US 10,771,833 B2 · System and method for improving streaming video via better buffer management

Abstract

Disclosed are solutions for improving Internet video streaming. A first number is determined based on one or more parameters, including network conditions. A second number is then determined corresponding to a number of video segments that is greater than or equal in size to a third number determined based on a bandwidth-delay product of the network to a remote machine. The second number of video segments is then requested in a pipelined fashion. Pipelined requests are stopped when a predetermined size of the video has been requested that is greater than or equal to the first number. Alternatively, a request is sent to the remote machine to send a portion of the video, where the size of the portion of the video is equal to the first number or equal to the size of video remaining if less than the first number. Combined with pipelining, the approach achieves near-optimal throughput and fast bitrate adaptation, regardless of control plane algorithm.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A method for improving video streaming performance of a video in a system having a client machine and remote machine, the method being performed by the client machine and comprising:

determining a first number based on one or more parameters, at least one of the parameters being related to current network conditions;
determining a second number corresponding to a number of video segments of the video, as calculated by a total size of the video segments, that is greater than or equal in size to a third number determined based on at least a bandwidth-delay product of the network to the remote machine, the third number being no less than two;
requesting from the remote machine the second number of video segments in a pipelined fashion, wherein a subsequent request for a video segment of the video is made before a response to a prior request is at least partially received, provided that no less than the second number of video segments are outstanding at any one time, and wherein another subsequent request is made if fewer than the second number of video segments are outstanding;
and
stopping subsequent pipelined requests if a predetermined size of the video has been requested that is greater than or equal to the first number.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

System and method for improving streaming video via better buffer management

Life of this patent

System and method for improving streaming video via better buffer management

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims16