Systems and methods for improving quality of service while streaming code-agnostic content
Systems and methods are described for a media guidance application (e.g., implemented on a user device) that improves quality of service while streaming code-agnostic content by optimizing buffering based on bit rate.
1. A method for improving quality of service while streaming code-agnostic content, the method comprising:
receiving a user input requesting a media asset;
in response to receiving the user input, identifying a first remote server on which the media asset is stored;
requesting a manifest file of the media asset from a second remote server, wherein the manifest file lists a plurality of segments that constitute the media asset, and wherein the manifest file further indicates a threshold bit rate for each segment;
determining, from the manifest file, a first segment sequence for the plurality of segments, wherein the first segment sequence corresponds to a sequence in which each segment of the plurality of segments is displayed during playback of the media asset on a local device;
determining a first threshold bit rate for a first segment of the plurality of segments and a second threshold bit rate for a second segment of the plurality of segments, wherein the first segment occurs before the second segment in the first segment sequence;
comparing the first threshold bit rate and the second threshold bitrate to determine whether the second threshold bit rate is higher than the first threshold bit rate;
determining to buffer, at the local device, the second segment before the first segment in response to determining that the second threshold bit rate is higher than the first threshold bit rate;
buffering, at the local device, the second segment before the first segment, wherein the buffering occurs while a third segment of the plurality of segments is generated for display from the buffer, and wherein the third segment occurs before both the first segment and the second segment in the first segment sequence; and
generating for display, from the buffer, the first segment before the second segment during playback of the media asset on the local device.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining to buffer, at the local device, the second segment before the first segment is further in response to determining that current bandwidth conditions support buffering an additional segment of the plurality of segments while the third segment of the plurality of segments is generated for display from the buffer without stalling playback of the third segment.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining, from the manifest file, a second segment sequence for the plurality of segments, wherein the second segment sequence corresponds to a sequence in which each segment of the plurality of segments is buffered on the local device in an order based on the threshold bit rate for each segment.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the threshold bit rate for each segment is based on a bit rate required to maintain a predetermined minimum video resolution during playback of each respective segment, wherein the predetermined minimum video resolution for each respective segment is determined by a user preference.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the threshold bit rate for each segment is based on a bit rate required to maintain a predetermined minimum video resolution during playback of each respective segment, wherein the predetermined minimum video resolution for each respective segment is determined by a content provider.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the threshold bit rate for each segment is based on a bit rate required to maintain a predetermined minimum video resolution during playback of each respective segment, and wherein the predetermined minimum video resolution for each respective segment is determined by detecting a threshold number of different colors in each respective segment.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the threshold bit rate for each segment is based on a bit rate required to maintain a predetermined minimum video resolution during playback of each respective segment, and wherein the predetermined minimum video resolution for each respective segment is determined by detecting a threshold number of colors changes for a single pixel location on consecutive frames in each respective segment.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining a third threshold bit rate for the third segment of the plurality of segments;
comparing the first threshold bit rate and the third threshold bitrate to determine whether the first threshold bit rate is higher than the third threshold bit rate; and
determining to buffer, at the local device, the third segment before the first segment in response to determining that the third threshold bit rate is not higher than the first threshold bit rate.
9. A system for improving quality of service while streaming code-agnostic content, the system comprising:
control circuitry configured to:
receive a user input requesting a media asset;
in response to receiving the user input, identify a first remote server on which the media asset is stored;
request a manifest file of the media asset from a second remote server, wherein the manifest file lists a plurality of segments that constitute the media asset, and wherein the manifest file further indicates a threshold bit rate for each segment;
determine, from the manifest file, a first segment sequence for the plurality of segments, wherein the first segment sequence corresponds to a sequence in which each segment of the plurality of segments is displayed during playback of the media asset on a local device;
determine a first threshold bit rate for a first segment of the plurality of segments and a second threshold bit rate for a second segment of the plurality of segments, wherein the first segment occurs before the second segment in the first segment sequence;
compare the first threshold bit rate and the second threshold bitrate to determine whether the second threshold bit rate is higher than the first threshold bit rate;
determine to buffer, at the local device, the second segment before the first segment in response to determining that the second threshold bit rate is higher than the first threshold bit rate;
buffer, at the local device, the second segment before the first segment, wherein the buffering occurs while a third segment of the plurality of segments is generated for display from the buffer, and wherein the third segment occurs before both the first segment and the second segment in the first segment sequence; and
generate for display, from the buffer, the first segment before the second segment during playback of the media asset on the local device.
10. The system of claim 9 , wherein control circuitry is further configured to determine to buffer, at the local device, the second segment before the first segment is further in response to determining that current bandwidth conditions support buffering an additional segment of the plurality of segments while the third segment of the plurality of segments is generated for display from the buffer without stalling playback of the third segment.
11. The system of claim 9 , wherein control circuitry is further configured to determine, from the manifest file, a second segment sequence for the plurality of segments, wherein the second segment sequence corresponds to a sequence in which each segment of the plurality of segments is buffered on the local device in an order based on the threshold bit rate for each segment.
12. The system of claim 9 , wherein the threshold bit rate for each segment is based on a bit rate required to maintain a predetermined minimum video resolution during playback of each respective segment, wherein the predetermined minimum video resolution for each respective segment is determined by a user preference.
13. The system of claim 9 , wherein the threshold bit rate for each segment is based on a bit rate required to maintain a predetermined minimum video resolution during playback of each respective segment, wherein the predetermined minimum video resolution for each respective segment is determined by a content provider.
14. The system of claim 9 , wherein the threshold bit rate for each segment is based on a bit rate required to maintain a predetermined minimum video resolution during playback of each respective segment, and wherein the predetermined minimum video resolution for each respective segment is determined by detecting a threshold number of different colors in each respective segment.
15. The system of claim 9 , wherein the threshold bit rate for each segment is based on a bit rate required to maintain a predetermined minimum video resolution during playback of each respective segment, and wherein the predetermined minimum video resolution for each respective segment is determined by detecting a threshold number of colors changes for a single pixel location on consecutive frames in each respective segment.
16. The system of claim 9 , wherein control circuitry is further configured to:
determine a third threshold bit rate for the third segment of the plurality of segments;
compare the first threshold bit rate and the third threshold bitrate to determine whether the first threshold bit rate is higher than the third threshold bit rate; and
determine to buffer, at the local device, the third segment before the first segment in response to determining that the third threshold bit rate is not higher than the first threshold bit rate.