Accelerated channel change in rate-limited environments
First Claim
1. A method for expediting presentation of resource information upon a start of delivery of the resource information within a rate-limited environment, comprising:
- delivering the resource information to a client module, in a first delivery, using first delivery functionality upon a commencement event; and
delivering the resource information to the client module, in a second delivery, using second delivery functionality,wherein the resource information provided by the first delivery and the resource information provided by the second delivery combine together to provide a resultant stream of resource information in which a primary mode of resource information delivery transitions from the first delivery functionality to the second delivery functionality, wherein the resultant stream has a data rate that remains below a prescribed data rate limit, andwherein retry functionality receives retry requests from the client module to supply the missing parts of the resource information and delivers the missing parts of the resource information to the client module.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Accelerated channel change (ACC) strategies are described for supplying a client module with media information by transitioning between a first delivery of media information provided by first delivery functionality and a second delivery of media information provided by second delivery functionality without exceeding prescribed data rate limitations. The first delivery functionality can represent server-based functionality for delivering a unicast stream of media information at a data rate (or maximum data rate) of some excess amount over the nominal rate of delivery, starting at a selected location within the media information. The second delivery functionality can represent any functionality for delivering the media information at the data rate (or maximum data rate) of the nominal rate of delivery. A join interval separates the first delivery at the excess rate and the second delivery at the nominal rate. In that period, the first delivery functionality can provide media information at a join interval data rate. The join interval data rate, if it is below the nominal data rate, will cause the client module to miss packets of media information. The client module can receive these missing packets by issuing retry requests to the first delivery functionality or to some other entity. The client module can determine the excess amount available by investigating the amount of missing information that occurs at different data rates; or the excess amount can be defined in advance.
153 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method for expediting presentation of resource information upon a start of delivery of the resource information within a rate-limited environment, comprising:
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delivering the resource information to a client module, in a first delivery, using first delivery functionality upon a commencement event; and delivering the resource information to the client module, in a second delivery, using second delivery functionality, wherein the resource information provided by the first delivery and the resource information provided by the second delivery combine together to provide a resultant stream of resource information in which a primary mode of resource information delivery transitions from the first delivery functionality to the second delivery functionality, wherein the resultant stream has a data rate that remains below a prescribed data rate limit, and wherein retry functionality receives retry requests from the client module to supply the missing parts of the resource information and delivers the missing parts of the resource information to the client module. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for delivering resource information to a client module, comprising:
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delivering the resource information, using first delivery functionality, at above-nominal data rate levels during an initial burst period of data transmission to the client module; delivering the resource information at join interval data rate levels during a join interval following the burst period, wherein, following the join interval, the client module switches to second delivery functionality for providing the resource information; and responding to requests from the client module to supply parts of the resource information which the client module missed during the join interval as a result of its receipt of the resource information at the join interval data rate levels. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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15. A method for receiving a stream of resource information at a client module, comprising:
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receiving, via first delivery functionality, resource information at above-nominal data rate levels during an initial burst period of data transmission; receiving the resource information at join interval data rate levels during a join interval following the burst period; receiving, via second delivery functionality, the resource information following the join interval; requesting parts of the resource information which the client module missed during the join interval as a result of its receipt of the resource information at the join interval data rate levels; receiving the missing parts of resource information concurrently with the receipt of the resource information via the second delivery functionality; and using the received missing parts for filling in holes created in the stream during the join interval. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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Specification