Distributing Audio Video Content

• US 20140150046A1
• Filed: 06/21/2012
• Published: 05/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Epstein, Steve, Solow, Hillel, Sella, Yaron, Kipnis, Aviad, Poupko, Avraham
• Granted Patent: US 9,407,941 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/126
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/611 for multicast or broadcast systems for broadcast or conference H04L12/18; arrangements for broadcast or distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/00; arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time H04H60/00; selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS], H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/756 adapting media to device capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2343 involving reformatting operations of video signals for distribution or compliance with end-user requests or end-user device requirements video transcoding H04N19/40; media packet handling at the source H04L65/762
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23439 for generating different versions
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25825 involving client display capabilities, e.g. screen resolution of a mobile phone optimising the visualisation of content during browsing in the Internet G06F16/9577; processing of terminal status or physical abilities in wireless networks H04W8/22; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25858 involving client software characteristics, e.g. OS identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/643 Communication protocols network streaming protocols, e.g. real-time transport protocol [RTP] or real-time control protocol [RTCP], H04L65/65
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/85406 involving a specific file format, e.g. MP4 format
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8543 using a description language, e.g. Multimedia and Hypermedia information coding Expert Group [MHEG], eXtensible Markup Language [XML] information retrieval of semistructured data, the underlying structure being taken into account, e.g. mark-up language structure data G06F16/80

Abstract

A method of distributing audio video content is described. The method includes: receiving configuration data for a plurality of devices; for each device in the plurality of devices, computing a set of bit rates based, at least in part, on the configuration data; encoding audio video content at each bit rate in each set of bit rates to produce a plurality of encoded audio video content streams; splitting each encoded audio video content stream in the plurality of encoded audio video content streams into chunks to produce a plurality of chunked encoded audio video content streams; for each device in the plurality of devices, creating a separate index file, each separate index file including references to at least one of the plurality of chunked encoded audio video content streams; publishing a locator for each separate index file in a catalogue; and transmitting the plurality of chunked encoded audio video content streams and each separate index file to a network. Related systems, apparatus, and methods are also described.

Claims

1. A method of distributing audio video content, said method comprising:

receiving configuration data for a plurality of devices;

for each device in said plurality of devices, computing a set of bit rates based, at least in part, on said configuration data;

minimizing a number of bit rates in each set of bit rates to produce a revised set of bit rates for each device in said plurality of devices;

encoding audio video content at each bit rate in each revised set of bit rates to produce a plurality of encoded audio video content streams;

splitting each encoded audio video content stream in said plurality of encoded audio video content streams into chunks to produce a plurality of chunked encoded audio video content streams;

for each device in said plurality of devices, creating a separate index file, each separate index file comprising references to at least one of said plurality of chunked encoded audio video content streams;

publishing a locator for each separate index file in a catalogue; and

transmitting said plurality of chunked encoded audio video content streams and each separate index file to a network.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said configuration data comprises, for each device in said plurality of devices, one or more of:

an indication of device type, screen size, operating system, maximum video resolution, and minimum bit rate.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said maximum video resolution comprises a maximum video resolution supported by said device and a maximum useful video resolution, said maximum useful video resolution comprising a video resolution above which increases in video resolution will be imperceptible to a human eye.

4. The method of claim 3, said method further comprising:

computing a maximum bit rate from said maximum useful video resolution.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein each set of bit rates comprises:

said minimum bit rate, said maximum bit rate, and at least one intermediate bit rate between said minimum bit rate and said maximum bit rate.

6. The method of claim 5, said method further comprising:

receiving an indication of a number of bit rates to be computed for each set of bit rates;

computing a bit rate differential from said number of bit rates, said maximum bit rate and said minimum bit rate; and

computing said at least one intermediate bit rate using said bit rate differential.

7. The method of claim 5, said method further comprising:

receiving a bit rate differential; and

computing said at least one intermediate bit rate using said bit rate differential.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said bit rate differential is constant.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein said bit rate differential varies with bit rate.

11. The method of claim 1, said method further comprising:

encrypting the chunked encoded audio video content streams before transmission.

12. The method of claim 2, wherein said plurality of encoded audio video streams have a common format, and each index file has a format dependent on operating system.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein said computing is additionally based on feedback received from one or more devices in said plurality of devices.

10. (canceled)

14. Apparatus for distributing audio video content, said apparatus comprising:

means for receiving configuration data for a plurality of devices;

means for computing, for each device in said plurality of devices, a set of bit rates based, at least in part, on said configuration data;

means for minimizing a number of bit rates in each set of bit rates to produce a revised set of bit rates for each device in said plurality of devices;

means for encoding audio video content at each bit rate in each revised set of bit rates to produce a plurality of encoded audio video content streams;

means for splitting each encoded audio video content stream in said plurality of encoded audio video content streams into chunks to produce a plurality of chunked encoded audio video content streams;

means for creating, for each device in said plurality of devices, a separate index file, each separate index file comprising references to at least one of said plurality of chunked encoded audio video content streams;

means for publishing a locator for each separate index file in a catalogue; and

means for transmitting said plurality of chunked encoded audio video content streams and each separate index file to a network.

15. Apparatus operable to distribute audio video content, said apparatus comprising:

a bit rate decision maker operable to;

receive configuration data for a plurality of devices;

compute, for each device in said plurality of devices, a set of bit rates based, at least in part, on said configuration data; and

minimize a number of bit rates in each set of bit rates to produce a revised set of bit rates for each device in said plurality of devices;

said apparatus further comprising;

an encoder operable to encode audio video content at each bit rate in each revised set of bit rates to produce a plurality of encoded audio video content streams; and

a packager operable to;

split each encoded audio video content stream in said plurality of encoded audio video content streams into chunks to produce a plurality of chunked encoded audio video content streams;

create, for each device in said plurality of devices, a separate index file, each separate index file comprising references to at least one of said plurality of chunked encoded audio video content streams;

publish a locator for each separate index file in a catalogue; and

transmit said plurality of chunked encoded audio video content streams and each separate index file to a network.