Classified media quality of experience

A server, comprising:

• a device for operating a protocol that controls a streaming of at least one media stream to a client device;
• a receiver for receiving a reported quality of streaming from the client device;
• and one or more processors operable to cause the server to:
• receive, from a client device, a protocol message requesting streaming media;
• negotiate, with the client device, at least one quality of experience metric for measuring a quality of streaming of streaming media, the at least one negotiated quality of experience metric comprising re-buffering events;
• wherein the one or more processors is configured to negotiate at least one quality of experience metric with the client device by a plurality of operations comprising:
• receiving, from the client device, a message comprising:
• a quality metrics class parameter indicating a quality metrics class to be used in determining a quality of streaming of at least one media stream transmitted by the server and received by the client device, the quality metrics class being selected from a pre-defined set of at least two quality metrics classes, each defining a different set of rules for judging whether a frame of a media stream is a good frame, wherein the quality metrics class parameter is cap able of identifying each quality metrics class of the pre-defined set of at least two quality metrics classes;
• and
• at least one quality of experience metric that is at least partially based on judging whether at least one or more frame of at least one media stream received by the client device is a good frame according to rules corresponding to the indicated quality metrics class;
• and wherein the feedback message further reports the quality of streaming of the at least one media stream transmitted by the server and received by the client device based on, at least in part, the quality of experience metric;
• transmit at least one media stream to the client device;
• receive at least one feedback message From the client device reporting the quality of streaming of at least one media stream transmitted by the server and received by the client device, based on, at least in part, on the negotiated quality of experience metric;
• and
• responsive to receiving at least one feedback message reporting re-buffering events occurring above a desired frequency, increase a data rate of the transmitting of the at least one media stream.