Systems and methods for sharing bandwidth across multiple video streams

• US 9,100,698 B2
• Filed: 10/26/2012
• Issued: 08/04/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Motorola Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Motorola Solutions, Inc.
• Inventors: Bekiares, Tyrone D., Tine, Steven D., Tummalapenta, Satyanarayan, Vukkadapu, Srikanth
• Primary Examiner(s): NANO, SARGON N
• Application Number:
  US13/662,040
• Publication Number:
  US 20140122652A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,012 Days
• Field of Search: 709201-203, 709/217, 709/219, 709/227, 709/231
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6373 for rate control , e.g. request to the server to modify its transmission rate flow control in packet networks H04L47/10

Abstract

A client-based method, a server-based method, and a client device enable streaming of multiple video streams utilizing standardized methods while ensuring the multiple video streams share bandwidth over a single, variable connection such as a wireless connection. These methods and device enable an equitably share of bandwidth across multiple video streams sharing a same physical medium. Further, these methods and device can enable selective prioritization of any of the multiple streams.

Claims

1. A client-based method, comprising:

receiving more than one video stream at a client device over a wireless connection, wherein each of the more than one video stream operates at one of a plurality of bit rates;

utilizing Real Time Control Protocol (RTCP) and Real Time Protocol between the client device and the associated source of each of the more than one video stream;

determining quality feedback for each of the more than one video stream utilizing packet loss ratio;

determining modified quality feedback for each of the more than one video stream wherein the modified quality feedback is based on the quality feedback for each of the more than one video stream; and

transmitting the modified quality feedback in a RTCP Receiver Report for each of the more than one video stream to an associated source of each of the more than one video stream so that multiple RTCP receiver Reports are transmitted, each having a same modified quality feedback transmitted to each source of the more than one video stream so that each source of the more than one video stream upshifts or downshifts each of the more than one video stream in a uniform manner.

2. The client-based method of claim 1, further comprising:

operating each of the associated sources of each of the more than one video stream in accordance with the Real Time Control Protocol and the Real Time Protocol;

determining the modified quality feedback by the client device; and

transmitting the modified quality feedback for each of the more than one video stream to the associated source of each of the more than one video stream.

3. The client-based method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining the quality feedback for each of the more than one video stream utilizing packet loss ratio; and

transmitting the modified quality feedback in a Receiver Report packet to each of the associated sources of each of the more than one video stream.

4. The client-based method of claim 1, further comprising:

grouping the more than one video stream as a single stream for determining the quality feedback;

computing a packet loss ratio across the single stream;

determining a weighted average of the packet loss ratio; and

transmitting the weighted average in a Receiver Report packet to each of the associated sources of each of the more than one video stream.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

upshifting or downshifting to one of the plurality of associated bit rates at each of the associated sources of each of the more than one video stream in a similar, uniform manner upon receipt of the weighted average in the Receiver Report packet.

6. The client-based method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining an available bandwidth for the client device over the wireless connection;

determining a current bandwidth for each of the more than one video stream, wherein the current bandwidth for each of the more than one video stream is based on the quality feedback for each of the more than one video stream; and

determining the modified quality feedback for each of the more than one video stream such that each of the more than one video stream utilizes a same amount of the available bandwidth.

7. The client-based method of claim 6, wherein at least two of the more than one video stream are operating at different bit rates of the plurality of associated bit rates.

8. The client-based method of claim 1, further comprising:

subsequent to transmitting the modified quality feedback and if the modified quality feedback is above a downshift threshold, receiving the more than one video stream at the client device over the wireless connection with each of the more than one video stream downshifted to one of the plurality of associated bit rates.

9. The client-based method of claim 1, further comprising:

subsequent to transmitting the modified quality feedback and if the modified quality feedback is below an upshift threshold, receiving the more than one video stream at the client device over the wireless connection with each of the more than one video stream upshifted to one of the plurality of associated bit rates.

10. The client-based method of claim 9, further comprising:

subsequent to the upshift, if the client device experiences packet losses below a threshold, maintaining the more than one video stream upshifted to one of the plurality of associated; and

if the client device experiences packet losses at or above the threshold, performing a back-off process until the client device experiences packet losses below the threshold.

11. The client-based method of claim 10, further comprising:

performing the back-off process by backing off a stream of the plurality of streams with a highest bit rate and continuing backing off subsequent streams of the plurality of streams with next highest bit rates until the client device experiences packet losses below the threshold.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

operating each of the associated source of each of the more than one video stream in accordance with the User Datagram Protocol;

determining the modified quality feedback by the client device as an average packet loss ratio across all of the more than one video stream; and

transmitting the modified quality feedback for each of the more than one video stream to the associated source of each of the more than one video stream.

13. A client device, comprising:

a network interface communicatively coupled to a wireless network;

a processor communicatively coupled to the network interface; and

memory storing instructions that, when executed, cause the processor and the network interface to;

receive more than one video stream at a client device over the wireless network, wherein each of the more than one video stream operates at one of a plurality of associated bit rates;

determine quality feedback for each of the more than one video stream;

determine modified quality feedback for each of the more than one video stream wherein the modified quality feedback is based on the quality feedback for each of the more than one video stream; and

transmit the modified quality feedback for each of the more than one video stream to an associated source of each of the more than one video stream;

utilize Real Time Control Protocol (RTCP) and Real Time Protocol between the associated source of each of the more than one video stream;

determine the quality feedback for each of the more than one video stream utilizing packet loss ratio; and

transmit the modified quality feedback in a RTCP Receiver Report packet for each of the more than one video stream to the associated source of each of the more than one video stream so that multiple RTCP receiver Reports are transmitted, each having a same modified quality feedback transmitted to each source of the more than one video stream so that each source of the more than one video stream upshifts or downshifts each of the more than one video stream in a uniform manner.

14. The client device of claim 13, wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor and the network interface to:

group the more than one video stream as a single stream for determining the quality feedback;

compute a packet loss ratio across the single stream;

determine a weighted average of the packet loss ratio; and

transmit the weighted average in a Receiver Report packet to each of the associated sources of each of the more than one video stream.

15. The client device of claim 13, wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor and the network interface to:

determine an available bandwidth for the client device over the wireless connection;

determine a current bandwidth for each of the more than one video stream, wherein the current bandwidth for each of the more than one video stream is based on the quality feedback for each of the more than one video stream; and

determine the modified quality feedback for each of the more than one video stream such that each of the more than one video stream utilizes a same amount of the available bandwidth.

16. The client device of claim 13, wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor and the network interface to:

operate between each of the associated source of each of the more than one video stream in accordance with the User Datagram Protocol;

determine the modified quality feedback as an average packet loss ratio across all of the more than one video stream; and

transmit the modified quality feedback for each of the more than one video stream to the associated source of each of the more than one video stream.