Patent · US Expired

Midstream determination of varying bandwidth availability

US7054774B2 · kind B2 · utility

52Cited by
44References
33Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 27, 2003
Grant dateMay 30, 2006
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 27, 2023

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04L65/752
  • WIPO fieldDigital communication
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Systems and methods for midstream determination of varying available bandwidth for streaming content between two network entities are described. During content streaming, a client requests a server to surge the content transmission rate. One or more bandwidth measurements are taken during the surge to determine if the increased transmission rate can be adequately managed. If the increased transmission rate can be adequately managed, the client may request the server to transmit remaining content at a transmission rate that is not greater than the increased, or surged, transmission rate. In a multi-bitrate file scenario, the surge rate may be higher than the rate of the fastest useable stream. In such a case, the fastest useable stream is selected. If the increased transmission rate is not suitable for future transmission, then the rate may remain at the original transmission rate.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.