ADAPTIVE NETWORK CONTENT DELIVERY SYSTEM

• US 20100131671A1
• Filed: 11/23/2009
• Published: 05/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Juniper Networks Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Juniper Networks Incorporated
• Inventors: Nishimoto, Michael, He, Junxiao (Max), Kohli, Jaspal, Venkataraghavan, Vikram, Visharam, Mohammed Zubair, Sundarrajan, Prabakar, Narayanan, Kumar
• Granted Patent: US 8,370,520 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/233
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/60 Network streaming of media packets
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/752 adapting media to network capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/762 at the source reformatting of additional data in video distribution servers H04N21/2355
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23439 for generating different versions
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23805 Controlling the feeding rate to the network, e.g. by controlling the video pump
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2407 Monitoring of transmitted content, e.g. distribution time, number of downloads arrangements for monitoring programmes for broadcast or for distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8456 by decomposing the content in the time domain, e.g. in time segments

Abstract

A method and apparatus stores media content in a variety of storage devices, with at least a portion of the storage devices having different performance characteristics. The system can deliver media to a large number of clients while maintaining a high level of viewing experience for each client by automatically adapting the bit rate of a media being delivered to a client using the client'"'"'s last mile bit rate variation. The system provides clients with smooth viewing of video without buffering stops. The client does not need a custom video content player to communicate with the system.

Claims

1. An apparatus for simultaneously distributing media across a network to a plurality of client systems, comprising:

a media delivery request receiver that receives requests for media content from client systems;

a flow rate subsystem that calculates a maximum bandwidth and a target flow rate for each outbound media flow;

a delivery subsystem that, for each outbound media flow, delivers at least a portion of a requested media content to a client system;

a media delivery scheduling subsystem that determines when the delivery subsystem delivers at least a portion of a requested media content, the media delivery scheduling subsystem dynamically adjusts flow rate for each outbound media flow in order to meet the target flow rate for each outbound media flow, the media delivery scheduling subsystem instructs the media delivery request subsystem to refuse incoming media requests when the media delivery scheduling subsystem detects that target flow rates for media flows may not be achieved if additional media content requests are accepted.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the media delivery scheduling subsystem instructs the delivery subsystem to deliver at least a portion of a lower quality media content in order to meet the target flow rate for a specific media flow.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the media delivery scheduling subsystem instructs the delivery subsystem to deliver at least a portion of a higher quality media content in order to meet the target flow rate for a specific media flow.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the media delivery scheduling subsystem detects that a target flow rate for a media flow has not been met when a deadline for delivery of a next portion of a media content for the media flow has been missed.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of storage devices, at least a portion of the plurality of storage devices having differing performance characteristics;

a media caching subsystem that stores at least a portion of a media content in a specific storage device based at least upon the target flow rate for the media flow associated with the media content and the performance characteristic of the specific storage device, the media caching subsystem instructs the delivery subsystem to deliver the stored portions of the media content from the specific storage device.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the flow rate subsystem determines a target flow rate for a media flow using at least a measured bandwidth speed of a client system associated with the media flow.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the flow rate subsystem dynamically determines a target flow rate for a media flow using at least a dynamic measurement of bandwidth speed of a client system associated with the media flow.

8. A method for simultaneously distributing media across a network to a plurality of client systems, comprising:

receiving requests for media content from client systems;

calculating a maximum bandwidth and a target flow rate for each outbound media flow;

delivering at least a portion of a requested media content to a client system for each outbound media flow;

determining when the delivering step delivers at least a portion of a requested media content;

dynamically adjusting flow rate for each outbound media flow in order to meet the target flow rate for each outbound media flow;

refusing incoming media requests when upon detecting that target flow rates for media flows may not be achieved if additional media content requests are accepted.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the delivering step delivers at least a portion of a lower quality media content in order to meet the target flow rate for a specific media flow.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the delivering step delivers at least a portion of a higher quality media content in order to meet the target flow rate for a specific media flow.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

detecting that a target flow rate for a media flow has not been met when a deadline for delivery of a next portion of a media content for the media flow has been missed.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

storing at least a portion of a media content in a specific storage device, among a plurality of storage devices with at least a portion of the plurality of storage devices having different performance characteristics, based at least upon the target flow rate for the media flow associated with the media content and the performance characteristic of the specific storage device;

wherein the delivering step delivers the stored portions of the media content from the specific storage device.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

determining a target flow rate for a media flow using at least a measured bandwidth speed of a client system associated with the media flow.

14. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

dynamically determining a target flow rate for a media flow using at least a dynamic measurement of bandwidth speed of a client system associated with the media flow.

15. A computer-readable storage medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions for simultaneously distributing media across a network to a plurality of client systems, wherein execution of the one or more sequences of instructions by one or more processors causes the one or more processors to perform the steps of:

receiving requests for media content from client systems;

calculating a maximum bandwidth and a target flow rate for each outbound media flow;

delivering at least a portion of a requested media content to a client system for each outbound media flow;

determining when the delivering step delivers at least a portion of a requested media content;

dynamically adjusting flow rate for each outbound media flow in order to meet the target flow rate for each outbound media flow;

refusing incoming media requests when upon detecting that target flow rates for media flows may not be achieved if additional media content requests are accepted.

16. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the delivering step delivers at least a portion of a lower quality media content in order to meet the target flow rate for a specific media flow.

17. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the delivering step delivers at least a portion of a higher quality media content in order to meet the target flow rate for a specific media flow.

18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, further comprising:

detecting that a target flow rate for a media flow has not been met when a deadline for delivery of a next portion of a media content for the media flow has been missed.

19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, further comprising:

storing at least a portion of a media content in a specific storage device, among a plurality of storage devices with at least a portion of the plurality of storage devices having different performance characteristics, based at least upon the target flow rate for the media flow associated with the media content and the performance characteristic of the specific storage device;

wherein the delivering step delivers the stored portions of the media content from the specific storage device.

20. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, further comprising:

determining a target flow rate for a media flow using at least a measured bandwidth speed of a client system associated with the media flow.

21. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, further comprising:

dynamically determining a target flow rate for a media flow using at least a dynamic measurement of bandwidth speed of a client system associated with the media flow.

22. An apparatus for simultaneously distributing media across a network to a plurality of client systems, comprising:

a plurality of storage devices, at least a portion of the plurality of storage devices having differing performance characteristics;

a media caching subsystem that stores at least a portion of a media content in a specific storage device based at least upon a performance characteristic of the specific storage device, the media caching subsystem orders the plurality of storage devices in a hierarchical fashion based on bandwidth of each storage device among the plurality of storage devices;

a storage optimization subsystem that optimizes bandwidth from each storage device among the plurality of storage devices by dynamically relocating portions of media content stored on each storage device based on usage measurements of the storage device.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the media caching subsystem stores the at least a portion of the media content in the specific storage device based additionally upon a target flow rate for the media flow associated with the media content.

24. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the storage optimization subsystem relocates a portion of a media content from a first storage device to a second storage device having better performance characteristics than the first storage device based upon an increase in popularity of the portion of the media content.

25. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the storage optimization subsystem relocates a portion of a media content from a first storage device to a second storage device having lower performance characteristics than the first storage device based upon a decrease in popularity of the portion of the media content.

26. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the media caching subsystem stores multiple portions of media content that include the at least a portion of the media content in the specific storage device when the multiple portions fit in a specifically sized block of memory on the specific storage device.

27. A method for simultaneously distributing media across a network to a plurality of client systems, comprising:

storing at least a portion of a media content in a specific storage device, among a plurality of storage devices with at least a portion of the plurality of storage devices having differing performance characteristics, based at least upon a performance characteristic of the specific storage device;

ordering the plurality of storage devices in a hierarchical fashion based on bandwidth of each storage device among the plurality of storage devices;

optimizing bandwidth from each storage device among the plurality of storage devices by dynamically relocating portions of media content stored on each storage device based on usage measurements of the storage device.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the storing step stores the at least a portion of the media content in the specific storage device based additionally upon a target flow rate for the media flow associated with the media content.

29. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

relocating a portion of a media content from a first storage device to a second storage device having better performance characteristics than the first storage device based upon an increase in popularity of the portion of the media content.

30. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

relocating a portion of a media content from a first storage device to a second storage device having lower performance characteristics than the first storage device based upon a decrease in popularity of the portion of the media content.

31. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

storing multiple portions of media content that include the at least a portion of the media content in the specific storage device when the multiple portions fit in a specifically sized block of memory on the specific storage device.

32. A computer-readable storage medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions for simultaneously distributing media across a network to a plurality of client systems, wherein execution of the one or more sequences of instructions by one or more processors causes the one or more processors to perform the steps of:

storing at least a portion of a media content in a specific storage device, among a plurality of storage devices with at least a portion of the plurality of storage devices having differing performance characteristics, based at least upon a performance characteristic of the specific storage device;

ordering the plurality of storage devices in a hierarchical fashion based on bandwidth of each storage device among the plurality of storage devices;

optimizing bandwidth from each storage device among the plurality of storage devices by dynamically relocating portions of media content stored on each storage device based on usage measurements of the storage device.

33. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 32, wherein the storing step stores the at least a portion of the media content in the specific storage device based additionally upon a target flow rate for the media flow associated with the media content.

34. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

relocating a portion of a media content from a first storage device to a second storage device having better performance characteristics than the first storage device based upon an increase in popularity of the portion of the media content.

35. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 32, further comprising:

relocating a portion of a media content from a first storage device to a second storage device having lower performance characteristics than the first storage device based upon a decrease in popularity of the portion of the media content.

36. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 32, further comprising:

storing multiple portions of media content that include the at least a portion of the media content in the specific storage device when the multiple portions fit in a specifically sized block of memory on the specific storage device.