presenting the portion of the new media stream. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification