Adaptive multi-tiered re-coding for improved communications resource utilization

A method for adapting data rates of respective tiers in a communication network comprising multiple tiers, comprising:

• adaptively setting a data rate associated with a bottom tier in the communication network, which is associated with a communication device, at the end of each short adaptation time period associated with the bottom tier, based at least in part on feedback information relating to communication conditions associated with the communication device and predefined adaptation criteria, to facilitate communicating data between a data source and the communication device;
• and
• adaptively setting a data rate associated with a top tier in the communication network, which is associated with the data source, at least at the end of each long adaptation time period, based at least in part on the predefined adaptation criteria.

A computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a processor, cause a computer to perform the following acts:

• adapting a data rate associated with a bottom tier in the communication network, which is associated with a user equipment, at the end of each short adaptation time period associated with the bottom tier, based at least in part on feedback information relating to communication conditions associated with the user equipment and predefined adaptation criteria, to facilitate communicating data between a data source and the user equipment;
• and
• adapting a data rate associated with a top tier in the communication network, which is associated with the data source, at least at the end of each long adaptation time period, based at least in part on the predefined adaptation criteria.

An apparatus comprising:

• means for adaptively setting a data rate associated with a bottom tier in the communication network, which is associated with a mobile communication device, at the end of each short adaptation time period associated with the bottom tier, based at least in part on feedback information relating to communication conditions associated with the mobile communication device and predefined adaptation criteria, to facilitate communicating data between a data source and the mobile communication device;
• and
• means for adaptively setting a data rate associated with a top tier in the communication network, which is associated with the data source, at least at the end of each long adaptation time period, based at least in part on the predefined adaptation criteria.