Switching a client from unicasting to multicasting by increasing the unicast stream rate to the client
US7788393B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 23, 2006 |
| Grant date | Aug 31, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 22, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L12/1863
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Switching a client from unicasting back to multicasting involves accumulating enough digital video content at the client to bridge the time it takes to transition from receiving the digital video content via unicasting to receiving the digital video content via multicasting. Digital video content is accumulated at the client by temporarily increasing the stream rate of the unicast stream above the playout rate. While the digital video content is being streamed at the increased rate, the amount of digital video content stored in the client's stream buffer grows. The stream rate is held at the increased rate until the client accumulates enough frames in its buffer to be able to bridge the time it takes to transition from receiving the digital video content via unicasting to receiving the digital video content via multicasting.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.