Dynamic QoS in a network distributing streamed content
First Claim
1. A method of providing dynamic Quality of Service (QoS) in a home network distributing streamed audiovisual content, the home network comprising:
- a plurality of sources outputting streams of audiovisual content;
a plurality of receiving devices each connected to receive audiovisual content from one or more of said sources, each receiving device being arranged to output the received content stream as analog audiovisual content; and
a network hub for routing the content from one of said sources to a selected one of said receiving devices upon request from said selected one receiving device;
the method comprising;
setting a priority for the content stream to be output from said one source, priority being set in dependence upon the characteristics of that content stream the playback rate of the content stream;
entering a trick mode of the content stream from the said one source in which the content is adjusted so as to be presented at a faster than normal playback rate either forwards or backward in time, wherein the audiovisual content stream has a bit rate that is higher in the trick mode than in normal playback;
dynamically lowering the priority of the streamed content output in response to entering the trick mode, wherein at least two playback rates are available when the trick mode is entered, one of said at least two rates being faster than the other of said at least two rates, and both of said at least two rates being faster than the normal rate, wherein a lower priority is determined for the faster rate than the slower rate; and
determining the throughput rate of content streams from each of the sources in the network in dependence upon the priority set for each content stream.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In a home network a number of receiving devices are connected to receive streamed audio visual content from one or more sources by way of a network hub. One source is a set top box, having a hard disc drive, which provides a real time broadcast stream, stream 1, as well as a recorded output stream, stream 2. Another source is local storage which is capable of outputting its stored content, stream 3, at ×32 normal speed, that is, fast forward. If there are bandwidth limitations on the network then the receiver (receiving the fast forward stream 3 will experience errors. When errors are detected, the receiver sends a message back to the source which then takes action to reduce the bit rate of its output stream.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method of providing dynamic Quality of Service (QoS) in a home network distributing streamed audiovisual content, the home network comprising:
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a plurality of sources outputting streams of audiovisual content; a plurality of receiving devices each connected to receive audiovisual content from one or more of said sources, each receiving device being arranged to output the received content stream as analog audiovisual content; and a network hub for routing the content from one of said sources to a selected one of said receiving devices upon request from said selected one receiving device; the method comprising; setting a priority for the content stream to be output from said one source, priority being set in dependence upon the characteristics of that content stream the playback rate of the content stream; entering a trick mode of the content stream from the said one source in which the content is adjusted so as to be presented at a faster than normal playback rate either forwards or backward in time, wherein the audiovisual content stream has a bit rate that is higher in the trick mode than in normal playback; dynamically lowering the priority of the streamed content output in response to entering the trick mode, wherein at least two playback rates are available when the trick mode is entered, one of said at least two rates being faster than the other of said at least two rates, and both of said at least two rates being faster than the normal rate, wherein a lower priority is determined for the faster rate than the slower rate; and determining the throughput rate of content streams from each of the sources in the network in dependence upon the priority set for each content stream. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A home network distributing streamed audiovisual content, the home network comprising
a plurality of sources outputting streams of audiovisual content; -
a plurality of receiving devices each connected to receive audiovisual content from one or more of said sources, each receiving device being arranged to output the received content stream as analog audiovisual content; and a network hub for routing the content from one of said sources to a selected one of said receiving devices upon request from said selected one receiving device; wherein said one source is provided in a first source device comprising a television receiver, a set top box or other electronic device for receiving streamed broadcast content, or a personal computer or other electronic device for receiving streamed broadband content, wherein said one source is enabled to set a priority for the content stream to be output dependent upon the characteristics of the content stream including the playback rate of the content stream; wherein said one source is enabled to enter a first trick mode in which the audiovisual content stream is adjusted so as to be presented at a faster than normal playback rate either forwards or backward in time, wherein the audiovisual content stream has a bit rate that is higher in the first trick mode than in normal playback; wherein said one source is enabled to dynamically lower the priority of the streamed content output from the one source in response to entering the first trick mode; wherein at least two playback rates are available when the trick mode is entered, one of said at least two rates being faster than the other of said at least two rates, and both of said at least two rates being faster than the normal rate, wherein a lower priority is determined for the faster rate than the slower rate; and wherein the network is arranged to determine the throughput rate of content streams from each of the sources in the network in dependence upon the priority set for each content stream.
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13. A network hub comprising:
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a network interface configured to distribute streamed audio visual content between a source device and a receiving device on a home network; and a processor configured to determine the playback rate of the audio visual content stream and to adjust a throughput rate of the audiovisual content stream so that real time content is transmitted on the home network at a higher priority than pre-recorded content, the processor being further configured to determine that a trick mode has been entered in which the recorded audiovisual content stream is adjusted so as to be presented at a faster than normal playback rate either forwards or backward in time, wherein the audiovisual content stream has a bit rate that is higher in the trick mode than in normal playback, wherein at least two playback rates are available when the trick mode is entered, one of said at least two rates being faster than the other of said at least two rates, and both of said at least two rates being faster than the normal rate, wherein a lower priority is determined for the faster rate than the slower rate, and to dynamically lower the throughput rate of the streamed content output in response to entering the trick mode. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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Specification