Intelligent content stream bandwidth determination

• US 8,250,232 B2
• Filed: 09/21/2009
• Issued: 08/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Limelight Networks, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Limelight Networks, Inc.
• Inventors: Gordon, Michael M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bates, Kevin
• Assistant Examiner(s): MCADAMS, BRAD
• Application Number:
  US12/563,660
• Publication Number:
  US 20100077099A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,065 Days
• Field of Search: 709/233, 709/235, 725/95, 725/91
• US Class Current: 709/233
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/762 at the source reformatting of additional data in video distribution servers H04N21/2355
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/61 taking into account QoS or priority requirements

Abstract

A system and method for delivering content objects over the Internet to an end user system with a content delivery network (CDN) is disclosed that allows for intelligent bandwidth determination for content streams. A content object is delivered with the CDN using the Internet. When a content object is requested by an end user media player, characteristics of the access network, the content object and/or the CDN are used to choose an suitable algorithm. The algorithm then determines a bitrate for delivery of the content object to the end user media player. Ultimately, the content object is transmitted at the bitrate to the end user media player.

Claims

1. A content delivery network (CDN) for delivering content over the Internet to an end user system where a bitrate to supply a content object to the end user system is variable, the CDN comprising:

a processor configured to;

pass a request to deliver the content object toward an end user system;

cause retrieving information, wherein the information allows determining;

characteristics of an access network that couples the end user system to the Internet,

characteristics of the content object, and/or

characteristics of the CDN;

cause choosing an algorithm from a plurality of algorithms based, at least in part, on the information, wherein each of the algorithms includes a different systematic variation across a plurality of bitrates;

cause downloading of one or more test content objects at a first bitrate and increasing or decreasing the bitrate from the first bitrate to a second bitrate according to an algorithm;

determine that a performance of the download at the second bitrate exceeded a performance of the download at the first bitrate; and

cause passing at least part of the content object with the end user system at the second bitrate; and

a memory coupled with the processor.

2. The CDN for delivering content over the Internet to the end user system where the bitrate to supply the content object to the end user system is variable as recited in claim 1, wherein the CDN is private only carrying content from a single content originator.

3. The CDN for delivering content over the Internet to the end user system where the bitrate to supply the content object to the end user system is variable as recited in claim 1, wherein the choosing an algorithm is performed by one of the CDN or the end user system.

4. The CDN for delivering content over the Internet to the end user system where the bitrate to supply the content object to the end user system is variable as recited in claim 1, wherein the processor is distributed through a plurality of servers across the CDN.

22. The CDN for delivering content over the Internet to the end user system where the bitrate to supply the content object to the end user system is variable as recited in claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to cause downloading a test content object at a plurality of bitrates.

25. The CDN for delivering content over the Internet to the end user system where the bitrate to supply the content object to the end user system is variable as recited in claim 1, wherein a first and a second of the plurality of algorithms each comprise systematic variation of a bitrate of a download of a test content object, the systematic variation differs between the first and second algorithms.

26. The CDN for delivering content over the Internet to the end user system where the bitrate to supply the content object to the end user system is variable as recited in claim 1, wherein a first of the plurality of algorithms comprises systematically increasing a bitrate of a download of the one or more test content objects, and

wherein a second of the plurality of algorithms comprises systematically decreasing a bitrate of a download of the one or more test content objects.

5. A method for delivering content over the Internet to an end user system with a content delivery network (CDN) where a bitrate to supply a content object to the end user system is variable, the method comprising:

storing at least part of the content object, wherein the content object is delivered with the Internet and the CDN;

passing a request to deliver the content object toward an end user system;

retrieving information, wherein the information allows determining;

characteristics of an access network that couples the end user system to the Internet,

characteristics of the content object, and/or

characteristics of the CDN;

choosing an algorithm from a plurality of algorithms based, at least in part, on the information, wherein each of the algorithms includes a different systematic variation across a plurality of bitrates;

downloading one or more test content objects at a first bitrate and increasing or decreasing the bitrate from the first bitrate to a second bitrate according the algorithm;

determine that a performance of the download at the second bitrate exceeded a performance of the download at the first bitrate;

passing a determination that the second bitrate is to be used; and

passing at least part of the content object with the end user system at the second bitrate.

6. The method for delivering content over the Internet to the end user system with the CDN where the bitrate to supply the content object to the end user system as recited in claim 5, wherein the determining characteristics is performed within the CDN.

7. The method for delivering content over the Internet to the end user system with the CDN where the bitrate to supply the content object to the end user system as recited in claim 5, wherein the retrieving information passes the information from the CDN to the end user system such that the determining characteristics is performed by the end user system.

8. The method for delivering content over the Internet to the end user system with the CDN where the bitrate to supply the content object to the end user system as recited in claim 5, wherein the choosing the algorithm is performed in one of the CDN or end user system.

