SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF ADJUSTING BANDWIDTH AMONG MULTIPLE MEDIA STREAMS

• US 20090144792A1
• Filed: 11/29/2007
• Published: 06/04/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Cannella, James Eugene JR., Fielibert, Jan Maurits Nicolaas
• Granted Patent: US 8,887,218 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/116
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/115 Selection of the code volume for a coding unit prior to coding
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/124 Quantisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/14 Coding unit complexity, e.g. amount of activity or edge presence estimation H04N19/146 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/146 Data rate or code amount at the encoder output
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/149 by estimating the code amount by means of a model, e.g. mathematical model or statistical model
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/152 by measuring the fullness of the transmission buffer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/164 Feedback from the receiver or from the transmission channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/40 using video transcoding, i.e. partial or full decoding of a coded input stream followed by re-encoding of the decoded output stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/61 in combination with predictive coding
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23608 Remultiplexing multiplex streams, e.g. involving modifying time stamps or remapping the packet identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2365 Multiplexing of several video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23655 Statistical multiplexing, e.g. by controlling the encoder to alter its bitrate to optimize the bandwidth utilization
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4344 Remultiplexing of multiplex streams, e.g. by modifying time stamps or remapping the packet identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4347 Demultiplexing of several video streams

Abstract

Disclosed herein are systems and method for adjusting bitrate among multiple media streams delivered on a common subscriber connection. One such method comprises receiving information describing a maximum bitrate provisioned on the subscriber connection, and receiving a plurality of media streams. Each media stream utilizes a corresponding bitrate, and the plurality of media streams has a combined bitrate. The method also comprises adjusting the bitrate of at least a portion of the plurality of media streams so that the combined bitrate is related to the maximum bitrate provisioned on the subscriber connection.

Claims

1. A method of adjusting bitrate among multiple media streams delivered on a common subscriber connection, comprising:

receiving information describing a maximum bitrate provisioned on the subscriber connection;

receiving a plurality of media streams, each utilizing a corresponding bitrate, the plurality having a combined bitrate; and

adjusting the bitrate of at least a portion of the plurality of media streams so that the combined bitrate is related to the maximum bitrate provisioned on the subscriber connection.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the adjusting further comprises:

adjusting the bitrate of each of the plurality of media streams so that the combined bitrate is related to the maximum bitrate provisioned on the subscriber connection.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the adjusting further comprises:

adjusting the bitrate of each of the plurality of media streams so that the combined bitrate approaches the maximum bitrate provisioned on the subscriber connection.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the adjusting further comprises adjusting the bitrate of the at least a portion of the plurality of media streams so that the combined bitrate is related to the maximum bitrate provisioned on the subscriber connection less a reserved bitrate provisioned on the subscriber connection.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving information describing a reserved bandwidth provisioned on the subscriber connection, wherein the adjusting further comprises adjusting the bitrate of the at least a portion of the plurality of media streams so that the combined bitrate is related to the maximum bitrate provisioned on the subscriber connection less the reserved bandwidth provisioned on the subscriber connection.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving information describing a change in reserved bandwidth on the subscriber connection, wherein the adjusting further comprises adjusting the bitrate of the at least a portion of the plurality of media streams so that the combined bitrate is related to the maximum bitrate provisioned on the subscriber connection less the reserved bandwidth on the subscriber connection.

7. A system of adjusting bitrate among multiple media streams delivered on a common subscriber connection, comprising:

logic configured to determine a maximum bitrate provisioned on the subscriber connection;

logic configured to receive a plurality of media streams, each utilizing a corresponding bitrate, the plurality having a combined bitrate; and

logic configured to adjust the bitrate of at least a portion of the plurality of media streams so that the combined bitrate is related to the maximum bitrate provisioned on the subscriber connection.

8. The system of claim 7, further comprising logic configured to communicate with subscriber equipment coupled to the subscriber connection, wherein the logic configured to determine is responsive to the logic configured to communicate.

9. The system of claim 7, further comprising logic configured to retrieve error statistics from subscriber equipment coupled to the subscriber connection, wherein the logic configured to determine is responsive to the retrieved error statistics.

10. The system of claim 7, further comprising logic configured to initiate a test of subscriber equipment coupled to the subscriber connection, wherein the logic configured to determine is responsive to a result of the initiated test.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the logic configured to adjust further comprises:

logic configured to adjust the bitrate of each of the plurality of media streams so that the combined bitrate is related to the maximum bitrate provisioned on the subscriber connection.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein the logic configured to adjust further comprises:

logic configured to adjust the bitrate of each of the plurality of media streams so that the combined bitrate matches the maximum bitrate provisioned on the subscriber connection.

13. The system of claim 7, wherein the logic configured to adjust further comprises adjusting the bitrate of at least a portion of the plurality of media streams so that the combined bitrate is related to the maximum bitrate provisioned on the subscriber connection less a reserved bitrate provisioned on the subscriber connection.

14. A system of adjusting bitrate among multiple media streams delivered on a common subscriber connection, comprising:

a plurality of transrating engines, each receiving a corresponding input stream having a bitrate, each producing a corresponding output stream having an adjusted bitrate;

a statistical rate controller configured to inform each of the plurality of transrating engines as to the corresponding adjusted bitrate; and

maximum bitrate determination logic configured to receive an indication of maximum bitrate supported on the subscriber line and to inform the statistical rate controller as to the maximum bitrate,

wherein the statistical rate controller is further configured to determine the adjusted bitrate of each transrating engine such that the combined bitrate of streams output by the statistical rate controller is less than the maximum bitrate.

15. The system of claim 14, further comprising logic configured to communicate with subscriber equipment coupled to the subscriber connection, wherein the logic configured to determine is responsive to the logic configured to communicate.

16. The system of claim 14, further comprising logic configured to retrieve error statistics from subscriber equipment coupled to the subscriber connection, wherein the logic configured to determine is responsive to the retrieved error statistics.

17. The system of claim 14, further comprising logic configured to initiate a test of subscriber equipment coupled to the subscriber connection, wherein the logic configured to determine is responsive to a result of the initiated test.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the logic configured to adjust further comprises:

logic configured to adjust the bitrate of each of the plurality of media streams so that the combined bitrate is related to the maximum bitrate provisioned on the subscriber connection.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein the logic configured to adjust further comprises:

logic configured to adjust the bitrate of each of the plurality of media streams so that the combined bitrate matches the maximum bitrate provisioned on the subscriber connection.

20. The system of claim 14, wherein the logic configured to adjust further comprises adjusting the bitrate of at least a portion of the plurality of media streams so that the combined bitrate is related to the maximum bitrate provisioned on the subscriber connection less a reserved bitrate provisioned on the subscriber connection.