Systems, methods, and devices for optimizing streaming bitrate based on variations in processor load

Abstract

An example of a server includes a processor and a computer-readable storage medium configured to store instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the server to perform operations. The operations comprise encoding segments of a video stream at a variable bitrate while the variable bitrate is assigned a first value. The variable bitrate is assigned a second value in response to a load on the processor exceeding a threshold load. The segments of the video stream are encoded at the variable bitrate while the variable bitrate is assigned the second value. The assigning the variable bitrate the second value can include applying a bitrate-decrease function to the first value. Assigning the variable bitrate the second value reduces the load on the processor.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A server, comprising:
 a processor; and   a computer-readable storage medium configured to store instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the server to perform operations, the operations comprising:   encoding segments of a video stream at a variable bitrate while the variable bitrate is assigned a first value;   assigning the variable bitrate a second value in response to a load on the processor exceeding a threshold load; and   encoding the segments of the video stream at the variable bitrate while the variable bitrate is assigned the second value.   
     
     
         2 . The server of  claim 1 , wherein assigning the variable bitrate the second value comprises applying a bitrate-decrease function to the first value. 
     
     
         3 . The server of  claim 1 , wherein the second value is calculated as a percentage of the first value. 
     
     
         4 . The server of  claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 transmitting the segments of the video stream to a client device while the variable bitrate is assigned the first value; and   transmitting the segments of the video stream to the client device while the variable bitrate is assigned the second value.   
     
     
         5 . The server of  claim 1 , wherein assigning the variable bitrate the second value reduces the load on the processor. 
     
     
         6 . The server of  claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 assigning the variable bitrate a third value in response to the load on the processor dropping below a minimum load; and   encoding the segments of the video stream at the variable bitrate while the variable bitrate is assigned the third value.   
     
     
         7 . The server of  claim 6 , wherein the server assigns the third value to the variable bitrate using a bitrate-increase function. 
     
     
         8 . The server of  claim 1 , wherein the first value is determined based on a buffer occupancy of a transfer buffer of the computer-readable storage medium. 
     
     
         9 . The server of  claim 1 , wherein the variable bitrate is set to the first value in response to a request from a client device for the video stream encoded at the first value. 
     
     
         10 . A server, comprising:
 a processor; and   a computer-readable storage medium configured to store instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the server to perform operations, the operations comprising:   encoding segments of a video stream at a variable bitrate while the variable bitrate is assigned a first value;   decreasing the variable bitrate to a second value using a bitrate-decrease function in response to a load on the processor exceeding a load limit; and   encoding the segments of the video stream at the variable bitrate while the variable bitrate is assigned the second value.   
     
     
         11 . The server of  claim 10 , wherein the bitrate-decrease function decreases the variable bitrate incrementally by a predetermined value while the load on the processor remains above the load limit. 
     
     
         12 . The server of  claim 10 , wherein the bitrate-decrease function decreases the variable bitrate by a predetermined value. 
     
     
         13 . The server of  claim 10 , wherein the bitrate-decrease function decreases the variable bitrate by a predetermined percentage. 
     
     
         14 . The server of  claim 10 , wherein the load on the processor comprises an average load on the processor over a predetermined duration. 
     
     
         15 . The server of  claim 10 , wherein the first value of the variable bitrate comprises a buffer-based bitrate based on available capacity of a transfer buffer. 
     
     
         16 . A method comprising:
 encoding segments of a video stream at a variable bitrate while the variable bitrate is assigned a first value;   assigning the variable bitrate a second value in response to a load on a processor exceeding a threshold load; and   encoding the segments of the video stream at the variable bitrate while the variable bitrate is assigned the second value.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising assigning the second value to the variable bitrate using a bitrate-decrease function. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 transmitting the segments of the video stream to a client device while the variable bitrate is assigned the first value; and   transmitting the segments of the video stream to the client device while the variable bitrate is assigned the second value.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 assigning the variable bitrate a third value in response to the load on the processor dropping below a minimum load; and   encoding the segments of the video stream at the variable bitrate while the variable bitrate is assigned the third value.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the variable bitrate is set to the first value in response to a request from a client device for the video stream encoded at the first value.