Monitoring Over-the-Top Adaptive Video Streaming

• US 20130067109A1
• Filed: 01/12/2012
• Published: 03/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Tektronix Incorporated (Fortive Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Tektronix Incorporated (Fortive Corp.)
• Inventors: Dong, Wei, Wilkinson, Robert Todd, Robinson, Paul Anthony
• Application Number:
  US13/349,431
• Publication Number:
  US 20130067109A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/231
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5067 Customer-centric QoS measurements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/08 Monitoring or testing based on specific metrics, e.g. QoS, energy consumption or environmental parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/12 Network monitoring probes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/61 for supporting one-way streaming services, e.g. Internet radio
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/65 Network streaming protocols, e.g. real-time transport protocol [RTP] or real-time control protocol [RTCP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23439 for generating different versions
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2662 Controlling the complexity of the video stream, e.g. by scaling the resolution or bitrate of the video stream based on the client capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64723 Monitoring of network processes or resources, e.g. monitoring of network load traffic related reporting in data switching networks H04L43/062
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8456 by decomposing the content in the time domain, e.g. in time segments

Abstract

Systems and methods for monitoring over-the-top adaptive video streaming in a network are described. In an embodiment, a method may include identifying a protocol used in the communication based, wherein the protocol may be one among a plurality of different adaptive video streaming protocols. Video sessions using a plurality of different protocols are monitored and video session data collected. User Quality of Experience (QoE) and Key QoE Indicators (KQI) are generated for the network. Network operators may access video session data to analyze initial buffering delays, rebuffering delays, bandwidth changes, and gaps during the video session.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

performing, via one or more network monitoring devices,

capturing data packets from network interfaces, the data packets associated with a plurality of video sessions;

correlating the data packets to one of the videos sessions;

identifying a protocol used for each of the video sessions;

extracting adaptive streaming parameters from each of the video sessions based upon the type of protocol used; and

generating Quality of Experience (QoE) data for the plurality of video sessions.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the protocol used for each of the video streams is one among a plurality of different adaptive video streaming protocols.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a bandwidth available for a video session.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

identifying changes in the bandwidth assigned to a video session during the video session.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining an initial delay at a client device caused by buffering of video session data after an initial request for video content.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining when a client device must pause a video playback to buffer additional data during a video session.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying changes in screen resolution on a client device during a video session.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

correlating a Delivery Format (DF) stream with a Manifest File (MF) stream exchanged between a client device and a video streaming server for each of the video sessions.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

creating a media stream pipeline associated with the client device and based, at least in part, upon the correlated DF and MF streams.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

performing, via the one or more network monitoring devices,

measuring a bitrate for at least a portion of the video stream based, at least in part, upon the media stream pipeline.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

performing, via the one or more network monitoring devices,

recording a re-buffering event for the client device, the re-buffering event detected based, at least in part, upon the media stream pipeline; and

recording a recovery event and a re-buffering duration associated with the re-buffering event based, at least in part, upon the media stream pipeline.

12. A system, comprising:

at least one processor; and

a memory coupled to the at least one processor, the memory configured to store program instructions executable by the at least one processor to cause the system to;

identify one of a plurality of potentially different adaptive video streaming protocols used between a client device and a video streaming server;

calculate at least one of;

how long the client device has buffered content, how fast the buffer is growing or shrinking, or when client device will run out of content; and

record a quality-of-experience (QoE) event including a re-buffering, a recovery, and a re-buffering duration for the client device.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the program instructions are further executable by the at least one processor to cause the system to:

determine a bitrate for at least a portion of a video stream.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the program instructions are further executable by the at least one processor to cause the system to:

determine a bandwidth available for a video session.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the program instructions are further executable by the at least one processor to cause the system to:

identify changes in the bandwidth assigned to a video session during the video session.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the program instructions are further executable by the at least one processor to cause the system to:

determine an initial delay at a client device caused by buffering of video session data after an initial request for video content.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the program instructions are further executable by the at least one processor to cause the system to:

determine when a client device must pause a video playback to buffer additional data during a video session.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein the program instructions are further executable by the at least one processor to cause the system to:

identify changes in screen resolution on a client device during a video session.

19. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having program instructions stored thereon that, upon execution by one or more computer systems, cause the one or more computer systems to:

capture data packets from network interfaces, the data packets associated with a plurality of video sessions;

correlate the data packets to one of the videos sessions;

identify a protocol used for each of the video sessions;

extract adaptive streaming parameters from each of the video sessions based upon the type of protocol used; and

generate Quality of Experience (QoE) data for the plurality of video sessions.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the program instructions, upon execution by the one or more computer systems, further cause the one or more computer systems to:

calculate at least one of;

how long the client device has buffered content, how fast the buffer is growing or shrinking, or when the client device will run out of content.