Media stream scheduling for hiccup-free fast-channel-change in the presence of network chokepoints
First Claim
1. A computer-readable memory having processor-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, perform a method comprising:
- receiving a request to start a new media stream from a media-stream presentation device on a media-stream network having one or more bandwidth-limiting chokepoints therein; and
generating a start-up profile based on chokepoint bandwidth data that indicates the conditions under which a presentation device can start presenting the new media stream without underflowing, wherein the conditions provide a temporally based test for a succession of timeslots of whether the device has received enough data at each timeslot to avoid underflow if it begins playback at the timeslot.
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Abstract
An implementation, as described herein, facilitates fast start-up of a new media stream while avoiding temporal interruption (i.e. “hiccups”) of the presentation of that new media stream. At least one implementation, described herein, coordinates the delivery of multiple simultaneous media streams on a media-stream network. Its coordination accounts for traversal of bandwidth-restricted chokepoints; quickly stopping delivery of one or more media streams from the set of streams; quickly initiating delivery and presentation of one or more new media streams not previously in the set (i.e., a “channel change”) and producing clean playback of all of the streams in the set, despite their different timelines. This abstract itself is not intended to limit the scope of this patent. The scope of the present invention is pointed out in the appending claims.
115 Citations
8 Claims
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1. A computer-readable memory having processor-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, perform a method comprising:
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receiving a request to start a new media stream from a media-stream presentation device on a media-stream network having one or more bandwidth-limiting chokepoints therein; and generating a start-up profile based on chokepoint bandwidth data that indicates the conditions under which a presentation device can start presenting the new media stream without underflowing, wherein the conditions provide a temporally based test for a succession of timeslots of whether the device has received enough data at each timeslot to avoid underflow if it begins playback at the timeslot. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A computer-readable memory having processor-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, perform a method comprising:
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sending a request to start a new media stream from a media-stream presentation device on a media-stream network having one or more bandwidth-limiting chokepoints therein; and receiving a start-up profile that is based on chokepoint bandwidth data that indicates the conditions under which the presentation device can start presenting the new media stream without underflowing, wherein the conditions provide a temporally based test for a succession of timeslots of whether the presentation device has received enough data at each timeslot to avoid underflow if it begins playback at the timeslot. - View Dependent Claims (6)
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7. A media-stream presenter comprising:
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a processor; a transmission sub-system configured to send a request to start a new media stream on the presenter, wherein the request is sent via a media-stream network having one or more bandwidth-limiting chokepoints therein; and a receiving unit configured to receive a start-up profile and use the processor to read chokepoint bandwidth data in the start-up profile that indicates the conditions under which the media-stream presenter should start presenting the new media stream, wherein the conditions provide a temporally based test for a succession of timeslots of whether the media-stream presenter has received enough data at each timeslot to avoid underflow if it begins playback at the timeslot. - View Dependent Claims (8)
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Specification