Startup methods and apparatuses for use in streaming content

• US 6,792,449 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2001
• Issued: 09/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Klemets, Anders E., Batterberry, Troy, Bhatt, Sanjay, Colville, Scott E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Elmore, Reba I.
• Application Number:
  US09/895,872
• Publication Number:
  US 20030005139A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,174 Days
• Field of Search: 709/215, 709/217, 709/230, 709/233
• US Class Current: 709/215
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23805 Controlling the feeding rate to the network, e.g. by controlling the video pump
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4384 involving operations to reduce the access time, e.g. fast-tuning for reducing channel switching latency
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44209 Monitoring of downstream path of the transmission network originating from a server, e.g. bandwidth variations of a wireless network arrangements for maintenance or administration in data switching networks involving bandwidth and capacity management H04L41/0896
• 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

Methods and apparatuses are provided for use with a client and server device connected through a communication link. The client device sends a startup request to the server device. The startup request identifies a streamable media content that is to be provided to the client device, a communication link bandwidth associated with the communication link, and an amount of the desired streamable media content that is to be provided at a bitrate greater than the encoded bitrate but no greater than about the communication link bandwidth. The server device buffers at least the amount of the streamable media content, and transmits the amount of the buffered streamable media content at the higher bitrate. The server device locates a discrete rendering point in the amount of the buffered streamable media content and initiates transmission beginning with the discrete rendering point. After transmitting the amount of the buffered streamable media content, the server device transmits subsequent portions of the streamable media content to the client device at a bitrate about equal to the encoded bitrate. The client device buffers received streamable media content, and subsequently renders the buffered streamed media content.

Claims

1. A method for use in a client device, the method comprising:

identifying streamable media content available from a server device over a communication link, said streamable media content having associated with it an encoded bitrate;

providing a startup request to said server device over said communication link, said startup request identifying said streamable media content, a communication link bandwidth, and an amount of said streamable media content to be transmitted at a bitrate greater than said encoded bitrate and no greater than about said communication link bandwidth.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

while receiving said amount of said streamable media content from said server device over said communication link;

buffering said received streamable media, and

subsequently rendering said buffered streamed media.

3. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein receiving said amount of said streamable media content from said server device over said communication link further includes:

initially receiving streamed media content associated with a discrete rendering point.

4. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein said discrete rendering point includes a key frame.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said amount of said streamable media content identifies an initial period of playback time.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said communication link bandwidth is actively determined by said client device.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said streamable media is selected from a group of streamable media comprising on-demand media and broadcast media.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein identifying said streamable media content available from said server device includes transmitting at least one session description protocol (SDP) message to said server device.

9. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein providing said startup request to said server device includes transmitting at least one message formatted according to at least one streaming media protocol selected from a group of protocols comprising MMS, Real Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP), and HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP).

10. An apparatus for use in a client device, the apparatus comprising:

memory suitable for buffering streamable media content having associated with it an encoded bitrate; and

logic operatively coupled to said memory and configured to generate at least one startup request that identifies a desired streamable media content, a communication link bandwidth, and an amount of said desired streamable media content that is to be provided at a bitrate greater than said encoded bitrate but no greater than about said communication link bandwidth.

11. The apparatus as recited in claim 10, further comprising:

a communication interface operatively coupled to said logic and configurable connect to a server device through a communication link, said communication interface being further configurable to transmit said at least one startup message to said server device and receive said amount of said streamable media content from said server device over said communication link; and

wherein said logic is further configured to buffer said received streamable media in said memory, and subsequently render said buffered streamed media.

12. The apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein said communication interface is configurable receive initially streamed media content associated with a discrete rendering point.

13. The apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein said discrete rendering point includes a key frame.

14. The apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein said logic is further configurable to identify said streamable media content available from said server device.

15. The apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein said amount of said streamable media content identifies an initial period of playback time.

16. The apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein said logic is configured to actively determine said communication link bandwidth.

17. The apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein said streamable media is selected from a group of streamable media comprising on-demand media and broadcast media.

18. A computer-readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions for:

identifying streamable media content available from a server device over a communication link, said streamable media content having associated with it an encoded bitrate;

providing a startup request to said server device over said communication link, said startup request identifying said streamable media content, a communication link bandwidth, and an amount of said streamable media content to be transmitted at a bitrate greater than said encoded bitrate and no greater than about said communication link bandwidth.

19. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 18, further comprising computer-executable instructions for:

receiving said amount of said streamable media content from said server device over said communication link;

buffering said received streamable media; and

subsequently rendering said buffered streamed media.

20. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 19, wherein receiving said amount of said streamable media content from said server device over said communication link further includes:

initially receiving streamed media content associated with a discrete rendering point.

21. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 20, wherein said discrete rendering point includes a key frame.

22. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 18, wherein said amount of said streamable media content identifies an initial period of playback time.

23. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 18, further comprising computer-executable instructions for:

actively determining said communication link bandwidth.

24. A method for use in a server device, the method comprising:

identifying streamable media content available to a client device over a communication link, said streamable media content having associated with it an encoded bitrate;

receiving a startup request from said client device over said communication link, said startup request specifying said streamable media content to be transmitted to said client, a communication link bandwidth, and an amount of said streamable media content to be transmitted at a bitrate greater than said encoded bitrate and no greater than about said communication link bandwidth.

