Transmission Resource Distribution for Streaming of Variable Bitrate Encoded Media Data

A network component configured to trigger dynamic distribution of transmission resources of a communications network among multiple user terminals for one or more streams of variable bitrate encoded media data, the network component comprising:

• an interface configured to receive bitrate variation information for at least one of the one more media data streams from at least one of the user terminals;
• processing circuitry;
• memory containing instructions executable by the processing circuitry whereby the network component is operative to trigger a distribution of the transmission resources among the user terminals dependent on the bitrate variation information.

A method of operating a user terminal configured to receive a stream of variable bitrate encoded media data via a communications network, the method comprising:

• determining bitrate variation information for the media data stream;
• and
• triggering transmission of the bitrate variation information towards a network component that is configured to trigger dynamic distribution of transmission resources of the communications network among multiple user terminals.

A method of operating a network component configured to trigger dynamic distribution of transmission resources of a communications network among multiple user terminals for one or more streams of variable bitrate encoded media data, the method comprising:

• receiving bitrate variation information for at least one of the one more media data streams from at least one of the user terminals;
• triggering a distribution of the transmission resources among the user terminals dependent on the bitrate variation information.

A non-transitory computer readable recording medium storing a computer program product for controlling operation of a user terminal configured to receive a stream of variable bitrate encoded media data via a communications network, the computer program product comprising software instructions which, when run on processing circuitry of the user terminal, causes the user terminal to:

• determine bitrate variation information for the media data stream;
• and
• trigger transmission of the bitrate variation information towards a network component that is configured to trigger dynamic distribution of transmission resources of the communications network among multiple user terminals

A non-transitory computer readable recording medium storing a computer program product for controlling operation of a network component configured to trigger dynamic distribution of transmission resources of a communications network among multiple user terminals for one or more streams of variable bitrate encoded media data, the computer program product comprising software instructions which, when run on processing circuitry of the network component, causes the network component to:

• receive bitrate variation information for at least one of the one more media data streams from at least one of the user terminals;
• trigger a distribution of the transmission resources among the user terminals dependent on the bitrate variation information.