Streaming and downloading of content
AssigneeComcast Cable Communications, LLC
InventorsBruce Bradley, Robert Knee
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods, apparatuses, systems, and software are described for providing content to a device comprising streaming content and sending content in a non-streaming manner (e.g., by downloading a file containing the content). In some aspects, switching between streaming and downloading may be performed in a dynamic manner during presentation of the content, and may be seamless to the user's viewing experience.
Claims26
A first computing device comprising:
- one or more processors;
- and
- memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the first computing device to:
- receive, at a first time, and via streaming from a second computing device, a content item;
- determine, at a second time, that a quality of the streaming falls below a threshold quality;
- receive, based on the determining and via downloading from the second computing device, at a same level of video quality as the streaming at the first time, the content item;
- and
- stop, based on determining that a threshold amount of the content item has been downloaded, the streaming.
A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed, cause:
- receiving, by a first computing device, at a first time, and via streaming from a second computing device, a content item;
- determining, at a second time, that a quality of the streaming falls below a threshold quality;
- receiving, based on the determining and via downloading from the second computing device, at a same level of video quality as the streaming at the first time, the content item;
- and
- stopping, based on determining that a threshold amount of the content item has been downloaded, the streaming.
A second computing device comprising:
- one or more processors;
- and
- memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the second computing device to:
- send, at a first time, and via streaming to a plurality of computing devices, a content item;
- receive, at a second time, and from a first computing device of the plurality of computing devices, an indication that a quality of the streaming falls below a threshold quality;
- and
- send, based on the indication, via uploading to the first computing device, and at a same level of video quality as the streaming at the first time, the content item.
A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed, cause:
- sending, by a second computing device, at a first time, and via streaming to a plurality of computing devices, a content item;
- receiving, at a second time, and from a first computing device of the plurality of computing devices, an indication that a quality of the streaming falls below a threshold quality;
- and
- sending, based on the indication, via uploading to the first computing device, and at a same level of video quality as the streaming at the first time, the content item.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.