Systems and methods for adaptively managing live video streaming

Abstract

Systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable media can stream a live video stream from a content provider. A portion of the live video stream can be buffered in a content buffer. The portion of the live video stream accumulated in the content buffer can be monitored during playback of the live stream. A latency action can be determined based on the monitoring of the portion of the live video stream. The latency action can adaptively adjust the playback of the live video stream. The playback of the live video stream can be caused to be adjusted adaptively according to the latency action.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
 streaming, by a computing system, a live video stream from a content provider;   monitoring, by the computing system, an amount of available bandwidth between the computing system and the content provider;   determining, by the computing system, a latency action based on the monitoring, wherein the determining the latency action comprises:
 adjusting, by the computing system, a trim amount based on the amount of available bandwidth; and 
 determining, by the computing system, a buffer loading position based on the trim amount; and 
   causing, by the computing system, the playback of the live video stream to be adjusted adaptively based on the latency action.   
     
     
         2 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the monitoring the amount of available bandwidth comprises:
 monitoring, by the computing system, an available uplink bandwidth and an available downlink bandwidth over a predetermined period of time.   
     
     
         3 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the monitoring the amount of available bandwidth comprises:
 determining, by the computing system, an estimated amount of available bandwidth for a future time based on one or more past network bandwidth conditions.   
     
     
         4 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the determining the latency action comprises:
 determining, by the computing system, a position to which to jump in the live video stream based on an amount of the live video stream accumulated in a content buffer.   
     
     
         5 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the determining the latency action comprises:
 determining, by the computing system, a bandwidth requirement associated with the live video stream; and   determining, by the computing system, a safe bandwidth margin based on the bandwidth requirement.   
     
     
         6 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the determining the latency action is based on at least one of: playback signals associated with the content provider, network conditions associated with the content provider, stalls caused by the content provider, a type of data connection, a data connection status, an occurrence of a stall, a history of latency actions performed for the live video stream, a stale manifest count for the live video stream, a number of live chats provided for the live video stream, or a number of manual playback adjustments made. 
     
     
         7 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the determining the latency action is based on a trim threshold bound, the trim threshold bound is increased based on a determination the amount of available bandwidth is unstable, and the trim threshold bound is decreased based on a determination the amount of available bandwidth is stable. 
     
     
         8 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the adjusting the trim amount is based on at least one of: a buffer meter, a bandwidth meter, a playback signal, or a playback state. 
     
     
         9 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 causing, by the computing system, playback of non-live video content during performance of the latency action.   
     
     
         10 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 limiting, by the computing system, a number of latency actions performed based on a determination that the latency action is rate limited.   
     
     
         11 . A system comprising:
 at least one processor; and   a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to perform operations comprising:
 streaming a live video stream from a content provider; 
 monitoring an amount of available bandwidth between the computing system and the content provider; 
 determining a latency action based on the monitoring, wherein the determining the latency action comprises:
 adjusting a trim amount based on the amount of available bandwidth; and 
 determining a buffer loading position based on the trim amount; and 
 
 causing the playback of the live video stream to be adjusted adaptively based on the latency action. 
   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the monitoring the amount of available bandwidth comprises:
 monitoring an available uplink bandwidth and an available downlink bandwidth over a predetermined period of time.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the monitoring the amount of available bandwidth comprises:
 determining an estimated amount of available bandwidth for a future time based on one or more past network bandwidth conditions.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the determining the latency action comprises:
 determining a position to which to jump in the live video stream based on an amount of the live video stream accumulated in a content buffer.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the determining the latency action comprises:
 determining a bandwidth requirement associated with the live video stream; and   determining a safe bandwidth margin based on the bandwidth requirement.   
     
     
         16 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium including instructions that, when executed by at least on processor of a computing system, cause the computing system to perform operations comprising:
 streaming a live video stream from a content provider;   monitoring an amount of available bandwidth between the computing system and the content provider;   determining a latency action based on the monitoring, wherein the determining the latency action comprises:
 adjusting a trim amount based on the amount of available bandwidth; and 
 determining a buffer loading position based on the trim amount; and 
   causing the playback of the live video stream to be adjusted adaptively based on the latency action.   
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 16 , wherein the monitoring the amount of available bandwidth comprises:
 monitoring an available uplink bandwidth and an available downlink bandwidth over a predetermined period of time.   
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 16 , wherein the monitoring the amount of available bandwidth comprises:
 determining an estimated amount of available bandwidth for a future time based on one or more past network bandwidth conditions.   
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 16 , wherein the determining the latency action comprises:
 determining a position to which to jump in the live video stream based on an amount of the live video stream accumulated in a content buffer.   
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 16 , wherein the determining the latency action comprises:
 determining a bandwidth requirement associated with the live video stream; and   determining a safe bandwidth margin based on the bandwidth requirement.