Bit rate stream switching
AssigneeNetflix, Inc.
InventorsChung-Ping Wu, Christian Kaiser, Yung-Hsiao Lai, James Mitch Zollinger, David Randall Ronca
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Embodiments for changing bit rates in streaming media are provided. As portions of a streaming media file are downloaded for playback, the size of the portion is compared with an expected size determined prior to initiating playback of streaming AV data. The portion of the media file may be padded such that the size of the portion matches the size specified prior to initiating playback of streaming AV data.
Claims31
A computer-implemented method to facilitate streaming of audiovisual data, the computer-implemented method comprising:
- requesting, by a client device, at least a first streaming media header pertaining to a first encoded version of a media title to be streamed to the client device, the first encoded version of the media title containing intervals of audiovisual data, wherein the first streaming media header specifies information about the intervals, the information including:
- (i) a plurality of byte offsets into the first encoded version of the media title and (ii) corresponding time points in the media title;
- and
- generating, from the streaming media header and by the client device, a plurality of byte range requests, each corresponding to at least one time point of a respective one of successive intervals selected from the intervals of audiovisual data contained in the first encoded version of the media title.
A non-transitory computer-readable medium including instructions that, when executed by a processing unit, cause the processing unit to perform an operation to facilitate streaming of audiovisual data, the operation comprising:
- requesting, by a client device, at least a first streaming media header pertaining to a first encoded version of a media title to be streamed to the client device, the first encoded version of the media title containing intervals of audiovisual data, wherein the first streaming media header specifies information about the intervals, the information including:
- (i) a plurality of byte offsets into the first encoded version of the media title and (ii) corresponding time points in the media title;
- and
- generating, from the streaming media header and by the client device, a plurality of byte range requests, each corresponding to at least one time point of a respective one of successive intervals selected from the intervals of audiovisual data contained in the first encoded version of the media title.
A system to facilitate streaming of audiovisual data, the system comprising:
- a memory for storing audiovisual data;
- and
- a processing unit coupled to the memory configured to execute a streaming media client application, wherein the streaming media client application that, when executed, performs an operation comprising:
- requesting, by a client device, at least a first streaming media header pertaining to a first encoded version of a media title to be streamed to the client device, the first encoded version of the media title containing intervals of audiovisual data, wherein the first streaming media header specifies information about the intervals, the information including:
- (i) a plurality of byte offsets into the first encoded version of the media title and (ii) corresponding time points in the media title;
- and
- generating, from the streaming media header and by the client device, a plurality of byte range requests, each corresponding to at least one time point of a respective one of successive intervals selected from the intervals of audiovisual data contained in the first encoded version of the media title.
A computer-implemented method to facilitate streaming of audiovisual data, the computer-implemented method comprising:
- requesting, by a client device, at least a first streaming media header pertaining to a first encoded version of a media title to be streamed to the client device, the first encoded version of the media title containing intervals of audiovisual data, wherein the first streaming media header specifies information about the intervals, the information including a duration and size of each of the intervals the information further including a presentation time and a byte offset of each of the intervals;
- and
- generating, from the streaming media file header and by the client device, a plurality of byte range requests, each corresponding to at least one presentation time of a respective one of successive intervals selected from the intervals of audiovisual data contained in the first encoded version of the media title.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.