Startup Bitrate In Adaptive Bitrate Streaming

• US 20120278496A1
• Filed: 04/29/2011
• Published: 11/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CBS Interactive Inc. (ViacomCBS Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: CBS Interactive Inc. (ViacomCBS Incorporated)
• Inventors: Hsu, James Kong
• Granted Patent: US 8,516,144 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/231
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4381 Recovering the multiplex stream from a specific network, e.g. recovering MPEG packets from ATM cells transmission of MPEG streams over ATM H04L12/5601
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4384 involving operations to reduce the access time, e.g. fast-tuning for reducing channel switching latency
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/439 Processing of audio elementary streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4424 Monitoring of the internal components or processes of the client device, e.g. CPU or memory load, processing speed, timer, counter or percentage of the hard disk space used error monitoring in general G06F11/30; arrangements for monitoring conditions of receiving stations in broadcast systems H04H60/32; diagnosis, testing or measuring for television receivers H04N17/04

Abstract

Streaming media at an adaptive bitrate streaming media player. Tracking a bitrate history of the player. Determining a startup bitrate from the bitrate history. Streaming at the determined bitrate. Tracking a bitrate history of the player can include storing tracked bitrates in a cookie accessible by the player; and determining a startup bitrate can include determining a startup bitrate from the cookie. Determining a startup bitrate can include determining an average tracked bitrate over the last N tracked bitrates. The average tracked bitrate can be weighted toward more recent tracked bitrates. Determining a startup bitrate can include determining a maximum startup bitrate. The bitrate history can include the maximum bitrate of the player over the last X sessions; and the maximum startup bitrate can be the lowest maximum bitrate over the last X sessions. The maximum startup bitrate can be the mode among maximum bitrates over the last X sessions.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for streaming media at an adaptive bitrate streaming media player, the method comprising:

tracking a bitrate history of the player;

determining a startup bitrate from the bitrate history; and

streaming at the determined bitrate.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

tracking a bitrate history of the player comprises storing tracked bitrates in a cookie accessible by the player; and

determining a startup bitrate from the bitrate history comprises determining a startup bitrate from at least the cookie accessible by the player.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a startup bitrate from the bitrate history comprises:

determining an average tracked bitrate over the last N tracked bitrates.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the determined average tracked bitrate is weighted toward more recent tracked bitrates.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a startup bitrate from the bitrate history comprises:

determining a first startup bitrate, and

determining an a maximum startup bitrate.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein:

tracking a bitrate history of the player comprises tracking a the maximum bitrate of the player over the last X sessions; and

determining an a maximum startup bitrate comprises determining the lowest maximum bitrate over the last X sessions; and

streaming at the determined bitrate comprises streaming at the lower of the first startup bitrate and the maximum startup bitrate.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein:

tracking a bitrate history of the player comprises tracking a the maximum bitrate of the player over the last X sessions; and

determining an a maximum startup bitrate comprises determining the mode among maximum bitrates over the last X sessions; and

streaming at the determined bitrate comprises streaming at the lower of the first startup bitrate and the maximum startup bitrate.

8. A computer program product for streaming media at an adaptive bitrate streaming media player, the computer program product comprising:

non-transitory media storing instructions that when executed by a processor are operative to;

track a bitrate history of the player;

determine a startup bitrate from the bitrate history; and

stream at the determined bitrate.

9. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein:

tracking a bitrate history of the player comprises storing tracked bitrates in a cookie accessible by the player; and

determining a startup bitrate from the bitrate history comprises determining a startup bitrate from at least the cookie accessible by the player.

10. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein determining a startup bitrate from the bitrate history comprises:

determining an average tracked bitrate over the last N tracked bitrates.

11. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the determined average tracked bitrate is weighted toward more recent tracked bitrates.

12. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein determining a startup bitrate from the bitrate history comprises:

determining an a maximum startup bitrate.

13. The computer program product of claim 12 wherein:

tracking a bitrate history of the player comprises tracking a the maximum bitrate of the player over the last X sessions; and

determining an a maximum startup bitrate comprises determining the lowest maximum bitrate over the last X sessions; and

streaming at the determined bitrate comprises streaming at the lower of the first startup bitrate and the maximum startup bitrate.

14. The computer program product of claim 12 wherein:

tracking a bitrate history of the player comprises tracking a the maximum bitrate of the player over the last X sessions; and

determining an a maximum startup bitrate comprises determining the mode among maximum bitrates over the last X sessions; and

streaming at the determined bitrate comprises streaming at the lower of the first startup bitrate and the maximum startup bitrate.

15. A system for processing streaming media at an adaptive bitrate streaming media player, the system comprising:

a processor, and

non-transitory media storing instructions that when executed by a processor are operative to;

track a bitrate history of the player;

determine a startup bitrate from the bitrate history; and

stream at the determined bitrate.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein:

tracking a bitrate history of the player comprises storing tracked bitrates in a cookie accessible by the player; and

determining a startup bitrate from the bitrate history comprises determining a startup bitrate from at least the cookie accessible by the player.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein determining a startup bitrate from the bitrate history comprises:

determining an average tracked bitrate over the last N tracked bitrates.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the determined average tracked bitrate is weighted toward more recent tracked bitrates.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein determining a startup bitrate from the bitrate history comprises:

determining an a maximum startup bitrate.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein:

tracking a bitrate history of the player comprises tracking a the maximum bitrate of the player over the last X sessions; and

determining an a maximum startup bitrate comprises determining the lowest maximum bitrate over the last X sessions; and

streaming at the determined bitrate comprises streaming at the lower of the first startup bitrate and the maximum startup bitrate.

21. The system of claim 19 wherein:

tracking a bitrate history of the player comprises tracking a the maximum bitrate of the player over the last X sessions; and

determining an a maximum startup bitrate comprises determining the mode among maximum bitrates over the last X sessions; and

streaming at the determined bitrate comprises streaming at the lower of the first startup bitrate and the maximum startup bitrate.