25. The method as recited in claim 24, further comprising:

buffering at least said amount of said streamable media content; and

transmitting said amount of said buffered streamable media content to said client device at said bitrate greater than said encoded bitrate and no greater than about said communication link bandwidth.

26. The method as recited in claim 25, further comprising:

after transmitting said amount of said buffered streamable media content, transmitting subsequent portions of said streamable media content to said client device at a bitrate about equal to said encoded bitrate.

27. The method as recited in claim 25, wherein transmitting said amount of said buffered streamable media content to said client device further includes:

locating a discrete rendering point in said amount of said buffered streamable media content; and

initiating transmission of said amount of said buffered streamable media content beginning with said discrete rendering point.

28. The method as recited in claim 27, wherein said discrete rendering point includes a key frame.

29. The method as recited in claim 25, wherein said amount of said streamable media content identifies an initial period of playback time.

30. The method as recited in claim 25, wherein said streamable media is selected from a group of streamable media comprising on-demand media and broadcast media.

31. An apparatus for use in a server device, the apparatus comprising:

memory suitable for buffering streamable media content having associated with it an encoded bitrate; and

logic operatively coupled to said memory and configurable to respond in accord with to a startup request, said startup request specifying streamable media content to be provided to said client, a communication link bandwidth associated with a communications link established between said server device and said logic, and an amount of said streamable media content to be transmitted at a bitrate greater than said encoded bitrate and no greater than about said communication link bandwidth.

32. The apparatus as recited in claim 31, wherein said logic is configured to buffer at least said amount of said streamable media content in said memory, and transmit said amount of said buffered streamable media content to said client device at said bitrate greater than said encoded bitrate but no greater than about said communication link bandwidth.

33. The apparatus as recited in claim 32, wherein said logic is further configured to, after transmitting said amount of said buffered streamable media content, transmit subsequent portions of said streamable media content to said client device at a bitrate about equal to said encoded bitrate.

34. The apparatus as recited in claim 32, wherein, in transmitting said amount of said buffered streamable media content to said client device said logic locates a discrete rendering point in said amount of said buffered streamable media content and initiates transmission of said amount of said buffered streamable media content beginning with said discrete rendering point .

35. The apparatus as recited in claim 34, wherein said discrete rendering point includes a key frame.

36. The apparatus as recited in claim 31, wherein said amount of said streamable media content identifies an initial period of playback time.

37. The apparatus as recited in claim 31, wherein said streamable media is selected from a group of streamable media comprising on-demand media and broadcast media.

38. A computer-readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions for:

identifying streamable media content available to a client device over a communication link, said streamable media content having associated with it an encoded bitrate;

receiving a startup request from said client device over said communication link, said startup request specifying said streamable media content to be transmitted to said client, a communication link bandwidth, and an amount of said streamable media content to be transmitted at a bitrate greater than said encoded bitrate and no greater than about said communication link bandwidth.

39. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 38, further comprising computer-executable instructions for:

buffering at least said amount of said streamable media content; and

transmitting said amount of said buffered streamable media content to said client device at said bitrate greater than said encoded bitrate and no greater than about said communication link bandwidth.

40. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 39, further comprising computer-executable instructions for:

after transmitting said amount of said buffered streamable media content, transmitting subsequent portions of said streamable media content to said client device at a bitrate about equal to said encoded bitrate.

41. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 39, wherein transmitting said amount of said buffered streamable media content to said client device further includes:

locating a discrete rendering point in said amount of said buffered streamable media content; and

initiating transmission of said amount of said buffered streamable media content beginning with said discrete rendering point.

42. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 41, wherein said discrete rendering point includes a key frame.

43. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 38, wherein said amount of said streamable media content identifies an initial period of playback time.

44. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 38, wherein said streamable media is selected from a group of streamable media comprising on-demand media and broadcast media.

45. A system comprising:

a network configured to provide a communication link;

a server device operatively coupled to said network; and

a client device operatively coupled to said network, and configured to send at least one startup request to said server device over said communication link, said startup request identifying a streamable media content to be provided to said client device over said communication link, a client determined communication link bandwidth associated with said communication link, and an amount of said desired streamable media content that is to be provided at a bitrate greater than said encoded bitrate but no greater than about said communication link bandwidth.

46. The system as recited in claim 45, wherein said server device is configured to buffer at least said amount of said streamable media content, and transmit said amount of said buffered streamable media content to said client device at said bitrate greater than said encoded bitrate but no greater than about said communication link bandwidth.

47. The system as recited in claim 46, wherein said server device is further configured to, after transmitting said amount of said buffered streamable media content, transmit subsequent portions of said streamable media content to said client device at a bitrate about equal to said encoded bitrate.

48. The system as recited in claim 46, wherein, in transmitting said amount of said buffered streamable media content to said client device said server device locates a discrete rendering point in said amount of said buffered streamable media content and initiates transmission of said amount of said buffered streamable media content beginning with said discrete rendering point.

49. The system as recited in claim 48, wherein said discrete rendering point includes a key frame.

50. The system as recited in claim 45, wherein said amount of said streamable media content identifies an initial period of playback time.

51. The system as recited in claim 45, wherein said streamable media is selected from a group of streamable media comprising on-demand media and broadcast media.

52. The system as recited in claim 45, wherein said client device is further configured to buffer received streamable media content, and subsequently render said buffered streamed media content.