US 11,146,832 B1Granted

Distributed storage of files for video content

AssigneeAmazon Technologies, Inc.

InventorsRyan Farris, Jimmy George, Jesse Robert Hepburn, Benjamin Schwartz, Mark DeSpain, Mathew P. Jack, Marcin Manek, Prakash Bhasker, Saurav Sengupta, Matei Mitaru Berceanu, Akhil Ramachandran, Colleen Marie Toth

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Abstract

This disclosure describes techniques for distributed storage of files that represent video content across different storage tiers to reduce the amount of computing resources used to store the files, while maintaining a low latency when responding to user requests to stream the video content. Video streaming services support the streaming of video content at different resolutions to support various user devices and/or user preferences. To provide streaming of a particular video content item at different resolutions, the video streaming services may store multiple files that represent the video content item for the different resolutions and stream at different bitrates to user devices. The techniques described herein include storing files configured to stream a video content item at different bitrates (and for different display resolutions) in a tiered storage structure to reduce the amount of computing resources taken to store the files.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A system comprising:

one or more processors;
and
one or more computer-readable media storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:
receive a video content item offered for streaming by a video streaming service, the video content item including:
a first file comprising first data of a first size, the first data representing the video content item and configured to be streamed at a first bitrate;
a second file comprising second data of a second size, the second file representing the video content item and configured to be streamed at a second bitrate that is greater than the first bitrate, wherein the second size is greater than the first size;
and
a third file comprising third data of a third size, the third data representing the video content item and configured to be streamed at a third bitrate that is greater than the second bitrate, wherein the third size is greater than the second size;
store the first file in a first storage tier provided by a cloud-based storage service;
store the second file in a second storage tier provided by the cloud-based storage service, wherein the second storage tier stores files that are accessed less frequently than files stored in the first storage tier;
store the third file in a third storage tier provided by the cloud-based storage service, based at least in part on a first preference associated with a user associated with a user device associated with the video streaming service;
subsequent to storing the second file in the second storage tier and storing the third file in the third storage tier, determine a period of time since the video content item was last streamed by the user;
based at least in part on the period of time, transition the second file from the second storage tier to the third storage tier, wherein the third storage tier stores files that are accessed less frequently than files stored in the second storage tier;
receive, from the user device, a request to stream the video content item, the user device being a device type associated with the third bitrate at which the third data is streamed;
and
responsive to receiving the request to stream the video content item:
stream the first data representing the video content item at the first bitrate to the user device;
transition, to the second storage tier, the third file from the third storage tier;
and
transition, to the first storage tier, the third file from the second storage tier, based at least in part on the second storage tier storing files streamed at greater bitrates than files stored in the first storage tier;
and
subsequent to transitioning the third file to the first storage tier, transition, at a point in time during streaming of the first data, to stream the third data at the third bitrate associated with the device type, wherein transitioning to stream the third data at the third bitrate is based at least in part on a second preference associated with the user.

19 more elements

A computer-implemented method comprising:

obtaining a video content item offered for streaming by a video streaming service, the video content item comprising a first file comprising first data representing the video content item, a second file comprising second data representing the video content item, and a third file comprising third data representing the video content item;
storing the first file in a first storage tier, the first file configured to be streamed at a first bitrate;
storing the second file in a second storage tier, the second file configured to be streamed at a second bitrate that is greater than the first bitrate;
storing the third file in a third storage tier, based at least in part on a first preference associated with a user associated with a user device associated with the video streaming service, the third file configured to be streamed at a third bitrate that is greater than the second bitrate;
determining an event associated with streaming the video content item;
streaming the first data representing the video content item from the first storage tier to the user device at the first bitrate;
receiving a request to stream the video content item at the third bitrate, the user device being a device type associated with the third bitrate at which the third data is streamed;
moving the third file from the third storage tier to the second storage tier, and then from the second storage tier to the first storage tier, to make at least a portion of the third data available for streaming, based at least in part on the third storage tier storing files streamed at greater bitrates than files stored in the second storage tier;
and
transitioning, at a point in time during streaming of the first data, to streaming the third data from the first storage tier, based at least in part on the first storage tier storing the third data configured to be streamed to the user device at the third bitrate associated with the device type, and further based at least in part on a second preference associated with the user.

7 more elements

A system comprising:

one or more processors;
and
one or more computer-readable media storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:
obtain a video content item offered for streaming by a video streaming service, the video content item comprising first data to stream the video content item at a first bitrate, second data to stream the video content item at a second bitrate that is greater than the first bitrate, and third data to stream the video content item at a third bitrate that is greater than the second bitrate;
store the first data in a first storage tier;
store the second data in a second storage tier, the second storage tier being configured to store data that is accessed less frequently than data stored in the first storage tier;
store the third data in a third storage tier, based at least in part on a first preference associated with a user associated with a user device associated with the video streaming service, the third storage tier being configured to store data that is accessed less frequently than data stored in the second storage tier;
determine an event associated with streaming the video content item to the user device, the user device being a device type associated with the third bitrate at which the third data is streamed;
based at least in part on determining the event, move the third data to the second storage tier, and then from the second storage tier to the first storage tier, to make at least a portion of the third data available for streaming, further based at least in part on the third storage tier storing files streamed at greater bitrates than files stored in the second storage tier;
and
transition, at a point in time during streaming of the first data, to stream the third data from the first storage tier at the third bitrate associated with the device type, based at least in part on a second preference associated with the user.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 16/184,608Filed 8 Nov 2018
Granted: 12 Oct 2021
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification13 codes

H04N 21/2181
Source of audio or video content , e.g. local disk arrays: comprising remotely distributed storage units, e.g. when movies are replicated over a…
H04L 65/612
For supporting one-way streaming services, e.g. Internet radio: for unicast
H04L 65/762
Media network packet handling: at the source
H04L 65/80
Network arrangements, protocols or services for supporting real-time applications in data packet communication: responding to QoS