System and method for managing adjacent channels in an adaptive streaming environment
First Claim
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1. A method operative in a streaming client device disposed in an adaptive streaming environment, the method comprising:
- monitoring at least a bandwidth condition relative to a network connection between the streaming client device and a content delivery network;
determining one or more adjacent channels relative to a current streaming channel of the streaming client device;
pre-fetching metadata information associated with the one or more adjacent channels;
responsive to the pre-fetched metadata information, pre-fetching and storing initialization information for the one or more adjacent channels;
if the current streaming channel is changed to a new streaming channel belonging to the one or more adjacent channels, using the pre-fetched initialization information to fetch encoded media content pertaining to the new streaming channel, the encoded media content comprising shortest segments into which the encoded media content has been segmented by a segmentation server system associated with the content delivery network; and
after determining that the new streaming channel has settled for a select time period, sending a request for streaming media content for the new streaming channel in segments larger than the shortest segments.
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Abstract
A system and method for managing adjacent channels in an adaptive streaming environment. One or more adjacent channels may be defined for a client device relative to a current streaming channel, wherein the client device is configured to pre-fetch metadata and initialization information for the defined adjacent channels based on bandwidth conditions, buffer conditions, etc. When a channel is changed, the client device is operative to use the pre-fetched data to quickly obtain encoded media content for rendering.
41 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method operative in a streaming client device disposed in an adaptive streaming environment, the method comprising:
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monitoring at least a bandwidth condition relative to a network connection between the streaming client device and a content delivery network; determining one or more adjacent channels relative to a current streaming channel of the streaming client device; pre-fetching metadata information associated with the one or more adjacent channels; responsive to the pre-fetched metadata information, pre-fetching and storing initialization information for the one or more adjacent channels; if the current streaming channel is changed to a new streaming channel belonging to the one or more adjacent channels, using the pre-fetched initialization information to fetch encoded media content pertaining to the new streaming channel, the encoded media content comprising shortest segments into which the encoded media content has been segmented by a segmentation server system associated with the content delivery network; and after determining that the new streaming channel has settled for a select time period, sending a request for streaming media content for the new streaming channel in segments larger than the shortest segments. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A client device, comprising:
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one or more processors; a bandwidth condition monitor; and a streaming client module coupled to the one or more processors, wherein the streaming client module includes instructions executable by one or more processors and configured to; determine one or more adjacent channels relative to a current streaming channel of the client device, the one or more adjacent channels being determined responsive to monitoring by the bandwidth condition monitor relative to a network connection between the client device and a content delivery network; pre-fetch metadata information associated with the one or more adjacent channels; responsive to the pre-fetched metadata information, pre-fetch and store initialization information for the one or more adjacent channels; if the current streaming channel is changed to a new streaming channel, use the pre-fetched initialization information to fetch encoded media content pertaining to the new streaming channel, the encoded media content comprising shortest segments into which the encoded media content has been segmented by a segmentation server system associated with the content delivery network; and after determining that the new streaming channel has settled for a select time period, sending a request for streaming media content for the new streaming channel in segments larger than the shortest segments. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification