Content distribution system

A method for distributing content, the method comprising:

• a content client sending a request for a content item to a content server through a network;
• at a monitor device of a network, monitoring a current amount of network traffic going through the network;
• receiving a session description relating to a respective version of the content item comprising at least one media description, each one of the at least one media description comprising connection information and a bandwidth requirement to enable the content client to receive over the network the respective version of the content item;
• estimating an amount of bandwidth available in the network for receiving the content item by deducting the current amount of traffic going through the network from a maximum available bandwidth;
• and
• providing, in a file separate from the session description, information indicating the amount of bandwidth available in the network for receiving the content item to the content client,
• wherein the content client is configured to select one of the at least one media descriptions to receive the respective version of the content item over the network based on the bandwidth requirement of the one of the at least one media description and the information indicating the amount of bandwidth available in the network for receiving the content item.

A non-transient computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon which, when executed by one or more processors of a content distribution system, cause the content distribution system to carry out operations including:

• a content client sending a request for a content item to a content server through a network;
• at a monitor device of a network, monitoring a current amount of network traffic going through the network;
• receiving a session description relating to a respective version of the content item comprising at least one media description, each one of the at least one media description comprising connection information and a bandwidth requirement to enable the content client to receive over the network the respective version of the content item;
• estimating an amount of bandwidth available in the network for receiving the content item by deducting the amount of traffic going through the network from a maximum available bandwidth;
• and
• providing, in a file separate from the session description, information indicating the amount of bandwidth available in the network for receiving the content item to the content client,
• wherein the content client is configured to select one of the at least one media descriptions to receive the respective version of the content item over the network based on the bandwidth requirement of the one of the at least one media description and the information indicating the amount of bandwidth available in the network for receiving the content item.