Apparatus and Method for Controlling Adaptive Streaming of Media

• US 20150341411A1
• Filed: 01/10/2013
• Published: 11/26/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: HUBER, Michael, HUANG, Vincent
• Application Number:
  US14/759,125
• Publication Number:
  US 20150341411A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/013 Eye tracking input arrangements G06F3/015 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/613 for the control of the source by the destination control signals issued by the client directed to the server or network components specially adapted for selective content distribution H04N21/637
• 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 65/75 Media network packet handling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/752 adapting media to network capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23439 for generating different versions
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26258 for generating a list of items to be played back in a given order, e.g. playlist, or scheduling item distribution according to such list retrieval of multimedia data based on playlists G06F16/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44218 Detecting physical presence or behaviour of the user, e.g. using sensors to detect if the user is leaving the room or changes his face expression during a TV program methods or arrangements for recognising human body or animal bodies or body parts G06V40/10; methods or arrangements for acquiring or recognising human faces, facial parts, facial sketches, facial expressions G06V40/16; methods or arrangements for recognising movements or behaviour G06V40/20; arrangements for identifying users in broadcast systems H04H60/45
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4621 Controlling the complexity of the content stream or additional data, e.g. lowering the resolution or bit-rate of the video stream for a mobile client with a small screen arrangements for using the results of monitoring on user's side in broadcast systems H04H60/65; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8456 by decomposing the content in the time domain, e.g. in time segments

Abstract

A method for controlling adaptive streaming of media comprising video content is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of managing a quality representation of the video content according to available resources (step 120), detecting user engagement with the video content (step 130) and checking for continued user engagement with the video content (step 140). The method further comprises the step of reducing the quality representation of the video content on identifying an interruption of user engagement with the video content (step 150). Also disclosed are a computer program product for carrying out a method of controlling adaptive streaming of media comprising video content and a system (200) configured to control adaptive streaming of media comprising video content.

Claims

1. A method for controlling adaptive streaming of media comprising video content, the method comprising:

managing a quality representation of the video content according to available resources;

detecting user engagement with the video content;

checking for continued user engagement with the video content; and

reducing the quality representation of the video content on identifying an interruption of user engagement with the video content.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein an interruption of user engagement comprises an absence of detected user engagement during a time period exceeding a threshold value.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein reducing a quality representation of the video content comprises selecting a minimum available quality representation.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

checking for resumption of user engagement with the video content; and

interrupting streaming of the video content on identifying a prolonged interruption of user engagement with the video content.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

checking for resumption of user engagement with the video content; and

resuming management of quality representation of the video content on identifying a resumption of user engagement with the video content.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein detecting user engagement with the video content comprises detecting user presence within an engagement range of a video display screen.

7. A method as claimed in claim 6, wherein detecting user presence comprises detecting a user face within an engagement range of a video display screen.

8. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein detecting user engagement with the video content comprises detecting user eye contact with an engagement range of a video display screen.

9. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the media further comprises audio content, and wherein the method further comprises maintaining a quality representation of the audio content during an interruption of user engagement with the video content.

10. A computer program product configured, when run on a computer, to effect a method as claimed in claim 1.

11. A system for controlling adaptive streaming of media comprising video content by a user equipment, wherein the user equipment is configured to manage a quality representation of the video content according to available resources, the system comprising:

a detecting unit configured to detect user engagement with the video content;

a control unit configured to identify interruption of user engagement with the video content; and

a communication unit, configured to instruct the user equipment to reduce a quality representation of the video content on identification of an interruption of user engagement with the video content.

12. A system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the detecting unit comprises at least one of:

a presence detector, a face detector and/or an eye tracker.

13. A system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the control unit is further configured to identify a prolonged interruption of user engagement with the video content, and the communication unit is further configured to instruct the user equipment to interrupt streaming of the video content on identification of a prolonged interruption of user engagement with the video content.

14. A system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the control unit is further configured to identify a resumption of user engagement with the video content, and the communication unit is further configured to instruct the user equipment to resume management of quality representation of the video content on identification of a resumption of user engagement with the video content.

15. A system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the system is configured for integration into the user equipment.