Adaptive transfer rate for retrieving content from a server

A computer-implemented method comprising:

• as implemented by one or more computing devices configured with specific executable instructions,
• receiving, from a user device, a request for a first fragment of a first content file, wherein the request comprises an indication of a playback rate at which the user device plays a second fragment;
• determining a rate at which to retrieve the first fragment based, at least in part, on a playback duration of the first fragment included in a manifest file associated with the first content file and the playback rate;
• throttling a retrieval of the first fragment from a server separate from the one or more computing devices to the one or more computing devices to a rate that is at least the determined rate at which to retrieve the first fragment;
• and
• transmitting the first fragment to the user device.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon executable program code that directs one or more computing devices to perform operations comprising:

• receiving, from a user device, a request for a first fragment of a first content file, wherein the request comprises an indication of a playback rate at which the user device plays a second fragment;
• determining a rate at which to retrieve the first fragment based, at least in part, on a playback time of the first fragment and the playback rate;
• throttling a retrieval of the first fragment from a server separate from the one or more computing devices to the one or more computing devices to a rate that is at least the determined rate at which to retrieve the first fragment;
• and
• transmitting the first fragment to the user device.

A system comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a memory comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the system to:
• process a request received from a user device for a first fragment of a first content file;
• retrieve a manifest file associated with the first content file from an origin server;
• determine a retrieval time of the first fragment based, at least in part, on the contents of the manifest file and a time multiplier;
• determine a file size of the first fragment based, at least in part, on the contents of the manifest file;
• determine a retrieval rate for the first fragment based, at least in part, on the retrieval time and the file size;
• request the first fragment from the origin server at a transfer rate that is at least equal to the determined retrieval rate;
• process the first fragment received from the origin server;
• and
• transmit the first fragment to the user device.

A computer-implemented method comprising:

• as implemented by one or more computing devices configured with specific executable instructions,
• receiving, from a user device, a request for a first fragment of a first content file;
• determining a retrieval time of the first fragment based, at least in part, on the manifest file and a time multiplier;
• determining a file size of the first fragment based, at least in part, on the manifest file;
• determining a retrieval rate for the first fragment based, at least in part, on the retrieval time and the file size;
• requesting the first fragment from a server at a transfer rate that is at least the determined retrieval rate;
• and
• transmitting the first fragment to the user device.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon executable program code that directs one or more computing devices to perform operations comprising:

• receiving, from a user device, a request for a first fragment of a first content file;
• determining a retrieval time of the first fragment based, at least in part, on the characteristics of the first fragment and a time multiplier;
• determining a file size of the first fragment based, at least in part, on the characteristics of the first fragment;
• determining a retrieval rate for the first fragment based, at least in part, on the retrieval time and the file size;
• requesting the first fragment from a server at a transfer rate that is at least the determined retrieval rate;
• and
• transmitting the first fragment to the user device.