Multi-bitrate video with dynamic blocks

An apparatus comprising:

• one or more processors;
• and
• memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, configure the apparatus to:
• receive, from a client device, a request for a content item;
• determine a minimum quantity of blocks for initial playback of a data stream associated with the content item via the client device;
• determine, based on the content item and the minimum quantity of blocks for initial playback of the data stream:
• a first payload size for a first portion of the data stream, wherein the first portion comprises the minimum quantity of blocks;
• and
• a second payload size for a second portion of the data stream that is subsequent to the first portion of the data stream, wherein the first payload size is smaller than the second payload size;
• and
• send, to the client device, the first portion of the data stream.

A system comprising:

• a client device and a computing device,
• wherein the client device comprises:
• one or more first processors;
• and
• memory storing first instructions that, when executed by the one or more first processors, configure the client device to:
• send, to the computing device, a request for a content item;
• and
• wherein the computing device comprises:
• one or more second processors;
• and
• memory storing second instructions that, when executed by the one or more second processors, configure the computing device to:
• receive, from the client device, the request for the content item;
• determine a minimum quantity of blocks for initial playback of a data stream associated with the content item via the client device;
• determine, based on the content item and the minimum quantity of blocks for initial playback of the data stream:
• a first payload size for a first portion of the data stream, wherein the first portion comprises the minimum quantity of blocks;
• and
• a second payload size for a second portion of the data stream that is subsequent to the first portion of the data stream, wherein the first payload size is smaller than the second payload size;
• and
• send, to the client device, the first portion of the data stream.

One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing instructions that, when executed, cause:

• receiving, by a computing device and from a client device, a request for a content item;
• determining, by the computing device, a minimum quantity of blocks for initial playback of a data stream associated with the content item via the client device;
• determining, based on the content item and the minimum quantity of blocks for initial playback of the data stream:
• a first payload size for a first portion of the data stream, wherein the first portion comprises the minimum quantity of blocks;
• and
• a second payload size for a second portion of the data stream that is subsequent to the first portion of the data stream, wherein the first payload size is smaller than the second payload size;
• and
• sending, by the computing device and to the client device, the first portion of the data stream.