Adaptive multimedia renderer

#The present invention relates to the transmission of multimedia content from a multimedia server to a client, and more particularly, to the use of an adaptive multimedia-rendering server located between the multimedia network server and a client to control transmission of the multimedia content to the client.

#When providing multimedia content to a user, a client application is used within the computer, cell phone PDA, etc., of the user to communicate with a multimedia flash server in order to obtain the multimedia information that is desired. Existing multimedia distribution sites such as YouTube take stored multimedia content and convert the content into up to five different versions that are dependent upon the bandwidth available to a user and the particular device or terminal that is being utilized by the user to connect to the multimedia server. Since this connection mechanism is client-server based, the multimedia server does not adapt to available bandwidth requirements, and the client selects the version of the multimedia information that is to be transmitted from the multimedia server to the client.

#In most applications, the client comprises a flash player plug-in that is located within the mobile browser or computer browser of the user. Existing LTE Radio Access Network protocols provide a variety of different manners for controlling the throughput of radio over an established connection. For example, in LTE there are approximately 28 modulation and coding levels, which each represent a specific throughput for a given physical bandwidth, which can be dynamically selected within the system responsive to different radio environments. Thus, some manner for utilizing the variety of different control mechanisms for altering and controlling the throughput of a multimedia wireless connection that is under control of a network side provider rather than being solely under the provision of a client application associated with a user, would greatly benefit network service providers in controlling the manner and quality of multimedia content provided to their users while saving capacity on the network.

#For a more complete understanding, reference is now made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawings in which:

#FIG. 1 illustrates the manner for making a multimedia content request from a client browser to a multimedia content provider via the internet;

#FIG. 2 illustrates the manner in which a client flash plug-in selects a download level from the plurality of available download levels from the flash multimedia network server;

#Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numbers are used herein to designate like elements throughout, the various views and embodiments of an adaptive multimedia renderer are illustrated and described, and other possible embodiments are described. The figures are not necessarily drawn to scale, and in some instances the drawings have been exaggerated and/or simplified in places for illustrative purposes only. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate the many possible applications and variations based on the following examples of possible embodiments.

#Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1, there is illustrated the manner in which a flash plug-in client browser 102 may make a request for multimedia content through the internet 104. The flash plug-in browser 102, which is located within a browser of a mobile telephone, computer, laptop, etc., performs an HTTP get request 106 to a multimedia web server 108. While the following description is made with respect to a flash multimedia server and flash client, other types of multimedia servers and clients may be used in accordance with the present invention. The multimedia web server 108 would be associated with a website such as YouTube and would provide the ability for the user associated with the flash plug-in browser 102 to access various multimedia content over the internet 104.

#Responsive to the HTTP get message 106, the multimedia web server 108 provides an HTTP 303 redirect message 110 from the multimedia web server 108 back to the flash plug-in client browser 102. The HTTP 303 redirect message 110 instructs the flash plug-in client browser 102 of the location of the flash multimedia network server 112 from which the multimedia content may be accessed. Responsive to the HTTP 303 redirect message 110, the flash plug-in client browser 102 generates a further HTTP get message 114 to the flash multimedia network server 112 requesting the download of the particular flash multimedia content. The flash multimedia network server 112 accesses the multimedia content and downloads the flash multimedia content 114 from the flash multimedia network server 112 back to the flash plug-in client browser 102.