Ever-decreasing network QOS requirements for stored video streaming in a mobile wireless interworking environment

• US 7,640,565 B2
• Filed: 06/19/2003
• Issued: 12/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Magnolia Licensing LLC (IP Edge LLC)
• Original Assignee: Thomson Licensing (Vantiva SA)
• Inventors: Li, Jun, Ramaswamy, Kumar, Zhang, Junbiao
• Primary Examiner(s): Kelley; Christopher
• Assistant Examiner(s): Andramuno; Franklin S
• Application Number:
  US10/518,995
• Publication Number:
  US 20060156365A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,385 Days
• Field of Search: 725/81, 725/82, 725/83, 725/106, 725/122, 725/123
• US Class Current: 725/81
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/238 Interfacing the downstream path of the transmission network, e.g. adapting the transmission rate of a video stream to network bandwidth; Processing of multiplex streams hybrid fiber coaxial [HFC] networks for downstream channel allocation for video distribution H04L12/2801; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10; real-time communication protocols in data switching networks H04L65/00; scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6377 directed to server one-way streaming services wherein the source is controlled by the destination H04L65/613
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/658 Transmission by the client directed to the server
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/22 Negotiating communication rate

Abstract

A method for downloading and displaying a video program using a mobile terminal that includes a first radio access network having a first data transfer rate and a second radio access network having a second data transfer rate faster than the first data transfer rate. The downloaded video program is displayed at a predetermined playback rate. Excess portions of the downloaded video program that result when a rate at which the video program is downloaded exceeds the predetermined playback rate are buffered. A third data transfer rate that is lower than the first transfer rate is calculated in response to the predetermined playback rate, the buffered excess portions and the time duration of the remainder of the video program. The third data transfer rate is negotiated with the first network for downloading the video program when the difference between the first and third data transfer rates exceeds a threshold level.

Claims

1. A method for downloading a video program using a mobile terminal, the method comprising the steps of:

Downloading, to the mobile terminal, the video program at a first data rate from a first radio access network;

continuing to download the video program at a second data rate from a second radio access network when the mobile terminal is in a coverage area of the second radio access network, wherein the second data transfer rate is faster than the first data transfer rate;

displaying, at the mobile terminal, the downloaded video program at a playback rate;

buffering, at the mobile terminal, portions of the downloaded video program that result when a rate at which the video program is downloaded exceeds the playback rate;

calculating, at the mobile terminal, a third data transfer rate, which is lower than the first data transfer rate, in response to the playback rate, the buffered portions, and a time duration of a remainder of the video program; and

negotiating, with the first radio access network, the third data transfer rate for continued downloading of the video program, when a difference between the first and third data transfer rates exceeds a threshold level.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the third data transfer rate is equal to

Rp−

B_t/T

where Rp is the playback rate, B_t is an amount of the buffered portions of the downloaded video program, and T is the time duration of the remainder of the video program to be played back.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of continuing to download the video program from the first radio access network using the third data transfer rate when the mobile terminal leaves the coverage area of the second radio access network and is within a coverage area of the first radio access network.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the negotiating step is performed when the mobile terminal is within the coverage area of the second radio access network.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the negotiating step is performed after the mobile terminal leaves the coverage area of the second radio access network.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first radio access network is a 3G cellular network.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the second radio access network is a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN).

8. A mobile terminal for downloading a video program, the mobile terminal comprising:

a receiver for downloading the video program to the mobile terminal at a first data rate through a first radio access network and a continuing to download the video program at a second data rate through a second radio access network when the mobile terminal is in a coverage area of the second radio access network, wherein the second data transfer rate is faster than the first data transfer rate;

a transmitter for transmitting data to one of the first radio access network and the second radio access network;

a memory device for buffering portions of the downloaded video program that result when a rate at which the video program is downloaded exceeds a playback rate; and

a processor for calculating a third data transfer rate, which is lower than the first data transfer rate, the third data transfer rate calculated in response to the playback rate, the buffered portions, and a time duration of a remainder of the video program, the processor controlling negotiation of the third data transfer rate with the first radio access network for continuing to download the video program when a difference between the first and third data transfer rates exceeds a threshold value.

9. The mobile terminal of claim 8, wherein the third data transfer rate is equal to

Rp−

B_t/T

where Rp is the playback rate, B_t is an amount of the buffered portions of the downloaded video program, and T is the time duration of the remainder of the video program to be played back.

10. The mobile terminal of claim 8, wherein the receiver continues to download the video program from the first radio access network using the third data transfer rate when the mobile terminal leaves the coverage area of the second radio access network and is within a coverage area of the first radio access network.

11. The mobile terminal of claim 8, wherein the third data transfer rate is negotiated when the mobile terminal is within the coverage area of the second radio access network.

12. The mobile terminal of claim 8, wherein the third data transfer rate is negotiated after the mobile terminal has left the coverage area of the second radio access network.

13. The mobile terminal of claim 8, wherein the first radio access network is a 3G cellular network.

14. The mobile terminal of claim 8, wherein the second radio access network is a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN).