Techniques for selectively delaying responses to premature requests for encoded media content
AssigneeNetflix, Inc.
InventorChristopher Alan Newton
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In various embodiments, a segment delivery application streams segments of downloadables to client devices. At a first point-in-time, the segment delivery application receives a request from a server for a segment of a downloadable. The segment delivery application determines that the segment is not available and that the segment is a next expected segment of the downloadable. At a second-point in time, the segment delivery application determines that the segment has become available. Upon determining that the segment has become available, the segment delivery application transmits to the server a response that includes the segment and corresponds to the request.
Claims22
A computer-implemented method for streaming segments of downloadables to client devices, the method comprising:
- at a first point-in-time, receiving a first request from a first server for a first segment of a first downloadable;
- determining that the first segment is not available;
- determining that the first segment is a next expected segment of the first downloadable;
- at a second point-in-time, determining that the first segment has become available by detecting that a beginning portion of the first segment has become available without detecting that the entire first segment has become available;
- and
- upon determining that the first segment has become available, transmitting to the first server a first response that includes at least the beginning portion of the first segment and corresponds to the first request.
One or more non-transitory computer readable media including instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to stream segments of downloadables to client devices by performing the steps of:
- at a first point-in-time, receiving a first request from a first server for a first segment of a first downloadable;
- determining that the first segment is not available;
- determining that the first segment is a next expected segment of the first downloadable;
- at a second point-in-time, determining that the first segment has become available by detecting that a beginning portion of the first segment has become available without detecting that the entire first segment has become available;
- and
- upon determining that the first segment has become available, transmitting to the first server a first response that includes at least the beginning portion of the first segment and corresponds to the first request.
A system comprising:
- one or more memories storing instructions;
- and
- one or more processors coupled to the one or more memories that, when executing the instructions, perform the steps of:
- at a first point-in-time, receiving a first request from a first server for a first segment of a first downloadable;
- determining that the first segment is not available;
- determining that the first segment is a next expected segment of the first downloadable;
- at a second point-in-time, determining that the first segment has become available by detecting that a beginning portion of the first segment has become available without detecting that the entire first segment has become available;
- and
- upon determining that the first segment has become available, transmitting to the first server a first response that includes at least the beginning portion of the first segment and corresponds to the first request.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.