System and methods for buffering of real-time data streams

• US 20100281142A1
• Filed: 05/04/2009
• Published: 11/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rovi Solutions Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rovi Solutions Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Stoyanov, Latchesar
• Granted Patent: US 8,499,059 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/221
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/60 Network streaming of media packets
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23406 involving management of server-side video buffer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2401 Monitoring of the client buffer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44004 involving video buffer management, e.g. video decoder buffer or video display buffer

Abstract

A computer-implemented system and methods for buffering of real-time data streams are disclosed. The apparatus and method in an example embodiment includes: configuring a content server for an initial content quality type associated with a content stream; receiving the content stream with the initial content quality type from a content feed; detecting a low watermark condition as the content stream is played on a playback device; reconfiguring the content server for a modified content quality type associated with the content stream while receipt of the content stream is in progress; and receiving the content stream with the modified content quality type from the content feed.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

configuring a content server for an initial content quality type associated with a content stream;

receiving the content stream with the initial content quality type from a content feed;

detecting a low watermark condition as the content stream is played on a playback device;

reconfiguring the content server for a modified content quality type associated with the content stream while receipt of the content stream is in progress; and

receiving the content stream with the modified content quality type from the content feed.

2. The computer-implemented method as claimed in claim 1 including detecting a high watermark condition as the content stream is played on the playback device;

and reconfiguring the content server for the initial content quality type associated with the content stream while streaming of the content stream is in progress.

3. The computer-implemented method as claimed in claim 1 including discovering an available bandwidth associated with the content server.

4. The computer-implemented method as claimed in claim 1 including configuring an initial incoming data speed (Si), an initial playback speed (Sp), an initial buffer size (B), and initial high and low watermarks.

5. The computer-implemented method as claimed in claim 1 including filling a content buffer with the content stream to a location indicated by a high watermark.

6. A computer-implemented method comprising:

configuring a content server for a content quality type associated with a content stream;

configuring a playback device for an initial playback speed associated with the content stream;

receiving the content stream with the content quality type from a content feed;

playing the content stream on the playback device with the initial playback speed;

detecting a low watermark condition as the content stream is played on the playback device;

reconfiguring the playback device for a modified playback speed associated with the content stream while playback of the content stream is in progress; and

playing the content stream with the modified playback speed.

7. The computer-implemented method as claimed in claim 6 including detecting a high watermark condition as the content stream is played on the playback device;

and reconfiguring the playback device for the initial playback speed associated with the content stream while playback of the content stream is in progress.

8. The computer-implemented method as claimed in claim 6 including discovering an available bandwidth associated with the content server.

9. The computer-implemented method as claimed in claim 6 including configuring an initial incoming data speed (Si), an initial playback speed (Sp), an initial buffer size (B), and initial high and low watermarks.

10. The computer-implemented method as claimed in claim 6 including filling a content buffer with the content stream to a location indicated by a high watermark.

11. An apparatus comprising:

a buffer manager configured to;

configure a content server for an initial content quality type associated with a content stream;

receive the content stream with the initial content quality type from a content feed;

detect a low watermark condition as the content stream is played on a playback device;

reconfigure the content server for a modified content quality type associated with the content stream while receipt of the content stream is in progress; and

receive the content stream with the modified content quality type from the content feed.

12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11 being further configured to detect a high watermark condition as the content stream is played on the playback device;

and reconfigure the content server for the initial content quality type associated with the content stream while streaming of the content stream is in progress.

13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11 being further configured to discover an available bandwidth associated with the content server.

14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11 being further configured to configure an initial incoming data speed (Si), an initial playback speed (Sp), an initial buffer size (B), and initial high and low watermarks.

15. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11 being further configured to fill a content buffer with the content stream to a location indicated by a high watermark.

16. An apparatus comprising:

a buffer manager configured to;

configure a content server for a content quality type associated with a content stream;

configure a playback device for an initial playback speed associated with the content stream;

receive the content stream with the content quality type from a content feed;

play the content stream on the playback device with the initial playback speed;

detect a low watermark condition as the content stream is played on the playback device;

reconfigure the playback device for a modified playback speed associated with the content stream while playback of the content stream is in progress; and

play the content stream with the modified playback speed.

17. The apparatus as claimed in claim 16 being further configured to detect a high watermark condition as the content stream is played on the playback device;

and reconfiguring the playback device for the initial playback speed associated with the content stream while playback of the content stream is in progress.

18. The apparatus as claimed in claim 16 being further configured to discover an available bandwidth associated with the content server.

19. The apparatus as claimed in claim 16 being further configured to configure an initial incoming data speed (Si), an initial playback speed (Sp), an initial buffer size (B), and initial high and low watermarks.

20. The apparatus as claimed in claim 16 being further configured to fill a content buffer with the content stream to a location indicated by a high watermark.

21. An article of manufacture comprising a machine-readable storage medium having machine executable instructions embedded thereon, which when executed by a machine, cause the machine to:

configure a content server for an initial content quality type associated with a content stream;

receive the content stream with the initial content quality type from a content feed;

detect a low watermark condition as the content stream is played on a playback device;

reconfigure the content server for a modified content quality type associated with the content stream while receipt of the content stream is in progress; and

receive the content stream with the modified content quality type from the content feed.

22. An article of manufacture comprising a machine-readable storage medium having machine executable instructions embedded thereon, which when executed by a machine, cause the machine to:

configure a content server for a content quality type associated with a content stream;

configure a playback device for an initial playback speed associated with the content stream;

receive the content stream with the content quality type from a content feed;

play the content stream on the playback device with the initial playback speed;

detect a low watermark condition as the content stream is played on the playback device;

reconfigure the playback device for a modified playback speed associated with the content stream while playback of the content stream is in progress; and

play the content stream with the modified playback speed.