Determining available media data for network streaming

A method of retrieving media data, the method comprising:

• sending a plurality of probe requests for segments of media data to a server device, wherein the server device provides the media data using a live streaming service;
• analyzing responses to the plurality of probe requests to determine a left edge and a right edge of a segment availability window;
• determining a time delta representing a difference between a time at which a segment is actually available and a time at which a clock of a client device indicates that the segment is available;
• and
• requesting one or more of the segments based on the time delta, wherein requesting comprises sending a request for a segment based on the determined left edge or the determined right edge of the segment availability window, in accordance with the live streaming service.

A device for retrieving media data, the device comprising:

• means for sending a plurality of probe requests for segments of media data to a server device, wherein the server device provides the media data using a live streaming service;
• means for analyzing responses to the plurality of probe requests to determine a left edge and a right edge of a segment availability window;
• means for determining a time difference between a local clock of a client device and a clock of a server device based at least in part on the determined left edge or the determined right edge;
• and
• means for sending a request for a segment based at least in part on the determined time difference that is based at least in part on the determined left edge or the determined right edge, in accordance with the live streaming service.

A device for retrieving media data, the device comprising:

• means for sending a plurality of probe requests for segments of media data to a server device, wherein the server device provides the media data using a live streaming service;
• means for analyzing responses to the plurality of probe requests to determine a left edge and a right edge of a segment availability window;
• means for determining a time delta representing a difference between a time at which a segment is actually available and a time at which a clock of a client device indicates that the segment is available;
• and
• means for requesting one or more of the segments based on the time delta, wherein the means for requesting the one or more of the segments comprise means for sending a request for a segment on the determined left edge or the determined right edge of the segment availability window, in accordance with the live streaming service.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon instructions that, when executed, cause a processor to:

• send a plurality of probe requests for segments of media data to a server device, wherein the server device provides the media data using a live streaming service;
• analyze responses to the plurality of probe requests to determine a left edge and a right edge of a segment availability window;
• determine a time difference between a local clock of a client device and a clock of a server device based at least in part on the determined left edge or the determined right edge;
• and
• send a request for a segment within the segment availability window based at least in part on the determined time difference that is based at least in part on the determined left edge or the determined right edge, in accordance with the live streaming service.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon instructions that, when executed, cause a processor to:

• send a plurality of probe requests for segments of media data to a server device, wherein the server device provides the media data using a live streaming service;
• analyze responses to the plurality of probe requests to determine a left edge and a right edge of a segment availability window;
• determine a time delta representing a difference between a time at which a segment is actually available and a time at which a clock of a client device indicates that the segment is available;
• and
• request one or more of the segments based on the time delta, wherein the instructions that cause the processor to request one or more of the segments comprise instructions that cause the processor to send a request for a segment based on the determined left edge or the determined right edge of the segment availability window, in accordance with the live streaming service.