9. The method for delivering content over the Internet to the end user system with the CDN where the bitrate to supply the content object to the end user system as recited in claim 5, wherein the algorithm comprises increasing a bitrate from the first bitrate while downloading the one or more test content objects.

10. The method for delivering content over the Internet to the end user system with the CDN where the bitrate to supply the content object to the end user system as recited in claim 5, wherein the algorithm comprises decreasing a bitrate from the first bitrate while downloading the one or more test content objects.

11. The method for delivering content over the Internet to the end user system with the CDN where the bitrate to supply the content object to the end user system as recited in claim 5, wherein the first bitrate is neither the highest nor the lowest available bitrate.

12. The method for delivering content over the Internet to the end user system with the CDN where the bitrate to supply the content object to the end user system as recited in claim 5, wherein:

the content object is available encoded in a plurality of different bitrates, and

the transmitting at least part of the content object is performed at one of the plurality of bitrates.

13. The method for delivering content over the Internet to the end user system with the CDN where the bitrate to supply the content object to the end user system as recited in claim 5, wherein the content object comprises a video file or stream.

14. The method for delivering content over the Internet to the end user system with the CDN where the bitrate to supply the content object to the end user system as recited in claim 5, wherein the end user system is a set top box.

23. The method for delivering content over the Internet to the end user system with the CDN where the bitrate to supply the content object to the end user system as recited in claim 5, further comprising downloading of a test content object at a plurality of bitrates.

27. The method for delivering content over the Internet to the end user system with the CDN where the bitrate to supply the content object to the end user system as recited in claim 5, wherein a first and a second of the plurality of algorithms each comprise systematic variation of a bitrate of a download of the one or more test content objects, the systematic variation differs between the first and second algorithms.

28. The method for delivering content over the Internet to the end user system with the CDN where the bitrate to supply the content object to the end user system as recited in claim 5, wherein a first of the plurality of algorithms comprises systematically increasing a bitrate of a download of the one or more test content objects, and

wherein a second of the plurality of algorithms comprises systematically decreasing a bitrate of a download of the one or more test content objects.

15. A method for delivering content over the Internet to an end user system with a content provider that supports a plurality of bitrates to supply a content object to the end user system, the method comprising:

retrieving information, wherein the information allows determining;

characteristics of an access network that couples the end user system to the Internet,

characteristics of the content object, and/or

characteristics of the CDN;

choosing an algorithm from a plurality of algorithms based, at least in part, on the information, wherein each of the algorithms includes a different systematic variation across a plurality of bitrates;

downloading one or more test content objects at a first bitrate and increasing or decreasing the bitrate from the first bitrate to a second bitrate according to the algorithm;

determining that a performance of the download at the second bitrate exceeded a performance of the download at the first bitrate; and

passing at least part of the content object with the end user system at the second bitrate, wherein the content object is delivered with the Internet.

16. The method for delivering content over the Internet to the end user system with the content provider that supports the plurality of bitrates to supply the content object to the end user system as recited in claim 15, wherein the determining characteristics is performed within the CDN.

17. The method for delivering content over the Internet to the end user system with the content provider that supports the plurality of bitrates to supply the content object to the end user system as recited in claim 15, further comprising requesting at least part of the content object.

18. The method for delivering content over the Internet to the end user system with the content provider that supports the plurality of bitrates to supply the content object to the end user system as recited in claim 15, wherein after retrieving the information, the information is sent from the content provider to the end user system.

19. The method for delivering content over the Internet to the end user system with the content provider that supports the plurality of bitrates to supply the content object to the end user system as recited in claim 15, wherein the choosing the algorithm is performed in one of the content provider or end user system.

20. The method for delivering content over the Internet to the end user system with the content provider that supports the plurality of bitrates to supply the content object to the end user system as recited in claim 15, wherein the content provider is one of a CDN server or an origin server.

21. The method for delivering content over the Internet to the end user system with the content provider that supports the plurality of bitrates to supply the content object to the end user system as recited in claim 15, wherein:

the content object is available encoded in a plurality of different bitrates, and

the sending at least part of the content object is done with one of the plurality of bitrates.

24. The method for delivering content over the Internet to the end user system with the content provider that supports the plurality of bitrates to supply the content object to the end user system as recited in claim 15, further comprising downloading of a test content object at a plurality of bitrates.

29. The method for delivering content over the Internet to the end user system with the content provider that supports the plurality of bitrates to supply the content object to the end user system as recited in claim 15, wherein a first and a second of the plurality of algorithms each comprise systematic variation of a bitrate of a download of the one or more test content objects, the systematic variation differs between the first and second algorithms.

30. The method for delivering content over the Internet to the end user system with the content provider that supports the plurality of bitrates to supply the content object to the end user system as recited in claim 15, wherein a first of the plurality of algorithms comprises systematically increasing a bitrate of a download of the one or more test content objects, and

wherein a second of the plurality of algorithms comprises systematically decreasing a bitrate of a download of the one or more test content objects.