Adaptive bitrate management for streaming media over packet networks

1. A method comprising:

receiving media data that includes audio media data and video media data;

receiving feedback information from a terminal;

estimating one or more network conditions of a media network using the feedback information;

determining an optimal audio bitrate and an optimal video bitrate using the estimated one or more network conditions;

encoding the audio media data using the optimal audio bitrate;

encoding the video media data using the optimal video bitrate; and

providing the encoded audio media data and the encoded video media data for transmission to the terminal.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the feedback information includes a receiver report that is selected from a group including a real-time transport control protocol (RTCP) receiver report, and a real-time transport control protocol extended reports (RTCP XR) receiver report.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising dropping frames of the encoded video data.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the optimal audio bitrate and the optimal video bitrate using the estimated one or more network conditions, further comprises:

determining an optimal session bitrate using the estimated one or more network conditions; and

allocating the optimal session bitrate between the audio media data and the video media data to produce the optimal audio bitrate and the optimal video bitrate.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein allocating the optimal session bitrate between the audio media data and the video media data is based on one or more metrics selected from a group including a predetermined allocation, a user preference, an optimal performance data, privileging one type of media data over the other, and an amount of audio and video media data to be provided.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein determining the optimal session bitrate further comprises:

establishing stability criterion based on the estimated one or more network conditions;

determining the stability of the media network; and

providing the optimal session bitrate based on the stability determination.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein establishing stability criterion further comprises:

comparing a media time in transit and a round trip time estimate for assisting with the stability determination.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein establishing stability criterion further comprises:

comparing a bitrate received with a current bitrate session.

9. A method comprising:

receiving media data that includes audio media data and video media data;

receiving an optimal session bitrate;

allocating the optimal session bitrate between the audio media data and the video media data to produce an optimal audio bitrate and an optimal video bitrate;

encoding the audio media data using the optimal audio bitrate;

encoding the video media data using the optimal video bitrate; and

providing the encoded audio media data and the encoded video media data for transmittal to a terminal.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein allocating the optimal session bitrate between the audio media data and the video media data is based on one or more metrics selected from a group including a predetermined allocation, a user preference, an optimal performance data, privileging one type of media data over the other, and an amount of audio and video media data to be provided.

11. The method of claim 9 , further comprising dropping frames of the encoded video data.

12. A system comprising:

an adaptive bitrate manager including one or more processors configured to estimate one or more network conditions of a media network between the adaptive bitrate manager and a terminal and to acquire media data that includes audio media data and video media data, the adaptive bitrate manager further comprising:

a bitrate splitter configured to determine an optimal audio bitrate and an optimal video bitrate using the estimated one or more network conditions, and

one or more encoders configured to:

encode the audio media data using the optimal audio bitrate,

encode the video media data using the optimal video bitrate, and

provide the encoded audio media data and the encoded video media data for transmission to the terminal.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the adaptive bitrate manager further comprises:

an adaptive bitrate controller configured to determine an optimal session bitrate.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the one or more encoders are further configured to:

acquire the optimal session bitrate,

allocate the optimal session bitrate between the audio media data and the video media data to produce the optimal audio bitrate and the optimal video bitrate.

15. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by one or more computers, cause the one or more computers to perform a method for processing feedback information, the method comprising:

receiving media data that includes audio media data and video media data;

receiving the feedback information from a terminal;

estimating one or more network conditions of a media network using the feedback information;

determining an optimal audio bitrate and an optimal video bitrate using the estimated one or more network conditions;

encoding the audio media data using the optimal audio bitrate;

encoding the video media data using the optimal video bitrate; and

providing the encoded audio media data and the encoded video media data for transmission to the terminal.

16. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein determining the optimal audio bitrate and the optimal video bitrate using the estimated one or more network conditions comprises:

determining an optimal session bitrate using the estimated one or more network conditions; and

allocating the optimal session bitrate between the audio media data and the video media data to produce the optimal audio bitrate and the optimal video bitrate.

17. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 16 , wherein allocating the optimal session bitrate between the audio media data and the video media data is based on one or more metrics selected from a group including a predetermined allocation, a user preference, an optimal performance data, privileging one type of media data over the other, and an amount of audio and video media data to be provided.

18. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 16 , wherein determining the optimal session bitrate further comprises:

establishing stability criterion based on the estimated one or more network conditions;

determining the stability of the media network; and

providing the optimal session bitrate based on the stability determination.

19. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 18 , wherein establishing stability criterion further comprises one or more of the following operations:

comparing a media time in transit and a round trip time estimate for assisting with the stability determination; or

comparing a bitrate received with a current bitrate session.

20. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by one or more computers, cause the one or more computers to perform a method for processing an optimal session bitrate, the method comprising:

receiving media data that includes audio media data and video media data;

receiving the optimal session bitrate;

allocating the optimal session bitrate between the audio media data and the video media data to produce an optimal audio bitrate and an optimal video bitrate;

encoding the audio media data using the optimal audio bitrate;

encoding the video media data using the optimal audio bitrate and the optimal video bitrate; and

providing the encoded audio media data and the encoded video media data for transmittal to a terminal.

21. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 20 , wherein allocating the optimal session bitrate between the audio media data and the video media data is based on one or more metrics selected from a group including a predetermined allocation, a user preference, an optimal performance data, privileging one type of media data over the other, and an amount of audio and video media data to be provided.