Startup methods and apparatuses for use in streaming content
First Claim
1. A method for use in a client device, the method comprising:
- identifying a communication link bandwidth for a communication link between the client device and a server device, wherein identifying the communication link bandwidth comprises;
sending a plurality of non-compressible packet pairs from the client device to the server device;
receiving a plurality of non-compressible packet pairs from the server device;
for each of the plurality of non-compressible packet pairs received from the server device, measuring a packet pair bandwidth;
tracking each of the measured packet pair bandwidths in a history list; and
calculating the communication link bandwidth, wherein the communication link bandwidth corresponds to a median value of the measured packet pair bandwidths in the history list;
requesting from the server device a fast startup transfer of streamable media content having an encoded bit rate, the request identifying the streamable media content, the communication link bandwidth, an initial fast streaming bit rate that is faster than the encoded bit rate but less than about the communication link bandwidth, a subsequent slower streaming bit rate that is about equal to the encoded bit rate, and a first amount of the streamable media content to be streamed at the initial fast streaming bit rate;
receiving the first amount of the streamable media content streamed at the initial fast streaming bit rate; and
receiving a second amount of the streamable media content streamed at the subsequent slower streaming bit rate.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
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.
119 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method for use in a client device, the method comprising:
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identifying a communication link bandwidth for a communication link between the client device and a server device, wherein identifying the communication link bandwidth comprises; sending a plurality of non-compressible packet pairs from the client device to the server device; receiving a plurality of non-compressible packet pairs from the server device; for each of the plurality of non-compressible packet pairs received from the server device, measuring a packet pair bandwidth; tracking each of the measured packet pair bandwidths in a history list; and calculating the communication link bandwidth, wherein the communication link bandwidth corresponds to a median value of the measured packet pair bandwidths in the history list; requesting from the server device a fast startup transfer of streamable media content having an encoded bit rate, the request identifying the streamable media content, the communication link bandwidth, an initial fast streaming bit rate that is faster than the encoded bit rate but less than about the communication link bandwidth, a subsequent slower streaming bit rate that is about equal to the encoded bit rate, and a first amount of the streamable media content to be streamed at the initial fast streaming bit rate; receiving the first amount of the streamable media content streamed at the initial fast streaming bit rate; and receiving a second amount of the streamable media content streamed at the subsequent slower streaming bit rate. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A method for use in a server device, the method comprising:
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identifying available streaming media content to a client device over a communication link; identifying the communication link bandwidth by; employing a non-compressible packet pair to calculate a bandwidth measurement between the client device and the server device; tracking recent bandwidth measurements in a history list; and calculating a median from the history list as the communication link bandwidth, receiving a fast startup transfer request to transfer the streaming media content to the client device, the request comprising an identification of the streaming media content, the communication link bandwidth, an initial fast streaming bit rate that is faster than the encoded bit rate but less than about the communication link bandwidth, a subsequent slower streaming bit rate that is about equal to the encoded bit rate, and a first amount of the streaming media content to be streamed at the initial fast streaming bit rate. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A client device comprising:
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means for identifying streamable media content available from a server device over a communication link, the streamable media content having associated with it an encoded bitrate; means for providing a fast startup request to the server device over said communication link, said fast startup request identifying said streamable media content, a communication link bandwidth determined by tracking non-compressible packets recently sent over the communication link and calculating a median, an initial fast streaming bit rate that is faster than said encoded bit rate but less than about said communication link bandwidth, a subsequent slower streaming bit rate that is about equal to said encoded bit rate, and an amount of said streamable media content to be transmitted at said initial fast streaming bit rate. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A server device comprising:
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means 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; means for receiving a fast 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 determined by tracking non-compressible packets recently sent over the communication link and calculating a median, an initial fast streaming bit rate that is faster than said encoded bit rate but less than about said communication link bandwidth, a subsequent slower streaming bit rate that is about equal to said encoded bit rate, and an amount of said streamable media content to be transmitted at said initial fast streaming bit rate. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification