SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SHARING BANDWIDTH ACROSS MULTIPLE VIDEO STREAMS

• US 20140122652A1
• Filed: 10/26/2012
• Published: 05/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Motorola Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Motorola Solutions, Inc.
• Inventors: BEKIARES, TYRONE D., TINE, STEVEN D., TUMMALAPENTA, SATYANARAYAN, VUKKADAPU, SRIKANTH
• Granted Patent: US 9,100,698 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/219
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6373 for rate control , e.g. request to the server to modify its transmission rate flow control in packet networks H04L47/10

Abstract

A client-based method, a server-based method, and a client device enable streaming of multiple video streams utilizing standardized methods while ensuring the multiple video streams share bandwidth over a single, variable connection such as a wireless connection. These methods and device enable an equitably share of bandwidth across multiple video streams sharing a same physical medium. Further, these methods and device can enable selective prioritization of any of the multiple streams.

Claims

1. A client-based method, comprising:

receiving a plurality of video streams at a client device over a wireless connection, wherein each of the plurality of video streams operates at one of a plurality of associated profiles;

determining feedback for each of the plurality of video streams;

determining modified feedback for each of the plurality of video streams based on the feedback for each of the plurality of video streams; and

transmitting the modified feedback for each of the plurality of video streams to an associated source of each of the plurality of video streams.

2. The client-based method of claim 1, further comprising:

utilizing Real Time Control Protocol and Real Time Protocol between the client device and the associated source of each of the plurality of video streams.

3. The client-based method of claim 2, further comprising:

operating each of the associated sources of each of the plurality of video streams in accordance with the Real Time Control Protocol and the Real Time Protocol;

determining the modified feedback by the client device; and

transmitting the modified feedback for each of the plurality of video streams to the associated source of each of the plurality of video streams without requiring extensions or modifications to the Real Time Control Protocol and the Real Time Protocol.

4. The client-based method of claim 2, further comprising:

determining the feedback for each of the plurality of video streams utilizing packet loss ratio; and

transmitting the modified feedback in a Receiver Report packet to each of the associated sources of each of the plurality of video streams.

5. The client-based method of claim 1, further comprising:

grouping the plurality of video streams as a single stream for determining the feedback;

computing a packet loss ratio across the single stream;

determining a weighted average of the packet loss ratio; and

transmitting the weighted average in a Receiver Report packet to each of the associated sources of each of the plurality of video streams.

6. The client-based method of claim 5, further comprising:

upshifting or downshifting to one of the plurality of associated profiles at each of the associated sources of each of the plurality of video streams in a similar, uniform manner upon receipt of the weighted average in the Receiver Report packet.

7. The client-based method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining an available bandwidth for the client device over the wireless connection;

determining a current bandwidth for each of the plurality of video streams, wherein the current bandwidth for each of the plurality of video streams is based on the feedback for each of the plurality of video streams; and

determining the modified feedback for each of the plurality of video streams such that each of the plurality of video streams utilizes a substantially same amount of the available bandwidth.

8. The client-based method of claim 7, wherein at least two of the plurality of video streams are operating at different profiles of the plurality of associated profiles.

9. The client-based method of claim 1, further comprising:

subsequent to transmitting the modified feedback and if the modified feedback is above a downshift threshold, receiving the plurality of video streams at the client device over the wireless connection with each of the plurality of video streams downshifted to one of the plurality of associated profiles.

10. The client-based method of claim 1, further comprising:

subsequent to transmitting the modified feedback and if the modified feedback is below an upshift threshold, receiving the plurality of video streams at the client device over the wireless connection with each of the plurality of video streams upshifted to one of the plurality of associated profiles.

11. The client-based method of claim 10, further comprising:

subsequent to the upshift, if the client device experiences packet losses below a threshold, maintaining the plurality of video streams upshifted to one of the plurality of associated; and

if the client device experiences packet losses at or above the threshold, performing a back-off process until the client device experiences packet losses below the threshold.

12. The client-based method of claim 11, further comprising:

performing the back-off process by backing off a stream of the plurality of streams with a highest bit rate and continuing backing off subsequent streams of the plurality of streams with next highest bit rates until the client device experiences packet losses below the threshold.

13. The client-based method of claim 1, further comprising:

operating each of the associated source of each of the plurality of video streams in accordance with the User Datagram Protocol;

determining the modified feedback by the client device as an average packet loss ratio across all of the plurality of video streams; and

transmitting the modified feedback for each of the plurality of video streams to the associated source of each of the plurality of video streams without requiring extensions or modifications to the User Datagram Protocol.

14. A server-based method, comprising:

transmitting a plurality of video streams to a client device from at least one server, wherein each of the plurality of video streams operates at one of a plurality of associated profiles;

receiving feedback for each of the plurality of video streams, wherein the feedback is modified by one of the client device and the at least one server such that each of the plurality of video streams has substantially a same bandwidth;

determining if adjustments are required to associated profiles of each of the plurality of video streams; and

if adjustments are required, transmitting the plurality of video streams at different associated profiles of the plurality of associated profiles based on the adjustments.

15. The server-based method of claim 14, further comprising:

transmitting the plurality of video streams to the client device from the at least one server utilizing Transmission Control Protocol;

receiving the feedback at the at least one server via throughput over the Transmission Control Protocol; and

adjusting the plurality of video streams in a consolidated manner based on the throughput over the Transmission Control Protocol.

16. A client device, comprising:

a network interface communicatively coupled to a wireless network;

a processor communicatively coupled to the network interface; and

memory storing instructions that, when executed, cause the processor and the network interface to;

receive a plurality of video streams at a client device over the wireless network, wherein each of the plurality of video streams operates at one of a plurality of associated profiles;

determine feedback for each of the plurality of video streams;

determine modified feedback for each of the plurality of video streams based on the feedback for each of the plurality of video streams; and

transmit the modified feedback for each of the plurality of video streams to an associated source of each of the plurality of video streams.

17. The client device of claim 16, wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor and the network interface to:

utilize Real Time Control Protocol and Real Time Protocol between the associated source of each of the plurality of video streams;

determine the feedback for each of the plurality of video streams utilizing packet loss ratio; and

transmit the modified feedback in a Receiver Report packet for each of the plurality of video streams to the associated source of each of the plurality of video streams without requiring extensions or modifications to the Real Time Control Protocol and the Real Time Protocol.

18. The client device of claim 16, wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor and the network interface to:

group the plurality of video streams as a single stream for determining the feedback;

compute a packet loss ratio across the single stream;

determine a weighted average of the packet loss ratio; and

transmit the weighted average in a Receiver Report packet to each of the associated sources of each of the plurality of video streams.

19. The client device of claim 16, wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor and the network interface to:

determine an available bandwidth for the client device over the wireless connection;

determine a current bandwidth for each of the plurality of video streams, wherein the current bandwidth for each of the plurality of video streams is based on the feedback for each of the plurality of video streams; and

determine the modified feedback for each of the plurality of video streams such that each of the plurality of video streams utilizes a substantially same amount of the available bandwidth.

20. The client device of claim 16, wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor and the network interface to:

operate between each of the associated source of each of the plurality of video streams in accordance with the User Datagram Protocol;

determine the modified feedback as an average packet loss ratio across all of the plurality of video streams; and

transmit the modified feedback for each of the plurality of video streams to the associated source of each of the plurality of video streams without requiring extensions or modifications to the User Datagram Protocol.