ADAPTIVE PROGRESSIVE DOWNLOAD

• US 20110296046A1
• Filed: 05/28/2010
• Published: 12/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Allot Communications Limited
• Original Assignee: Ortiva Wireless Incorporated (Allot Ltd.)
• Inventors: Arya, Ashwani, Arole, Parag
• Granted Patent: US 8,504,713 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/231
• 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

Abstract

Data packets to be transferred over a network as part of a temporally ordered content stream are obtained by an adaptive progressive download (APD) server. The APD server divides the data packets of the content stream into epochs of contiguous data, the epochs including a current epoch. The APD server determines a bit rate available on the network for transferring the current epoch and calculates an estimate of a playback time of the content stream buffered at a computer to which the content stream is being transferred and played back. The calculation of the estimate is based at least in part on the bit rate available on the network and an encoding bit rate of the content stream. The APD server controls the transfer of the content stream over the network in accordance with the estimated playback time.

Claims

1. A method of streaming data over a network comprising:

dividing data packets of a content stream into epochs of contiguous data such that each epoch can be independently manipulated for transfer over a network as part of a temporally ordered content stream, the epochs including a current epoch;

determining a bit rate available on the network for transferring the current epoch;

calculating an estimate of a playback time of the content stream that is buffered at user equipment to which the content stream is being transferred and played back, wherein the calculating of the estimate is based at least in part on the bit rate available on the network and an encoding bit rate of the content stream; and

controlling the transfer of the content stream over the network in accordance with the estimated playback time.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the epochs comprise data packets that are encapsulated in a container wrapper for network transfer.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein, if the calculated estimate of the playback time is below a first threshold, the controlling comprises:

determining a bit rate at which to re-encode the current epoch to maintain the playback time of the buffered content stream above the first threshold; and

transferring the re-encoded current epoch toward the network.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the controlling comprises increasing the transfer of the re-encoded current epoch into a container wrapper for transfer over the network to increase the playback time of the buffered content stream above the first threshold.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein, if the calculated estimate of the playback time is above a second threshold, the controlling comprises slowing the transfer of the current epoch over the network to maintain the playback time of the buffered content stream below the second threshold.

6. A method of streaming data over a network comprising:

intercepting data packets being transferred over a network, the data packets being identified as being part of at least one temporally ordered content stream;

dividing the data packets of the content stream into epochs of contiguous data, the epochs including a current epoch;

determining a bit rate available on the network for transferring the current epoch;

calculating an estimate of a temporal amount of the content stream buffered at user equipment to which the content stream is being transferred and reproduced, the calculating of the estimate being based at least in part on the bit rate available on the network and a video bit rate at which the epoch is encoded; and

if the calculated estimate is above a threshold, slowing transfer of the current epoch over the network.

7. The method of streaming data over the network of claim 6, wherein the dividing comprises dividing the data packets into audio content epochs and video content epochs, and private text or binary data the method further comprising multiplexing the audio and video content epochs into a contiguous data stream with a container format configured to be transferred over the network.

8. A system for streaming data over a network, the system comprising:

a controller that divides data packets of a content stream into epochs of contiguous data such that each epoch can be independently manipulated for transfer over a network as part of a temporally ordered content stream, the epochs including a current epoch, determines a bit rate available on the network for transferring the current epoch, and calculates an estimate of a playback time of the content stream that is buffered at user equipment to which the content stream is being transferred and played back, wherein the calculating of the estimate is based at least in part on the bit rate available on the network and an encoding bit rate of the content stream; and

a delivery interface that controls the transfer of the content stream over the network in accordance with the estimated playback time.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the epochs comprise data packets that are encapsulated in a container wrapper for network transfer.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein, if the calculated estimate of the playback time is below a first threshold, the controller:

determines a bit rate at which to re-encode the current epoch to maintain the playback time of the buffered content stream above the first threshold; and

transfers the re-encoded current epoch toward the network.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the controlling comprises increasing the transfer of the re-encoded current epoch into a container wrapper for transfer over the network to increase the playback time of the buffered content stream above the first threshold.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein, if the calculated estimate of the playback time is above a second threshold, the delivery interface slows the transfer of the current epoch over the network to maintain the playback time of the buffered content stream below the second threshold.

13. A system for streaming data over a network, the system comprising:

a controller that intercepts data packets being transferred over a network, the data packets being identified as being part of at least one temporally ordered content stream, divides the data packets of the content stream into epochs of contiguous data, the epochs including a current epoch, determines a bit rate available on the network for transferring the current epoch, and calculates an estimate of a temporal amount of the content stream buffered at user equipment to which the content stream is being transferred and reproduced, the calculating of the estimate being based at least in part on the bit rate available on the network and a video bit rate at which the epoch is encoded; and

a delivery interface that slows the transfer of the current epoch over the network if the calculated estimate is above a threshold.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the dividing comprises dividing the data packets into audio content epochs and video content epochs, and private text or binary data the method further comprising multiplexing the audio and video content epochs into a contiguous data stream with a container format configured to be transferred over the network.

15. A computer-readable storage medium having a computer-readable program embodied therein for directing operation of a computer system for streaming data over a network, the computer-readable program including computer executable instructions for processing in accordance with the following:

dividing data packets of a content stream into epochs of contiguous data such that each epoch can be independently manipulated for transfer over a network as part of a temporally ordered content stream, the epochs including a current epoch;

determining a bit rate available on the network for transferring the current epoch;

calculating an estimate of a playback time of the content stream that is buffered at user equipment to which the content stream is being transferred and played back, wherein the calculating of the estimate is based at least in part on the bit rate available on the network and an encoding bit rate of the content stream; and

controlling the transfer of the content stream over the network in accordance with the estimated playback time.

16. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the epochs comprise data packets that are encapsulated in a container wrapper for network transfer.

17. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein, if the calculated estimate of the playback time is below a first threshold, the controlling comprises:

determining a bit rate at which to re-encode the current epoch to maintain the playback time of the buffered content stream above the first threshold; and

transferring the re-encoded current epoch toward the network.

18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the controlling comprises increasing the transfer of the re-encoded current epoch into a container wrapper for transfer over the network to increase the playback time of the buffered content stream above the first threshold.

19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein, if the calculated estimate of the playback time is above a second threshold, the controlling comprises slowing the transfer of the current epoch over the network to maintain the playback time of the buffered content stream below the second threshold.

20. A computer-readable storage medium having a computer-readable program embodied therein for directing operation of a computer system for streaming data over a network, the computer-readable program including computer executable instructions for processing in accordance with the following:

intercepting data packets being transferred over a network, the data packets being identified as being part of at least one temporally ordered content stream;

dividing the data packets of the content stream into epochs of contiguous data, the epochs including a current epoch;

determining a bit rate available on the network for transferring the current epoch;

calculating an estimate of a temporal amount of the content stream buffered at user equipment to which the content stream is being transferred and reproduced, the calculating of the estimate being based at least in part on the bit rate available on the network and a video bit rate at which the epoch is encoded; and

if the calculated estimate is above a threshold, slowing transfer of the current epoch over the network.