MANAGING NETWORK TRAFFIC USING INTERMEDIATE FLOW CONTROL
First Claim
1. A method for controlling the streaming of content through a network, the method comprising:
- receiving content chunks at an intermediate network device, the intermediate network device being in a data path between a content source and a client, the content chunks being encoded at a first bit rate and being sent from the content source to the client using an adaptive bit rate streaming protocol; and
changing the flow rate at which content chunks are sent from the intermediate network device from a first flow rate to a second flow rate in order to cause the client to adapt to the second flow rate by requesting content chunks that are encoded at a different bit rate than the first bit rate.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A technique for controlling the streaming of content through a network is disclosed. The technique involves changing the rate at which content chunks are sent from an intermediate network device in order to cause a client to request content chunks that are encoded at a different bit rate. For example, an intermediate network device can reduce the rate at which content chunks are sent to a client in order to cause the client to adapt to the reduced flow rate by requesting content chunks that are encoded at a lower bit rate. Causing a client to request content chunks that are encoded at a lower bit rate can reduce the bandwidth demand in a wireless communications network.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method for controlling the streaming of content through a network, the method comprising:
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receiving content chunks at an intermediate network device, the intermediate network device being in a data path between a content source and a client, the content chunks being encoded at a first bit rate and being sent from the content source to the client using an adaptive bit rate streaming protocol; and changing the flow rate at which content chunks are sent from the intermediate network device from a first flow rate to a second flow rate in order to cause the client to adapt to the second flow rate by requesting content chunks that are encoded at a different bit rate than the first bit rate.
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2. A method for controlling the streaming of content through a network, the method comprising:
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receiving content chunks at an intermediate network device, the intermediate network device being in a data path between a content source and a client, the content chunks being encoded at a first bit rate and being sent from the content source to the client using an HTTP adaptive bit rate streaming protocol; and reducing the flow rate at which content chunks are sent from the intermediate network device from a first flow rate to a second flow rate in order to cause the client to adapt to the second flow rate by requesting content chunks that are encoded at a lower bit rate than the first bit rate. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A system for controlling the streaming of content through a network, the system comprising:
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an intermediate network device that is configured to receive content chunks from a content source and to send the content chunks to a client, wherein the content chunks are encoded at a first bit rate and are sent from the content source to the client using an HTTP adaptive bit rate streaming protocol; and the intermediate network device having an influencer module configured to reduce the flow rate at which content chunks are sent from the intermediate network device from a first flow rate to a second flow rate in order to cause the client to adapt to the second flow rate by requesting content chunks that are encoded at a lower bit rate than the first bit rate. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for controlling the streaming of content through a network, the method comprising:
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receiving content chunks at an intermediate network device, the intermediate network device being in a data path between a content source and a client, the content chunks being encoded at a first bit rate and being sent from the content source to the client using an HTTP adaptive bit rate streaming protocol; and throttling the flow rate at which content chunks are sent from the intermediate network device from a first flow rate to a second flow rate in order to cause the client to adapt to the second flow rate by requesting content chunks that are encoded at a lower bit rate than the first bit rate.
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Specification