Device and method for adaptive rate multimedia communications on a wireless network

Abstract

Methods, apparatus, and computer readable media may adjust an encoding rate based on network conditions between a transmitter and a receiver. Either the transmitter, receiver, or both the transmitter and receiver may determine the encoding rate. In one aspect, a ratio of received network data to transmitted network data is determined. An encoding parameter is then determined based on the determined ratio. In one aspect, the encoding parameter may be used to adjust an encoder. In another aspect, the determined encoding parameter may be transmitted to an encoding or transmitting node. In another aspect, an amount of data buffered in a network is determined. A sustainable throughput of the network is also determined. A transmission rate is then determined based on the sustainable throughput and the amount of data buffered. An encoding parameter is then adjusted based on the transmission rate.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of encoding data, comprising:
 determining, via an electronic device, a measurement of an amount of received network data relative to an amount of transmitted network data; and   adjusting an encoding parameter based at least in part on the determined measurement.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving a quantity of data received by a receiver; and   determining the received network data based at least in part on the quantity.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving an encoding parameter value from a receiver; and   adjusting the encoding parameter based at least on the received encoding parameter.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising transmitting a quantity of data transmitted to the receiver. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising determining a network jitter, wherein the encoding parameter is adjusted based at least on the network jitter. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 determining if the adjustment of the encoding parameter will increase a transmission rate; and   determining a second adjustment to a second encoding parameter that will further increase the transmission rate if the network jitter is below a first jitter threshold.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the encoding parameter and the second encoding parameter are different parameters. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 determining if the adjustment of the encoding parameter will decrease a transmission rate; and   determining a second adjustment to a second encoding parameter that will further decrease the transmission rate if the network jitter is above a second jitter threshold.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the encoding parameter and the second encoding parameter are different parameters. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining a delay in receiving the quantity of data received by the receiver; and   determining the transmitted network data based at least in part on the delay.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising determining a transmission rate based on the determined measurement, wherein the encoding parameter is adjusted based at least in part on the transmission rate. 
     
     
         12 . An apparatus for encoding data, comprising:
 a processor configured to:   determine a measurement of an amount of transmitted network data relative to an amount of received network data; and   adjust an encoding parameter based at least in part on the determined measurement.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a receiver configured to receive a quantity of data received by a receiver,   wherein the processor is further configured to determine the received network data based at least in part on the quantity.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a receiver configured to receive an encoding parameter value from a receiver, wherein the processor is configured to further adjust the encoding parameter based at least on the received encoding parameter.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , further comprising transmitting a quantity of data transmitted to the receiver. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising a processor configured to determine a network jitter, wherein the processor is configured to adjust the encoding parameter based at least on the network jitter. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the processor is further configured to determine if the adjustment of the encoding parameter will increase a transmission rate, and determine a second adjustment to a second encoding parameter that will further increase the transmission rate if the network jitter is below a first jitter threshold. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the encoding parameter and the second encoding parameter are different parameters. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the processor is further configured to determine if the adjustment of the encoding parameter will decrease a transmission rate, and determine a second adjustment to a second encoding parameter that will further decrease the transmission rate if the network jitter is above a second jitter threshold. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the encoding parameter and the second encoding parameter are different parameters. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 determine a delay in receiving the quantity of data received by the receiver; and   determine the transmitted network data based at least in part on the delay.   
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the processor is further configured to determine a transmission rate based on the determined measurement, wherein the encoding parameter is adjusted based at least in part on the transmission rate. 
     
     
         23 . An apparatus for encoding data, comprising:
 means for determining a measurement of an amount of transmitted network data relative to an amount of received network data; and   means for adjusting an encoding parameter based at least in part on the determined measurement.   
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , further comprising:
 means for receiving a quantity of data received by a receiver; and   means for determining the received network data based at least in part on the quantity.   
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , further comprising:
 means for determining a delay in receiving the quantity of data received by the receiver; and   means for determining the transmitted network data based at least in part on the delay.   
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , further comprising means for determining a transmission rate based on the determined measurement, wherein the encoding parameter is adjusted based at least in part on the transmission rate. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , further comprising:
 means for receiving an encoding parameter value from a receiver, wherein the means for adjusting the encoding parameter is configured to adjust the encoding parameter based at least on the received encoding parameter.   
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , further comprising means for transmitting a quantity of data transmitted to the receiver. 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , further comprising means for determining a network jitter, wherein the means for adjust the encoding parameter is configured to adjust the encoding parameter based at least on the network jitter. 
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , further comprising:
 means for determining if the adjustment of the encoding parameter will increase a transmission rate;   means for determining a second adjustment to a second encoding parameter that will further increase the transmission rate if the network jitter is below a first jitter threshold.   
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein the encoding parameter and the second encoding parameter are different parameters. 
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , further comprising:
 means for determining if the adjustment of the encoding parameter will decrease a transmission rate; and   means for determining a second adjustment to a second encoding parameter that will further decrease the transmission rate if the network jitter is above a second jitter threshold.   
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein the encoding parameter and the second encoding parameter are different parameters. 
     
     
         34 . A non-transitory, computer readable media storing instructions that when executed, cause a processor to perform a method of encoding data, the method comprising:
 determining a measurement of an amount of transmitted network data relative to an amount of received network data; and   adjusting an encoding parameter based at least in part on the determined measurement.   
     
     
         35 . The non-transitory, computer readable media of  claim 34 , the method further comprising:
 receiving a quantity of data received by a receiver; and   determining the received network data based at least in part on the quantity.   
     
     
         36 . The non-transitory, computer readable media of  claim 34 , the method further comprising:
 receiving an encoding parameter value from a receiver; and   adjusting the encoding parameter based at least on the received encoding parameter.   
     
     
         37 . The non-transitory, computer readable media of  claim 36 , the method further comprising transmitting a quantity of data transmitted to the receiver. 
     
     
         38 . The non-transitory, computer readable media of  claim 34 , the method further comprising determining a network jitter, wherein the encoding parameter is further adjusted based at least on the network jitter. 
     
     
         39 . The non-transitory, computer readable media of  claim 38 , the method further comprising:
 determining if the adjustment of the encoding parameter will increase a transmission rate; and   determining a second adjustment to a second encoding parameter that will further increase the transmission rate if the network jitter is below a first jitter threshold.   
     
     
         40 . The non-transitory, computer readable media of  claim 39 , wherein the encoding parameter and the second encoding parameter are different parameters. 
     
     
         41 . The non-transitory, computer readable media of  claim 38 , the method further comprising:
 determining if the adjustment of the encoding parameter will decrease a transmission rate; and   determining a second adjustment to a second encoding parameter that will further decrease the transmission rate if the network jitter is above a second jitter threshold.   
     
     
         42 . The non-transitory, computer readable media of  claim 41 , wherein the encoding parameter and the second encoding parameter are different parameters. 
     
     
         43 . The non-transitory, computer readable media of  claim 34 , the method further comprising:
 determining a delay in receiving the quantity of data received by the receiver; and   determining the transmitted network data based at least in part on the delay.   
     
     
         44 . The non-transitory, computer readable media of  claim 34 , further comprising instructions that when executed cause a processor to determine a transmission rate based on the determined measurement, wherein the encoding parameter is adjusted based at least in part on the transmission rate.