Live broadcast on an online social network
In one embodiment, a method includes sending, to a social-networking system, a request to access a live-broadcast session associated with a broadcasting user of the social-networking system. The live-broadcast session includes a media stream, where the media stream is available in a video format or an audio format. The method also includes determining a format for the media stream based at least in part on availability of the media stream in the video format or the audio format and a network connectivity status associated with the client system. The method further includes receiving the media stream in the determined format.
1. A method comprising:
by a first client system associated with a viewing user of a social-networking system, sending, to the social-networking system, a request to access a live-broadcast session associated with a second client system associated with a broadcasting user of the social-networking system, the live-broadcast session comprising a media stream, wherein the media stream is available in a video format or an audio format;
by the first client system, determining a first format for the media stream based at least in part on:
availability of the media stream in the video format or the audio format; and
a network connectivity status associated with the first client system;
by the first client system, receiving the media stream in the first format; and
by the first client system, in response to a change to the availability of the media stream, beginning to receive the media stream in a second format, wherein the change to the availability of the media stream is determined by the social-networking system based on a network connectivity status associated with the second client system.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the network connectivity status associated with the first client system comprises:
a bandwidth of a network connection of the first client system;
a network type of the network connection of the first client system;
a data usage transfer limit with respect to a specified network available to the first client system; or
a data usage status of the first client system with respect to the specified network.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the determining the first format of the media stream comprises:
determining that the bandwidth of the network connection is less than a threshold bandwidth; and
selecting the media stream in the audio format.
4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the determining the first format of the media stream comprises:
determining, based on the data usage transfer limit and the data usage status, that an amount of data usage available within a specified period is less than a data usage threshold; and
selecting the media stream in the audio format.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
executing an application associated with the live-broadcast session in a foreground state, wherein the application provides information to display a maximized user interface corresponding to the media stream.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
executing an application associated with the live-broadcast session in a background state, wherein the application provides information to display a minimized user interface corresponding to the media stream.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the media stream is provided in conjunction with:
a response field for inputting one or more comments or one or more graphic emoticons; or
an image representative of the broadcasting user associated with the live-broadcast session.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the media stream in the video format comprises video data and audio data.
9. One or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media embodying software that is operable when executed to:
send, from a first client system associated with a viewing user of a social-networking system to the social-networking system, a request to access a live-broadcast session associated with a second client system associated with a broadcasting user of the social-networking system, the live-broadcast session comprising a media stream, wherein the media stream is available in a video format or an audio format;
determine, by the first client system, a first format for the media stream based at least in part on:
availability of the media stream in the video format or the audio format; and
a network connectivity status associated with the first client system;
receive, by the first client system, the media stream in the first format; and
in response to a change to the availability of the media stream, begin to receive, by the first client system, the media stream in a second format, wherein the change to the availability of the media stream is determined by the social-networking system based on a network connectivity status associated with the second client system.
10. The media of claim 9 , wherein the network connectivity status associated with the first client system comprises:
a bandwidth of a network connection of the first client system;
a network type of the network connection of the first client system;
a data usage transfer limit with respect to a specified network available to the first client system; or
a data usage status of the first client system with respect to the specified network.
11. The media of claim 10 , wherein the determining the first format of the media stream comprises:
determining that the bandwidth of the network connection is less than a threshold bandwidth; and
selecting the media stream in the audio format.
12. The media of claim 10 , wherein the determining the first format of the media stream comprises:
determining, based on the data usage transfer limit and the data usage status, that an amount of data usage available within a specified period is less than a data usage threshold; and
selecting the media stream in the audio format.
13. The media of claim 9 , wherein the software is further operable when executed to:
execute an application associated with the live-broadcast session in a foreground state, wherein the application provides information to display a maximized user interface corresponding to the media stream.
14. The media of claim 9 , wherein the software is further operable when executed to:
execute an application associated with the live-broadcast session in a background state, wherein the application provides information to display a minimized user interface corresponding to the media stream.
15. The media of claim 9 , wherein the media stream is provided in conjunction with:
a response field for inputting one or more comments or one or more graphic emoticons; or
an image representative of the broadcasting user associated with the live-broadcast session.
16. The media of claim 9 , wherein the media stream in the video format comprises video data and audio data.
17. A system comprising: one or more processors; and a memory coupled to the processors comprising instructions executable by the processors, the processors being operable when executing the instructions to:
send, from a first client system associated with a viewing user of a social-networking system to the social-networking system, a request to access a live-broadcast session associated with a second client system associated with a broadcasting user of the social-networking system, the live-broadcast session comprising a media stream, wherein the media stream is available in a video format or an audio format;
determine, by the first client system, a first format for the media stream based at least in part on:
availability of the media stream in the video format or the audio format; and
a network connectivity status associated with the first client system;
receive, by the first client system, the media stream in the first format; and
in response to a change to the availability of the media stream, begin to receive, by the first client system, the media stream in a second format, wherein the change to the availability of the media stream is determined by the social-networking system based on a network connectivity status associated with the second client system.
18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the network connectivity status associated with the first client system comprises:
a bandwidth of a network connection of the first client system;
a network type of the network connection of the first client system;
a data usage transfer limit with respect to a specified network available to the first client system; or
a data usage status of the first client system with respect to the specified network.
19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the determining the first format of the media stream comprises:
determining that the bandwidth of the network connection is less than a threshold bandwidth; and
selecting the media stream in the audio format.
20. The system of claim 18 , wherein the determining the first format of the media stream comprises:
determining, based on the data usage transfer limit and the data usage status, that an amount of data usage available within a specified period is less than a data usage threshold; and
selecting the media stream in the audio format.