Method and a device for estimating available transmission bandwith on a network connection

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon instructions which, when executed in a device having at least one processor and a transmitter, causes the device to perform a method of estimating available transmission bandwidth on a network connection over which data files are to be transmitted within a predetermined transmission time and at an average bitrate lower than a bitrate threshold, the method comprising:

• determining a data file size for a first data file to be transmitted over the network connection;
• dividing the data file size by the predetermined transmission time, thereby determining a lowest average bitrate required to transmit the first data file within the predetermined transmission time;
• dividing a transmission time of the first data file into one or more first time intervals and one or more second time intervals, wherein each of the one or more first time intervals is followed by a second time interval unless the first time interval is a last time interval;
• transmitting data of the first data file over the network connection during the one or more first time intervals at a bitrate higher than the determined lowest average bitrate;
• transmitting remaining data of the first data file over the network connection during the one or more second time intervals at a bitrate lower than the bitrate during the one or more first time intervals, the bitrate during the one or more second time intervals being such that a resulting average bitrate of the transmission of data during the one or more first time intervals and the one or more second time intervals is equal to or higher than the determined lowest average bitrate but lower than the bitrate threshold;
• and
• estimating an available transmission bandwidth over the network connection based on feedback on the transmission of data of the first data file over the network connection during the one or more first time intervals at the bitrate higher than the determined lowest average bitrate.

A device for estimating available transmission bandwidth on a network connection over which data files are to be transmitted within a predetermined transmission time at an average bitrate lower than a bitrate threshold, the device comprising:

• a transmitter;
• and
• circuitry configured to execute:
• a determining function configured to determine a data file size for a first data file to be transmitted over the network connection;
• a first dividing function configured to divide the data file size by the predetermined transmission time, thereby determining a lowest average bitrate required to transmit the first data file within the predetermined transmission time;
• a second dividing function configured to divide a transmission time of the first data file into one or more first time intervals and one or more second time intervals, wherein each of the one or more first time intervals is followed by a second time interval unless the first time interval is a last time interval;
• a first transmitting function configured to cause the transmitter to transmit data of the first data file over the network connection during the one or more first time intervals at a bitrate higher than the determined lowest average bitrate;
• a second transmitting function configured to cause the transmitter to transmit remaining data of the first data file over the network connection during the one or more second time intervals at a bitrate lower than the bitrate during the one or more first time intervals, the bitrate during the one or more second time intervals being such that a resulting average bitrate of the transmission of data during the one or more first time intervals and the one or more second time intervals is equal to or higher than the determined lowest average bitrate but lower than the bitrate threshold;
• and
• an estimating function configured to estimate an available transmission bandwidth over the network connection based on feedback on the transmission of data of the first data file over the network connection during the one or more first time intervals at the bitrate higher than the determined lowest average bitrate.