Multi-stream bit rate adaptation
AssigneeMobixell Networks Ltd.
InventorsYosef Wexler, Amir Shatz, Ilan Daniel, Yosef Ben-Tsur
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for communication includes providing an item of media content for streaming in a plurality of versions having different, respective bit rates. The media content is streamed from a server to a client by transmitting a first version of the item over a network at a first bit rate from the server to the client via a server buffer associated with the server and monitoring a fill level of the server buffer while streaming the media content. The server switches to transmitting a second version of the item at a second bit rate, different from the first bit rate, to the client in response to a change in the fill level of the server buffer.
Claims20
A method for communication, comprising:
- providing an item of media content comprising a compressed video stream, which comprises I-frames and P-frames, for streaming in a plurality of versions having different, respective bit rates;
- and
- streaming the media content from a server to a client by:
- transmitting a first version of the item over a network at a first bit rate from the server to the client via a server buffer associated with the server;
- monitoring a fill level of the server buffer by comparing the fill level to at least an upper margin and a lower margin while streaming the media content;
- and
- switching to transmitting a second version of the item at a second bit rate, different from the first bit rate, from the server to the client in response to a change in the fill level of the server buffer, wherein switching to transmitting the second version comprises switching to a lower bit rate when the fill level passes above the upper margin, and switching to the higher bit rate when the fill level passes below the lower margin, and an I-frame is encountered in the compressed video stream.
A method for communication, comprising:
- providing an item of video content for streaming in a plurality of versions, at least two of the versions having different, respective frame rates;
- and
- streaming the video content from a server to a client by:
- transmitting a first version of the item over a network at a first frame rate from the server to the client;
- monitoring a fill level of a buffer by comparing the fill level to at least an upper threshold and a lower threshold while streaming the video content;
- and
- in response to the fill level passing above the upper threshold or below the lower threshold, switching to transmitting a second version of the item at a second frame rate, different from the first frame rate, from the server to the client.
Communication apparatus, comprising:
- a media source, which is configured to provide an item of media content comprising a compressed video stream, which comprises I-frames and P-frames, for streaming in a plurality of versions having different, respective bit rates;
- and
- a client interface, which comprises a buffer and is configured to stream the media content from the source to a client by transmitting a first version of the item over a network at a first bit rate via the buffer to the client, to monitor a fill level of the buffer while streaming the media content by comparing the fill level to at least an upper margin and a lower margin, and to switch to transmitting a second version of the item at a second bit rate, different from the first bit rate, in response to a change in the fill level of the buffer by switching to a lower bit rate when the fill level passes above the upper margin, and switching to the higher bit rate when the fill level passes below the lower margin, and an I-frame is encountered in the compressed video stream.
Communication apparatus, comprising:
- a media source, which is configured to provide an item of video content for streaming in a plurality of versions, at least two of the versions having different, respective frame rates;
- and
- a client interface, which is configured to stream the video content from the source to a client by transmitting a first version of the item over a network to the client at a first frame rate, monitoring a fill level of a buffer by comparing the fill level to at least an upper threshold and a lower threshold while streaming the video content, and in response to the fill level passing above the upper threshold or below the lower threshold, to switch to transmitting a second version of the item to the client at a second frame rate, different from the first frame rate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.