Non-real time adaptive bitrate recording scheduler

A method comprising:

• receiving a request for a download of at least one high priority adaptive bitrate (ABR) content item that must be downloaded in time to avoid underrun and a request for a download of at least one low priority ABR content item that does not require a real time download, the at least one high priority ABR content item being available for download at a first higher bit rate and at a first lower bit rate, and the at least one lower ABR content item being available for download at a second higher bit rate and at a second lower bit rate;
• determining a required bandwidth to download the at least one high priority ABR content item without adapting to the first lower bit rate and a remaining bandwidth to download the at least one low priority ABR content item on the basis of an available bandwidth for downloading ABR content and the required bandwidth;
• downloading the at least one high priority ABR content item and the at least one low priority ABR content item, wherein downloading the at least one low priority ABR content comprises:
• determining a new segment size of the at least one low priority ABR content item which is smaller segment length than an originally determined segment length of the at least one low priority ABR content item based on the available bandwidth of for downloading the at least one low priority ABR,
• requesting the at least one low priority ABR content item within a byte offset from a start of the originally determined segment, and
• waiting for a predetermined time before requesting a next segment of the at least one low priority ABR content item;
• allocating, based on the available bandwidth, at least the required bandwidth and up to the remaining bandwidth;
• reallocating, upon a drop occurring in the available bandwidth, the remaining bandwidth resulting from the drop in available bandwidth, based on the new segment size;
• and
• upon receipt of requests for download of at least two low priority ABR content items, unequally allocating the remaining bandwidth among the at least two low priority ABR content items.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium that stores a set of instructions which when executed perform a method comprising:

• receiving a request for a download of at least one high priority adaptive bitrate (ABR) content item that must be downloaded in time to avoid underrun and a request for a download of at least one low priority ABR content item that does not require a real time download, the at least one high priority ABR content item being available for download at a first higher bit rate and at a first lower bit rate, and the at least one lower ABR content item being available for download at a second higher bit rate and at a second lower bit rate;
• determining a required bandwidth to download the at least one high priority ABR content item without adapting to the first lower bit rate and a remaining bandwidth to download the at least one low priority ABR content item on the basis of an available bandwidth for downloading ABR content and the required bandwidth;
• interfacing with at least one ABR server;
• downloading the at least one high priority ABR content item and the at least one low priority ABR content item, wherein downloading the at least one low priority ABR content comprises:
• determining a new segment size of the at least one low priority ABR content item which is of a smaller time length than an originally determined segment time length of the at least one low priority ABR content item based on the available bandwidth of for downloading the at least one low priority ABR,
• requesting the at least one low priority ABR content item within a byte offset from a start of the originally determined segment, and
• waiting for a predetermined time before requesting a next segment of the at least one low priority ABR content item;
• and
• allocating, based on the available bandwidth, at least the required bandwidth and up to the remaining bandwidth;
• reallocating, upon a drop occurring in the available bandwidth, the remaining bandwidth resulting from the drop in available bandwidth, based on the new segment size;
• and
• unequally allocate the remaining bandwidth among at least two low priority ABR content items upon receipt of requests for download of at the least two low priority ABR content items.