DYNAMIC QoS IN A NETWORK DISTRIBUTING STREAMED CONTENT

• US 20110179455A1
• Filed: 07/26/2009
• Published: 07/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dish Technologies LLC (Echostar Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Eldon Technology Limited (Echostar Corporation)
• Inventors: Thompson, Geoffrey
• Granted Patent: US 9,009,340 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/10 Flow control; Congestion control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/15 in relation to multipoint traffic arrangements for broadcast or multicast in data networks H04L12/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/18 End to end
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/2416 Real-time traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/2433 Allocation of priorities to traffic types
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/2458 Modification of priorities while in transit
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/25 with rate being modified by the source upon detecting a change of network conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/263 Rate modification at the source after receiving feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/61 for supporting one-way streaming services, e.g. Internet radio
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/752 adapting media to network capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/50 in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate

Abstract

In a home network a number of receiving devices are connected to receive streamed audio visual content from one or more sources by way of a network hub. One source is a set top box, having a hard disc drive, which provides a real time broadcast stream, stream 1, as well as a recorded output stream, stream 2. Another source is local storage which is capable of outputting its stored content, stream 3, at x32 normal speed, that is, fast forward. If there are bandwidth limitations on the network then the receiver (receiving the fast forward stream 3 will experience errors. When errors are detected, the receiver sends a message back to the source which then takes action to reduce the bit rate of its output stream.

Claims

1. A method of providing dynamic QoS in a network distributing streamed content, the network comprising one or more receiving devices for playing streamed content, one or more source devices for the content, and control means for routing the content from a selected source device to a selected receiving device upon request by the selected receiving device, the method comprising:

setting a priority for the content to be output from a selected source device dependent upon the characteristics of that content stream, and

determining the throughput rate of content streams from each of the sources in the network in dependence upon the priority set for each content stream.

2. A method of providing dynamic QoS in a network as claimed in claim 1, comprising lowering the network priority of the streamed content output when that content is to be played in non real time.

3. A method of providing dynamic QoS in a network as claimed in claim claim 2, comprising lowering the priority of the streamed content output when that content is to be played at a faster than normal bit rate.

4. A method of providing dynamic QoS in a network as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising causing the selected source device to reduce the number of frames transmitted in content output with a lowered priority.

5. A method of providing dynamic QoS in a network as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising causing the selected source device to transcode or transrate the content output with a lowered priority to reduce the throughput rate either by producing a lower resolution picture or by producing a lower bit rate at the original frame rate.

6. A method of providing dynamic QoS in a network as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein each selected source device is arranged to set a priority for the content it is to output, and wherein the throughput rate of the content streams from each source device is determined by the control means in dependence upon the priority set.

7. A method of providing dynamic QoS in a network as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising causing the selected receiving device to request the selected source to alter the throughput rate of the output content stream.

8. A method of providing dynamic QoS in a network as claimed in claim 7, comprising causing the selected receiving device to look at the quality of the content stream received and to feedback a request to alter the throughput rate of the content stream where the quality falls below a predetermined standard.

9. A method of providing dynamic QoS in a network as claimed in claim 6, wherein packets in the content stream are sequentially numbered, the method further comprising causing the selected receiving device to identify if packets have been lost and to feedback a request to reduce the throughput rate when packets are lost.

10. A method of providing dynamic QoS in a network as claimed in claim 8 or claim 9, further comprising causing the selected receiving device to identify any syntax errors in the lowered priority content stream received and to feedback a request to reduce the throughput rate when syntax errors occur.

11. A method of providing dynamic QoS in a network as claimed in any preceding claim, additionally comprising enabling each source device to set priority levels for each incoming multiple content stream, and to lower the throughput rate of selected incoming content streams in accordance with the set priority levels.

13. A network distributing streamed content as claimed in claim 12, the network being arranged to perform a method as claimed in any of claims 1 to 11.

12. A network distributing streamed content, the network comprising

one or more receiving devices for playing streamed content,

one or more source devices for the content, and

control means for routing the content from a selected source device to a selected receiving device upon request by the selected receiving device,

wherein each source device is enabled to set a priority for the content stream to be output dependent upon the characteristics of the content stream, and

wherein the network is arranged to determine the throughput rate of content streams from each of the source devices in dependence upon the priority set for each content stream.