Network assisted rate shifting for adaptive bit rate streaming

One or more computer readable storage media encoded with software comprising computer executable instructions and when the software is executed operable to:

• receive a content request message from a client device in communication with the aggregation device over a network comprising a plurality of client devices in communication with an aggregation device, the content request message having a request for a first content file of a video stream of a content file type with a first bit rate;
• evaluate the content request message to determine the first bit rate of the first content file;
• access a database that stores a plurality of content files of the content file type at a corresponding plurality of bit rates to determine all available bit rates of the content files for the content file type;
• analyze network conditions to determine whether the content request message should be adjusted to request a second content file associated with the content file type with a second bit rate that is lower than the first bit rate;
• and
• adjust the content request message to request the content file type at the second bit rate based on the analysis of the network conditions.

An apparatus comprising:

• a network interface unit configured to enable communications over a network;
• one or more switch units coupled to the network interface unit;
• and
• a processor coupled to the network interface unit and the one or more switch units, and configured to:
• receive a content request message from a client device, the content request message having a request for a first content file of a video stream of a content file type with a first bit rate;
• evaluate the content request message to determine the first bit rate of the first content file;
• access a database that stores a plurality of content files of the content file type at a corresponding plurality of bit rates to determine all available bit rates of the content files for the content file type;
• analyze network conditions to determine whether the content request message should be adjusted to request a second content file associated with the content file type with a second bit rate that is lower than the first bit rate;
• and
• adjust the content request message to request the content file type at the second bit rate based on the analysis of the network conditions.