System and method for simultaneous media playout
First Claim
1. In a network including a server and a plurality of clients, a method for achieving simultaneous media playout, the method comprising:
- from a server, supplying media stream data as media packets with a time stamp, to clients at a first bitrate (R1);
determining the network delivery requirement, including the first minimum client buffering capacity (C1) by;
polling the clients for their respective buffering capacities;
determining which client has the smallest buffering capacity; and
,selecting the first minimum buffering capacity (C1) to be equal to the client with the smallest buffering capacity;
in response to the network delivery requirements, modifying the supply of the media stream;
at each client, scheduling media playout to be at a time equal to a first time interval (t1) plus the minimum buffering capacity divided by the first bitrate (C1/R1) by;
at each client, reordering out-of-order media packets;
at each client, handling any lost media packets; and
,at each client, scheduling the playout of the media packets at a uniform rate in response to the media type and the first bitrate (R1).
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method have been provided for achieving simultaneous media playout in a network including a server and a plurality of clients. The method comprises: from a server, supplying a media stream to clients at a first bitrate (R1); determining the network delivery requirement; and, in response to the network delivery requirements, modifying the supply of the media stream. Determining the network delivery requirements includes determining either the buffering capacities of the clients, or the media streaming disruptions. To determine the buffering capacities of the dents, a first minimum client buffering capacity (C1) is determined by polling the clients for their respective buffering capacities, and selecting the first minimum buffering capacity (C1) to be equal to the client with the smallest buffering capacity.
296 Citations
26 Claims
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1. In a network including a server and a plurality of clients, a method for achieving simultaneous media playout, the method comprising:
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from a server, supplying media stream data as media packets with a time stamp, to clients at a first bitrate (R1); determining the network delivery requirement, including the first minimum client buffering capacity (C1) by; polling the clients for their respective buffering capacities; determining which client has the smallest buffering capacity; and
,selecting the first minimum buffering capacity (C1) to be equal to the client with the smallest buffering capacity; in response to the network delivery requirements, modifying the supply of the media stream; at each client, scheduling media playout to be at a time equal to a first time interval (t1) plus the minimum buffering capacity divided by the first bitrate (C1/R1) by; at each client, reordering out-of-order media packets; at each client, handling any lost media packets; and
,at each client, scheduling the playout of the media packets at a uniform rate in response to the media type and the first bitrate (R1). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A system for achieving simultaneous media playout in a network, the system comprising:
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a server having a network connection port to supply a media stream at a first bitrate (R1), the server determining network delivery requirements, including client buffering capacities, by polling clients for their respective buffering capacities and determining a first minimum buffering capacity (C1) to be equal to the client with the smallest buffering capacity, and prior to supplying a media stream at the first bitrate (R1), communicating the first minimum buffering capacity (C1) to clients; and
,at least one client having a network connection port to receive the media stream, to transmit their buffering capacities to the server in response to a poll, and to schedule a media playout to be at a time equal to a first time interval (t1) plus the minimum buffering capacity divided by the first bitrate (C1/R1); wherein the server determines a new minimum client buffering capacity (Cnew), in response to a chance in the number of clients, communicates the new minimum buffering capacity (Cnew) to the clients, and modifies the supply of media stream in response to the new minimum buffering capacity (Cnew) by performing a process selected from the group including temporarily pausing the supply of the media stream at the first bitrate (R1) and temporarily increasing the media stream bitrate; and
,wherein the server temporarily pauses the supply of the media stream if the new minimum buffering capacity (Cnew) is less than the first minimum buffering capacity (C1). - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification