System and method for network aware adaptive streaming for nomadic endpoints

Abstract

In a system for streaming data over a network, the type and rate of streaming are automatically varied based on available network bandwidth. Video media is transcoded into different bit rate encodings that are divided into segment files. Segments are sent from a network-aware adaptive streaming (NAAS) server and reassembled and presented to a media player at a client device. The system may download additional segment files ahead of time from multiple NAAS servers to increase throughput. A playback status (“bookmark”) may be maintained to keep track of what the user has viewed and to allow the user to continue playing from where the user left off. The user may continue watching from the bookmark point on the same device or on a different device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A client device for receiving delivery of a media object from a server, wherein the delivery adapts to network conditions by dynamically changing between different download rates without any involvement of an end user, the client device comprising:
 at least one processor;   a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium coupled to the at least one processor, the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising computer-readable instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, are configured to:
 download segments from a server, 
 measure network bandwidth usage while downloading the segments from the server, 
 responsive to the measured network bandwidth usage, determine transitions between different download rates to be used for downloading different segments from the server, each download rate among the different download rates related to a corresponding distinct bitrate at which the media object is encoded, 
 assemble the segments retrieved from the server into the media object, and 
 render the media object assembled from the segments. 
   
     
     
         2 . The client device of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions configured to measure network bandwidth usage while downloading the segments from the server are further configured to:
 monitor a time required to render a remaining amount of previously received and buffered segments;   respond to the measured network bandwidth a monitored time to effect transitions between different download rates to be used for downloading different segments from the server, the transitions including a transition from a first download rate corresponding to a first encoded bitrate to a second lower download rate corresponding to a second lower encoded bitrate, responsive to the measured network bandwidth falling below a threshold bandwidth needed to download a smallest playable segment at the first encoded bitrate over a current time required to render a currently remaining amount of previously received and buffered segments.   
     
     
         3 . The client device of  claim 1 , wherein the delivery employs an underlying reliable transport protocol capable of retransmission of non-received packets, and wherein the instructions are further configured to selectively prevent retransmission of non-received packets based on operating conditions. 
     
     
         4 . The client device of  claim 3 , wherein the instructions are further configured to selectively prevent retransmission of non-received packets in the case that a network coupled to the client device is experiencing prolonged congestion. 
     
     
         5 . The client device of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions are further configured to create at least one bookmark associated with the media object from user-generated interactions and store the at least one bookmark in a database on the client device. 
     
     
         6 . The client device of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions are further configured to play the media object in an offline mode where the client device is no longer coupled to a network. 
     
     
         7 . A method in a client device for receiving delivery of a media object form a server, wherein the delivery adapts to network conditions by dynamically changing between different download rates without any involvement of an end user, the method comprising:
 downloading segments from a server;   measuring network bandwidth usage while downloading the segments from the server;   in response to the measured network bandwidth usage, determining transitions between different download rates to be used for downloading different segments from the server, each download rate among the different download rates related to a corresponding distinct bitrate at which the media object is encoded;   assembling the segments retrieved from the server into the media object; and   rendering the media object assembled from the segments.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the measuring further comprises:
 monitoring a time required to render a remaining amount of previously received and buffered segments;   responding to the measured network bandwidth with a monitored time to effect transitions between different download rates to be used for downloading different segments from the server, the transitions including a transition from a first download rate corresponding to a first encoded bitrate to a second lower download rate corresponding to a second lower encoded bitrate, in response to the measured network bandwidth falling below a threshold bandwidth needed to download a smallest playable segment at the first encoded bitrate over a current time required to render a currently remaining amount of previously received and buffered segments.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the delivery employs an underlying reliable transport protocol capable of retransmission of non-received packets, and wherein the instructions are further configured to selectively prevent retransmission of non-received packets based on operating conditions. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 selectively preventing retransmission of non-received packets in the case that a network coupled to the client device is experiencing prolonged congestion.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 creating at least one bookmark associated with the media object from user-generated interactions and store the at least one bookmark in a database on the client device.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 playing the media object in an offline mode where the client device is no longer coupled to a network.   
     
     
         13 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium coupled to at least one processor, the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising computer-readable instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, are configured to:
 download segments from a server;   measure network bandwidth usage while downloading the segments from the server;   responsive to the measured network bandwidth usage, determine transitions between different download rates to be used for downloading different segments from the server, each download rate among the different download rates related to a corresponding distinct bitrate at which the media object is encoded;   assemble the segments retrieved from the server into the media object; and   render the media object assembled from the segments.   
     
     
         14 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 13 , wherein the instructions configured to measure network bandwidth usage while downloading the segments from the server are further configured to:
 monitor a time required to render a remaining amount of previously received and buffered segments;   respond to the measured network bandwidth a monitored time to effect transitions between different download rates to be used for downloading different segments from the server, the transitions including a transition from a first download rate corresponding to a first encoded bitrate to a second lower download rate corresponding to a second lower encoded bitrate, responsive to the measured network bandwidth falling below a threshold bandwidth needed to download a smallest playable segment at the first encoded bitrate over a current time required to render a currently remaining amount of previously received and buffered segments.   
     
     
         15 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 13 , wherein the delivery employs an underlying reliable transport protocol capable of retransmission of non-received packets, and wherein the instructions are further configured to selectively prevent retransmission of non-received packets based on operating conditions. 
     
     
         16 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the instructions are further configured to selectively prevent retransmission of non-received packets in the case that a network coupled to the client device is experiencing prolonged congestion. 
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 13 , wherein the instructions are further configured to create at least one bookmark associated with the media object from user-generated interactions and store the at least one bookmark in a database on the client device. 
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 13 , wherein the instructions are further configured to play the media object in an offline mode where the client device is no longer coupled to a network.