Technique for managing streaming media traffic at a network entity
A method for managing streaming media traffic at a network entity capable of assuming a first and a second radio channel state, a transition from the first to second radio channel state requiring a first predetermined time period t 1 , comprising combining, at the network entity, at least two media segments such that a resulting combined media segment comprises media data equivalent to a second predetermined time period t 2 , the second time period being greater than the first time period, transmitting, from the network entity, the combined media segment in the first radio channel state during a third time period t 3 , initiating transition, at the network entity, from the first to the second radio channel state, and waiting, at the network entity after the initiating step, at least for a time period t=t 2 −t 3 −t 1 , wherein the second time period is greater than the sum of the first and third time periods.
1. A method for managing streaming media traffic at a network entity, the network entity being capable of assuming at least a first radio channel state and a second radio channel state, a transition from the first radio channel state to the second radio channel state requiring a first predetermined time period t 1 , wherein the method is performed in the network entity and comprises the steps of:
combining, at the network entity, at least two media segments such that a resulting combined media segment comprises media data equivalent to a second predetermined time period t 2 , the second time period being greater than the first time period;
transmitting, from the network entity, the combined media segment in the first radio channel state during a third time period t 3 ;
initiating transition, at the network entity, from the first to the second radio channel state; and
waiting, at the network entity after the initiating step, at least for a time period t=t 2 −t 3 −t 1 , wherein the second time period is greater than the sum of the first and third time periods.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein, in the combining step, the at least two media segments have a data amount less than transmittable during the second time period in the first radio channel state.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein,
the initiating step is performed immediately upon elapse of a sum of the first and third time periods, and
the waiting step is performed immediately after the initiating step.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, prior to the combining step:
receiving a request for a manifest file comprising an inquiry for the at least two media segments.
5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:
creating a new manifest file comprising an identifier for the combined media segment.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the created new manifest file further comprises an indicator for indicating the first predetermined time period.
7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the identifier is a uniform resource locator, URL.
8. The method of claim 4 , wherein the manifest file is one of a .m3u8 playlist, a .ismc file and a .MPD file.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the first radio channel state is a Cell Dedicated Channel, Cell-DCH, state, and
the second radio channel state is a Cell Forward Access Channel, Cell-FACH, state.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the first time period is 2 seconds.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the first radio channel state is a Cell Forward Access Channel, Cell-FACH, state, and
the second radio channel state is a UTRAN Registration Area Paging Channel, URA-PCH, state, wherein UTRAN means UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network, and UMTS means Universal Mobile Telecommunications System.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the first time period is 10 seconds.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the first radio channel state is a Cell Dedicated Channel, Cell-DCH, state, and
the second radio channel state is a UTRAN Registration Area Paging Channel, URA-PCH, state, wherein UTRAN refers to a UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network, and UMTS refers to a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the first time period is 12 seconds.
15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second time period is between 40 seconds to 80 seconds.
16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second time period is between 60 seconds to 80 seconds.
17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the network entity comprises one of a transparent function and an add-on to a Hypertext Transfer Protocol, HTTP, server.
18. The method of claim 1 , wherein the network entity comprises a proxy server and one of a nodeB and an evolved nodeB.
19. The method of claim 18 , wherein:
the combining step is performed by the proxy server, and
the transmitting, initiating and waiting steps are performed by the one of the node B and evolved nodeB.
20. The method of claim 1 , wherein all steps between the first combining step and the last waiting step of the network entity are repeated periodically.
21. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second time period is 80 seconds or more.
22. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second time period is 80 seconds or more.
23. A computer program product comprising program code portions stored on a non-transitory computer readable recording medium for performing the method of claim 1 , when the computer program product is executed on one or more computing devices.
24. A method for managing streaming media traffic between a network entity and a client, the network entity being capable of assuming at least a first radio channel state and a second radio channel state, a transition from the first radio channel state to the second radio channel state requiring a first predetermined time period t 1 , wherein the method performed in the network entity comprises:
combining, at the network entity, at least two media segments such that a resulting combined media segment comprises media data equivalent to a second predetermined time period t 2 , the second time period being greater than the first time period;
transmitting, from the network entity, the combined media segment in the first radio channel state during a third time period t 3 ;
initiating transition, at the network entity, from the first to the second radio channel state; and
waiting, at the network entity after the initiating step, at least for a time period t=t 2 −t 3 −t 1 , wherein the second time period is greater than the sum of the first and third time periods,
and wherein the method performed in the client comprises:
transmitting, from the client to the network entity, a request for a manifest file comprising an inquiry for the at least two media segments;
receiving, at the client, both the newly created manifest file and the combined media segment; and
transitioning, at the client, from the first radio channel state into the second radio channel state after the reception step.
25. The method of claim 24 , wherein the transitioning step is performed substantially immediately after the reception step.
26. The method of claim 24 , wherein the transmitting step of the network entity further comprises:
providing, at the network entity, the combined media segment, and
transmitting, from the network entity to the client, the combined media segment responsive to the inquiry.
27. The method of claim 24 , wherein the waiting step of the network entity is ended by a subsequent inquiry for at least two further media segments.
28. A device for managing streaming media traffic, the device being capable of assuming at least a first radio channel state and a second radio channel state, a transition from the first radio channel state to the second radio channel state requiring a first predetermined time period t 1 , wherein the device comprises a processor and a memory, said memory comprising program code portions which, when executed by said processor, cause the device to:
combine at least two media segments such that a resulting combined media segment comprises media data equivalent to a second predetermined time period t 2 , the second time period being greater than the first time period;
transmit the combined media segment in the first radio channel state during a third time period t 3 ;
initiate transition from the first to the second radio channel state; and
after the initiating step, at least for a time period t=t 2 −t 3 −t 1 , wherein the second time period is greater than the sum of the first and third time periods.
29. The device of claim 28 , wherein the memory further comprises program code portions which, when executed by said processor, cause the device to:
receive, prior to the combining, a request for a manifest file comprising an inquiry for the at least two media segments.
30. The device of claim 29 , wherein the memory further comprises program code portions which, when executed by said processor, cause the device to:
create a new manifest file comprising an identifier for the combined media segment.
31. The device of claim 28 , further comprising one of a transparent function and an add-on to a Hypertext Transfer Protocol, HTTP, server.
32. The device of claim 28 , further comprising a proxy server and one of a nodeB and an evolved nodeB.
33. A system for managing streaming media traffic between a network entity capable of assuming at least a first radio channel state and a second radio channel state, a transition from the first radio channel state to the second radio channel state requiring a first predetermined time period t 1 , and a client, wherein the network entity comprises a processor and a memory, said memory comprising program code portions which, when executed by said processor, cause the network entity to:
combine at least two media segments such that a resulting combined media segment comprises media data equivalent to a second predetermined time period t 2 , the second time period being greater than the first time period;
transmit the combined media segment in the first radio channel state during a third time period t 3 ;
initiate transition from the first to the second radio channel state; and
wait after the initiating step, at least for a time period t=t 2 −t 3 −t 1 , wherein the second time period is greater than the sum of the first and third time periods; and wherein the client comprises a processor and a memory, said memory comprising program code portions which, when executed by said processor, cause the client to:
transmit to the network entity, a request for a manifest file comprising an inquiry for the at least two media segments;
receive both the newly created manifest file and the combined media segment; and
transit from the first radio channel state into the second radio channel state after the reception step.
34. The system of claim 33 , wherein the memory further comprises program code portions which, when executed by said processor, cause the network entity to:
provide the combined media segment, and
transmit to the client, the combined media segment responsive to the inquiry.