Methods, systems, and devices for improving viewing experience of streaming media content on mobile devices

Abstract

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, obtaining, over a first mobile network, first media content from a media content server, and detecting a travel route associated with the communication device. Further embodiments can include identifying a group of mobile networks associated with the travel route in which the group of mobile networks comprise the first mobile network. Additional embodiments can include determining a network condition associated with a second mobile network of the group of mobile networks, and identifying a portion of the travel route associated with the network condition. Also, embodiments can include adjusting the obtaining of the first media content from the media content server according to the network condition. Other embodiments are disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device comprising:
 a processing system including a processor; and   a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitate performance of operations, the operations comprising:
 identifying first media content stored on a media content server; determining a travel route associated with a communication device of a user; 
 identifying a group of mobile networks associated with the travel route; 
 determining first and second network conditions associated with first and second mobile networks, respectively, of the group of mobile networks; 
 identifying first and second portions of the travel route associated with the first and second network conditions, respectively; 
 streaming a first portion of the first media content from the media content server to the communication device during the first portion of the travel route over the first mobile network based on the first network conditions; 
 storing a second portion of the first media content during the second portion of the travel route from the media content server to a digital video recorder (DVR) based on the second network conditions associated with the second mobile network; 
 determining third network conditions associated with a third mobile network of the group of mobile networks resulting in a determination; and 
 streaming the second portion of the first media content during a third portion of the travel route associated with the third mobile network from the DVR to the communication device based on the determination. 
   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the streaming of the first portion of the first media content comprises streaming the first portion of the first media content at a first resolution based on the first network conditions. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the streaming of the second portion of the first media content comprises streaming the second portion of the first media content at a second resolution based on the third network conditions. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein the first resolution is higher than the second resolution. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the operations comprise:
 determining a first amount of available memory associated with the DVR; and   determining a second amount of memory associated with the second portion of the first media content.   
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the storing of the second portion of the media content comprises storing the second portion of the media content to the DVR in response to determining the second amount of memory is less than the first amount of available memory. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the operations comprise providing a notification to the communication device that the first amount of available memory is less than the second amount of memory for the second portion of the first media content and to select second media content stored in DVR for removal. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the operations comprise providing a first advertisement to the communication device prior to streaming the second portion of the first media content. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the first advertisement is presented at the communication device prior to presenting the second portion of the first media content at the communication device. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the determining of the travel route comprises determining the travel route from a map application on the communication device. 
     
     
         11 . A non-transitory, machine-readable medium, comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a processing system including a processor, facilitate performance of operations, the operations comprising:
 identifying first media content stored on a media content server;   determining a travel route associated with a communication device of a user by utilizing a map application on the communication device;   identifying a group of mobile networks associated with the travel route;   determining first and second network conditions associated with first and second mobile networks, respectively, of the group of mobile networks;   identifying first and second portions of the travel route associated with the first and second network conditions, respectively;   streaming a first portion of the first media content from the media content server to the communication device during the first portion of the travel route over the first mobile network based on the first network conditions;   storing a second portion of the first media content during the second portion of the travel route from the media content server to a digital video recorder (DVR) based on the second network conditions associated with the second mobile network;   determining third network conditions associated with a third mobile network of the group of mobile networks resulting in a determination; and   streaming the second portion of the first media content during a third portion of the travel route associated with the third mobile network from the DVR to the communication device based on the determination.   
     
     
         12 . The non-transitory, machine-readable medium, of  claim 11 , wherein the streaming of the first portion of the first media content comprises streaming the first portion of the first media content at a first resolution based on the first network conditions. 
     
     
         13 . The non-transitory, machine-readable medium, of  claim 12 , wherein the streaming of the second portion of the first media content comprises streaming the second portion of the first media content at a second resolution based on the third network conditions. 
     
     
         14 . The non-transitory, machine-readable medium, of  claim 13 , wherein the first resolution is higher than the second resolution. 
     
     
         15 . The non-transitory, machine-readable medium, of  claim 11 , wherein the operations comprise:
 determining a first amount of available memory associated with the DVR; and   determining a second amount of memory associated with the second portion of the first media content.   
     
     
         16 . The non-transitory, machine-readable medium, of  claim 15 , wherein the storing of the second portion of the first media content comprises storing the second portion of the first media content to the DVR in response to determining the second amount of memory is less than the first amount of available memory. 
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory, machine-readable medium, of  claim 15 , wherein the operations comprise providing a notification to the communication device that the first amount of available memory is less than the second amount of memory for the second portion of the first media content and to select second media content stored in DVR for removal. 
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory, machine-readable medium, of  claim 11 , wherein the operations comprise providing a first advertisement to the communication device prior to streaming the second portion of the first media content. 
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory, machine-readable medium, of  claim 18 , wherein the first advertisement is presented at the communication device prior to presenting the second portion of the first media content at the communication device. 
     
     
         20 . A method, comprising:
 identifying, by a processing system including a processor, first media content stored on a media content server;
 determining, by the processing system, a travel route associated with a communication device of a user;
 identifying, by the processing system, a group of mobile networks associated with the travel route; 
 determining, by the processing system, first and second network conditions associated with first and second mobile networks, respectively, of the group of mobile networks; 
 identifying, by the processing system, first and second portions of the travel route associated with the first and second network conditions, respectively; 
 streaming, by the processing system, a first portion of the first media content from the media content server to the communication device during the first portion of the travel route over the first mobile network based on the first network conditions; 
 storing, by the processing system, a second portion of the first media content during the second portion of the travel route from the media content server to a digital video recorder (DVR) based on the second network conditions associated with the second mobile network; 
 determining, by the processing system, third network conditions associated with a third mobile network of the group of mobile networks resulting in a determination; 
 
   based on the determination, providing, by the processing system, an advertisement to the communication device; and
 streaming, by the processing system, the second portion of the first media content during a third portion of the travel route associated with the third mobile network from the DVR to the communication device based on the determination, wherein the communication device presents the advertisement prior to presenting the second portion of the first media content.