DYNAMIC QUALITY OF SERVICE FOR CONTROL OF MEDIA STREAMS USING FEEDBACK FROM THE LOCAL ENVIRONMENT

• US 20140237079A1
• Filed: 02/20/2013
• Published: 08/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Novatel Wireless, Inc. (Inseego Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Novatel Wireless, Inc. (Inseego Corp.)
• Inventors: Lockerbie, Ian, McLeod, Jordan, Kushneryk, Wayne
• Granted Patent: US 9,137,091 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/218
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/025 for remote control or remote monitoring of applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2146 located in mass transportation means, e.g. aircraft, train or bus flight-deck installations for entertainment or communications B64D11/0015; arrangements specially adapted for transportation systems in broadcast systems H04H20/62; moving wireless networks H04W84/005
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2408 Monitoring of the upstream path of the transmission network, e.g. client requests monitoring data switching networks utilization H04L43/0876; scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42203 sound input device, e.g. microphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided that allow a media streaming device to dynamically control the quality of service associated with streaming media content being presented to a user. To dynamically control the quality of service associated with the streaming media content, the local environment in which the media streaming device, and one or more downstream devices which may be configured to receive the streaming media content, if present, operate, is monitored. Feedback regarding the status of the local environment can be gleaned based on the monitoring, and based on the feedback, the quality of service associated with the streaming media content can be adjusted accordingly, or the streaming media content may be paused, altogether terminated, maintained, or initiated/re-initiated. To further refine the feedback, user behavior may also be monitored, which can be suggestive of a user'"'"'s attentiveness to the streaming media content.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

monitoring a local environment in which a media streaming device operates;

receiving feedback from the local environment regarding a status of the local environment as a result of the monitoring; and

determining treatment of streamed media content routed to or from the media streaming device based on the status of the local environment.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the monitoring of the local environment comprises sensing ambient sound in the local environment, and comparing the sensed ambient sound with a known waveform associated with the streamed media content.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the monitoring of the local environment comprises determining if a downstream device to which the streamed media content is routed from the media streaming device is active or is physically connected to the media streaming device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the monitoring of the local environment comprises determining if a change has occurred with respect to presence, absence, or location of neighboring mobile devices within the local environment.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the monitoring of the local environment comprises determining if there has been an occurrence of prolonged lack of movement of at least one of the media streaming device and a downstream device to which the streamed media content is routed from the media streaming device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the monitoring of the local environment comprises determining an ignition system status of a vehicle in which at least one of the media streaming device and a downstream device to which the streamed media content is routed from the media streaming device is located.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the monitoring of the local environment comprises determining whether a user is present proximate to the location of at least one of the media streaming device and a downstream device to which the streamed media content is routed from the media streaming device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the monitoring of the local environment comprises determining the availability and quality of one or more data paths over which the streamed media content is routed.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising, monitoring behavior of a user, and receiving additional feedback indicative of the attentiveness of the user with respect to the streamed media content.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the feedback is provided via a direct input from the user.

11. The method of claim 9 further comprising, augmenting the received feedback from the local environment with the received additional feedback to refine the treatment of the streamed media content.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the monitoring of the behavior of the user comprises comparing ambient noise within the local environment and volume level associated with the streamed media content.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the monitoring of the behavior of the user comprises detecting an absolute volume level associated with the streamed media content.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the monitoring of the behavior of the user comprises performing biometric tracking to determine the attentiveness of the user.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the treatment of the streamed media content comprises one of reducing the quality of service associated with the streamed media content, increasing the quality of service associated with the streamed media content, maintaining a current quality of service associated with the streamed media content, pausing the streamed media content, terminating the streamed media content, initiating the streamed media content, or re-initiating the streamed media content.

16. The method of claim 1, where the treatment of the streamed media content comprises transmitting a predefined quantity of the streamed media content in bursts.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the local environment comprises at least one of a vehicle, a home environment, an office environment, and a mobile hotspot environment.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the media streaming device is operatively connected to at least one downstream device to which the streamed media content is routed via one of a wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), a wireless USB network, an ultrawideband network, a Bluetooth network, an Ethernet network, a Zigbee network, an infrared connection, or a wired connection.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the media streaming device is operatively connected to at least one of a wireless Wide Area Network (WWAN), a WiMAX network, a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network, and a 4G network.

20. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor; and

at least one memory unit including computer program code, the at least one memory unit and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following;

establish, utilizing a first radio module, a first wireless connection to a base station associated with a wide area network (WAN);

establish, utilizing a second radio module, a second wireless connection with at least one downstream device to establish a wireless local area network (WLAN) between the at least one downstream device and the apparatus;

transmit a media stream to the at least one downstream device in accordance with a quality of service determined based on feedback from a local environment in which at least one of the apparatus and the at least one downstream device operate.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the feedback from the local environment further comprises feedback regarding attentiveness of a user consuming the transmitted media stream.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the media stream originates at a media source operatively connected to the WAN.

23. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the at least one memory unit and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, further cause the apparatus to pause the media stream, terminate the media stream, initiate the media stream, or re-initiate the media stream.

24. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor; and

at least one memory unit including computer program code, the at least one memory unit and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following;

establish, utilizing a first interface, a first wired connection to a router associated with a wide area network (WAN);

establish, utilizing a second interface, a second wired connection with at least two downstream devices to establish a local area network (LAN) between the at least one downstream device and the apparatus;

transmit a media stream to the at least one downstream device in accordance with a quality of service determined based on feedback from a local environment in which at least one of the apparatus and the at least one downstream device operate.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the at least two downstream device comprise a set-top box and a television.

26. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the feedback from the local environment further comprises feedback regarding attentiveness of a user consuming the transmitted media stream.

27. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the at least one memory unit and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, further cause the apparatus to pause the media stream, terminate the media stream, initiate the media stream, or re-initiate the media stream.