Content Distribution System

Abstract

A content distribution system 100 is provided comprising a content client 112, 114 and a content server 150 connected through a network. The content server is configured to send the content client a session description comprising at least one media description to enable it to receive over the network a content item. The system comprises a network monitor 130 for monitoring network traffic going through the network, and a recommender 140 for marking in dependency upon the network monitor, one or more of the media descriptions in the session description to obtain a marked 112 session description. The marked media description recommends the content client to prefer certain content above others in view of the current network condition. For example, if available bandwidth is low, content is recommended which requires low bandwidth. Network congestion is thereby avoided for all users of the system.

1 . The content distribution system comprising:
 a content client and a content server,
 wherein the content client and content server are connected through a network, 
 wherein the content server is configured to send to the content client a session description comprising at least one media description, each one of the at least one media descriptions comprising connection information to enable the content client to receive over the network a content item, 
 wherein the system further comprises a network monitor for monitoring network traffic going through the network, and 
 wherein the system further comprises a recommender configured to mark in dependency upon the network monitor, one or more of the media descriptions in the session description to obtain a marked session description, the recommender configured to send the marked session description as a recommendation to the content client. 
   
     
     
         2 . The content distribution system of  claim 1 , wherein the network monitor comprises a bandwidth estimator for estimating an amount of bandwidth available in the network for receiving a content item. 
     
     
         3 . The content distribution system of  claim 2 , wherein
 the bandwidth estimator is configured for determining a change in the estimated amount of available bandwidth, and   the recommender comprises an updater configured for sending the content client an updated marked session description based on the changed estimated amount of available bandwidth.   
     
     
         4 . The content distribution system of  claim 1  comprising a gateway,
 the network comprising a first and second network, 
 the content client and the gateway connected through the first network, the gateway and the content server connected through the second network, 
 each one of the connection information enabling the content client to receive over the first and second network and through the gateway the content item, 
 wherein 
 the gateway comprises the network monitor for monitoring network traffic going through the gateway between the first network and second network. 
 
     
     
         5 . The content distribution system of  claim 4 , wherein the network monitor comprises a bandwidth estimator for estimating an amount of bandwidth available in the network for receiving a content item, and wherein
 network traffic going through the gateway between the first network and the second network is limited to a maximum bandwidth,   the bandwidth estimator comprises a network bandwidth determinator for determining a current bandwidth of network traffic going through the gateway between the first network and second network, and   the bandwidth estimator is configured for estimating an amount of available bandwidth by subtracting the current bandwidth from the maximum bandwidth.   
     
     
         6 . The content distribution system of  claim 4 , comprising a router in the second network, the gateway connected to the content server through the router, a network connection between the gateway and the router having a network capacity lower than a network capacity of a network connection between the content client and the gateway. 
     
     
         7 . The content distribution system of  claim 4 , wherein the gateway comprises the recommender. 
     
     
         8 . The content distribution system of  claim 4 , wherein at least one further content client is connected to the gateway through the first network. 
     
     
         9 . The content distribution system of  claim 4 , wherein the network monitor is configured to measure an accumulated network traffic going through the gateway between the first and the second network. 
     
     
         10 . The content distribution system of  claim 1 , wherein the session description comprises multiple media descriptions. 
     
     
         11 . The content distribution system of  claim 10 , wherein
 the multiple media descriptions have respective multiple bandwidth requirements,   the recommender is configured to mark a media description having a bandwidth requirement below the estimated available bandwidth.   
     
     
         12 . The content distribution system of  claim 10 , the content client having a user interface for displaying the multiple media descriptions on a display and for high lighting the marked media description. 
     
     
         13 . The content distribution system of  claim 1 , wherein the recommender is configured to remove in dependency upon the network monitor, one or more of the multiple media descriptions from the session description to obtain the marked session description. 
     
     
         14 . The content distribution system of  claim 1 , wherein the content client comprises a set-top box. 
     
     
         15 . A gateway configured for use in a content distribution system comprising a content client, the gateway, and a content server,
 wherein the gateway is connectable to the content client through a first network, the gateway connectable to the content server through a second network,   the gateway comprising a network monitor for monitoring network traffic going through the gateway between the first network and second network,   the gateway comprising a receiver for receiving from the content server a session description comprising at least one media description, each one of the at least one media description comprising connection information to enable the content client to receive over the first and second network and through the gateway a content item,   the system comprising a recommender configured to mark in dependency upon the network monitor, one or more of the at least one media description in the session description to obtain a marked session description, the recommender configured to send the marked session description as a recommendation to the content client.   
     
     
         16 . A method for distributing content, comprising:
 monitoring network traffic going through a network,   receiving a session description comprising at least one media description, each one of the at least one media description comprising connection information to enable a content client to receive over the network a content item,   marking in dependency upon the monitored network traffic, one or more of the at least one media description in the session description to obtain a marked session description, and   sending the marked session description as a recommendation to the content client.   
     
     
         17 . A computer program comprising computer program code adapted to perform all the steps of  claim 16  when the computer program is run on a computer.