Dynamic multi-content delivery network selection during video playback

A method comprising:

• receiving, by a computing device, one or more segments for content from a first content delivery network during a playback session for the content, wherein the content includes a number of segments;
• evaluating, by the computing device, buffer occupancy of a buffer configured to store segments of the content for playback;
• evaluating, by the computing device, a number of times of a failure to download a segment for the content, wherein evaluating the number of times of the failure comprises counting the number of times of the failure for consecutive segments when using a lowest bitrate representation, and wherein the content is available in a plurality of representations at different bitrates;
• comparing, by the computing device, the buffer occupancy to a first threshold and the number of times of the failure to a second threshold;
• and
• determining, by the computing device, a switch from the first content delivery network to a second content delivery network during the playback session based on the comparing.

A method comprising:

• receiving, by a computing device, one or more segments for content from a first content delivery network during a playback session for the content, wherein the content includes a number of segments;
• evaluating, by the computing device, buffer occupancy of a buffer configured to store segments of the content for playback;
• evaluating, by the computing device, a number of times of a failure to download a segment for the content;
• comparing, by the computing device, the buffer occupancy to a first threshold and the number of times of the failure to a second threshold;
• determining, by the computing device, a switch from the first content delivery network to a second content delivery network during the playback session based on the comparing;
• switching from the first content delivery network to the second content delivery network by requesting a segment from the content from the second content delivery network;
• and
• upon switching from the first content delivery network to the second content delivery network, marking, by the computing device, the first content delivery network as unavailable to be switched to for a period of time.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium containing instructions, that when executed, control a computer system to be operable for:

• receiving one or more segments for content from a first content delivery network during a playback session for the content, wherein the content includes a number of segments;
• evaluating buffer occupancy of a buffer configured to store segments of the content for playback;
• evaluating a number of times of a failure to download a segment for the content;
• evaluating network bandwidth for receiving segments from the content;
• comparing the buffer occupancy to a first threshold and the number of times of the failure to a second threshold;
• comparing the network bandwidth to a third threshold;
• and
• determining a switch from the first content delivery network to a second content delivery network during the playback session based on the comparing, wherein determining the switch from the first content delivery network to the second content delivery network is when the network bandwidth is below the third threshold and the buffer occupancy is below the first threshold.

An apparatus comprising:

• one or more computer processors;
• and
• a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions, that when executed, control the one or more computer processors to be operable for:
• receiving one or more segments for content from a first content delivery network during a playback session for the content, wherein the content includes a number of segments;
• evaluating buffer occupancy of a buffer configured to store segments of the content for playback;
• evaluating a number of times of a failure to download a segment for the content;
• evaluating network bandwidth for receiving segments from the content;
• comparing the buffer occupancy to a first threshold and the number of times of the failure to a second threshold;
• comparing the network bandwidth to a third threshold;
• and
• determining a switch from the first content delivery network to a second content delivery network during the playback session based on the comparing, wherein determining the switch from the first content delivery network to the second content delivery network is when the network bandwidth is below the third threshold and the buffer occupancy is below the first threshold.