IP Library Granted Patent US 9,813,477
Granted Patent B2
US 9,813,477 · App. 14/605,941 · Granted Nov 7, 2017

Adjusting quality level of media streaming

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,813,477
App. No.
14/605,941
Granted
Nov 7, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

Techniques described herein relate to adjusting a quality level of media streaming. A user device may transmit a request for a first segment of a media file at a first streaming quality level. The user device may determine changes in network communication quality associated with a wireless communication in that the user device is engaged. In response to a determination, the user device may adjust quality levels of media streaming.

Claims (64)

1. A method for operating a user device, the method comprising:

transmitting, by one or more processors of the user device, a request for a first segment of a media file stored on a server at a first streaming quality level to the server via a communication link, the media file comprising a plurality of segments that include the first segment;

detecting, by the one or more processors, a latency associated with a presentation of the media file that comprises the plurality of segments on the user device;

in response to the detection of the latency associated with the presentation of the media file that includes the plurality of segments on the user device, transmitting a request for a second segment of the media file at a second streaming quality level that is lower than the first streaming quality level;

receiving, by the one or more processors, a message indicating bandwidth throttling is imposed on a user account associated with the user device; and

in response to the receiving, transmitting a request for a third segment of the media file at the first streaming quality level or a streaming quality level lower than the first streaming quality level.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the media file comprises video content, and wherein the first streaming quality level and the second streaming quality level correspond to a resolution of video data of the video content, respectively.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving metadata of the media file; and

parsing the metadata to obtain information regarding the plurality of segments of the media file, an individual segment of the plurality of segments representing a segment of the media file at a streaming quality level.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining, by the one or more processors, that network communication quality of the communication link has decreased;

in response to the determining that the network communication quality has decreased, transmitting, by the one or more processors, a request for a fourth segment of the media file at a third streaming quality level to the server via the communication link, the third streaming quality level lower than the first streaming quality level;

determining, by the one or more processors, that the network communication quality has increased; and

in response to the determining that the network communication quality has increased, transmitting, by the one or more processors, a request for a fifth segment of the media file at a fourth streaming quality level to the server via the communication link, the fourth streaming quality level higher than the first streaming quality level.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

detecting, by the one or more processors, a latency associated with buffering a second segment of the media file at a second streaming quality level; and

in response to the detection of the latency associated with buffering the second segment, transmitting a request for a fourth segment of the media file at a third streaming quality level that is lower than the second streaming quality level.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the media file comprises video content, the second streaming quality level is a maximum streaming quality level that is provide by the communication link, and the maximum streaming quality level corresponds to a native resolution of the video content.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

measuring network communication quality based on information associated with at least one of a packet loss, a transmission delay, or a jitter in the communication link.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:

receiving data of the network communication quality measured based on information associated with at least one of a packet loss, a transmission delay, or a jitter in the communication link.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

monitoring one or more quality of service (QoS) metrics associated with the presentation of the media file or the communication link, or a combination thereof; and

determining the first streaming quality level based on the one or more QoS metrics.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the one or more QoS metrics comprise at least one of:

a network bandwidth capacity associated with the communication link;

an available network bandwidth capacity associated with the communication link;

a current streaming quality level associated with the presentation of the media file; or

a latency associated with the presentation of the media file.

11. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media of a user device storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed on one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform acts comprising:

transmitting a request for a first segment of a media file at a first streaming quality level from the user device to a server via a communication link;

receiving, at the user device, a message indicating bandwidth throttling is imposed on a user account associated with the user device; and

in response to the receiving the message indicating the bandwidth throttling is imposed on the user account, transmitting a request for a second segment of the media file at a second streaming quality level or a streaming quality level lower than the first streaming quality level to the server.

12. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media claim 11 , wherein the acts further comprise:

in response to a determination that a network communication quality of the communication link has increased:

transmitting a request for a third segment of the media file at a third streaming quality level to the server via the communication link, the third streaming quality level higher than the first streaming quality level;

detecting, at the user device, one or more performance issues associated with presentation of the media file; and

in response to the detection of the one or more performance issues, transmitting a request for a fourth segment of the media file at a fourth streaming quality level that is lower than the third streaming quality level to the server.

13. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media claim 12 , wherein the one or more performance issues comprise a latency associated with the presentation of the media file or an issue associated with buffering the fourth segment of the media file at the fourth streaming quality level, or a combination thereof.

14. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media claim 11 , wherein the acts further comprise:

monitoring one or more quality of service (QoS) metrics associated with presentation of the media file or the communication link, or a combination thereof; and

determining the first streaming quality level based on the one or more QoS metrics.

15. A user device comprising:

one or more processors; and

memory to maintain a plurality of components executable by the one or more processors, the plurality of components comprising:

an application configured to:

transmit a request for a first segment of a media file at a first streaming quality level to a server via a communication link,

determine that network communication quality of the communication link as measured based on a combination of data packet loss and jitters during wireless communication has decreased;

in response to the determination that the network communication quality as measured based on the combination of the data packet loss and the jitters during the wireless communication has decreased, transmit a request for a second segment of the media file at a second streaming quality level to the server via the communication link, the second streaming quality level lower than the first streaming quality level;

determine that the network communication quality has increased;

in response to the determination that the network communication quality has increased, transmit a request for a third segment of the media file at a third streaming quality level to the server via the communication link, the third streaming quality level higher than the first streaming quality level; and

detect one or more performance issues associated with presentation of the media file, wherein the one or more performance issues comprise a latency associated with buffering the third segment of the media file at the third streaming quality level; and

in response to the detection of the one or more performance issues that comprise the latency associated with buffering the third segment, transmit a request for a fourth segment of the media file at a fourth streaming quality level that is lower than the third streaming quality level.

16. The user device of claim 15 , wherein the media file comprises video content, and wherein the first streaming quality level, the second streaming quality level and the third streaming quality level correspond to a resolution of video data of the video content, respectively.

17. The user device of claim 15 , wherein the application is further configured to:

transmit a request for streaming the media file that comprises a plurality of segments;

receive metadata of the media file; and

parse the metadata to obtain information from the plurality of segments of the media file, an individual segment of the plurality of segments representing a segment of the media file at a streaming quality level.

18. The user device of claim 15 , wherein the application is further configured to:

detect one or more additional performance issues associated with presentation of the media file; and

in response to the detection of the one or more additional performance issues, transmit a request for a fifth segment of the media file at a fourth streaming quality level that is lower than the third streaming quality level.

19. The user device of claim 18 , wherein the one or more performance issues further comprise a latency associated with the presentation of the media file.

Assignments (7)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 23, 2022
From: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS
To: SPRINT INTERNATIONAL INCORPORATED; IBSV LLC; LAYER3 TV, LLC; PUSHSPRING, LLC; T-MOBILE CENTRAL LLC; T-MOBILE USA, INC.; ASSURANCE WIRELESS USA, L.P.; BOOST WORLDWIDE, LLC; CLEARWIRE COMMUNICATIONS LLC; CLEARWIRE IP HOLDINGS LLC; SPRINTCOM LLC; SPRINT COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY L.P.; SPRINT SPECTRUM LLC
Reel/Frame 062595/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 2, 2020
From: T-MOBILE USA, INC.; ISBV LLC; T-MOBILE CENTRAL LLC; LAYER3 TV, INC.; PUSHSPRING, INC.; BOOST WORLDWIDE, LLC; CLEARWIRE COMMUNICATIONS LLC; CLEARWIRE IP HOLDINGS LLC; CLEARWIRE LEGACY LLC; SPRINT COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY L.P.; SPRINT INTERNATIONAL INCORPORATED; SPRINT SPECTRUM L.P.; ASSURANCE WIRELESS USA, L.P.
To: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS
Reel/Frame 053182/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 1, 2020
From: DEUTSCHE TELEKOM AG
To: T-MOBILE USA, INC.; IBSV LLC
Reel/Frame 052969/0381 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 1, 2020
From: DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH
To: T-MOBILE USA, INC.; IBSV LLC; METROPCS COMMUNICATIONS, INC.; METROPCS WIRELESS, INC.; T-MOBILE SUBSIDIARY IV CORPORATION; LAYER3 TV, INC.; PUSHSPRING, INC.
Reel/Frame 052969/0314 →
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 30, 2016
From: T-MOBILE USA, INC.
To: DEUTSCHE TELEKOM AG
Reel/Frame 041225/0910 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 17, 2015
From: T-MOBILE USA, INC.; METROPCS COMMUNICATIONS, INC.; T-MOBILE SUBSIDIARY IV CORPORATION
To: DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 037125/0885 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 28, 2015
From: TAPIA, PABLO; LAU, KEVIN
To: T-MOBILE U.S.A., INC.
Reel/Frame 034832/0160 →