Signaling and processing content with variable bitrates for adaptive streaming

1. A method for adaptive streaming of a media content, the method comprising:

receiving a media presentation description that provides presentation information for the media content;

determining a plurality of representations from the media presentation description that comprise segments that are provided with bitrate and quality information;

selecting a media segment that meets a desired quality level to download from one of the representations;

obtaining an available bandwidth for downloading the media segment;

obtaining a bitrate of the media segment;

updating a buffered media time for downloading the media segment based on the available bandwidth for downloading the media segment, the bitrate of the media segment, and a duration of the media segment and a second buffered media time, wherein the second buffered media time corresponds to a second media segment downloaded prior to the media segment; and

determining when to switch to another representation by comparing the buffered media time to a switching threshold value.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the switching threshold value is a switch-down threshold, and the method further comprising switching to another representation with a lower quality when the buffered media time is less than the switch-down threshold.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the switching threshold value is a switch-up threshold, and the method further comprising switching to another representation with a higher quality when the buffered media time is greater than the switch-up threshold.

4. A computer program product comprising computer executable instructions for adaptive streaming of a media content and stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium such that when executed by a processor cause a node to:

receive a media presentation description that provides presentation information for the media content;

determine a plurality of representations from the media presentation description that comprise segments that are provided with bitrate and quality information;

select a media segment that meets a desired quality level to download from one of the representations;

obtain an available bandwidth for downloading the media segment;

obtain a bitrate of the media segment;

update a buffered media time for downloading the media segment based on the available bandwidth for downloading the media segment, the bitrate of the media segment, and a duration of the media segment and a second buffered media time, wherein the second buffered media time corresponds to a second media segment downloaded prior to the media segment; and

determine when to switch to another representation by comparing the buffered media time to a switching threshold value.

5. The computer program product of claim 4 , wherein the switching threshold value is a switch-down threshold, and the computer program product further comprises computer executable instructions stored on the non-transitory computer readable medium such that when executed by the processor cause the node to switch to another representation with a lower quality when the buffered media time is less than the switch-down threshold.

6. The computer program product of claim 4 , wherein the switching threshold value is a switch-up threshold, and the computer program product further comprises computer executable instructions stored on the non-transitory computer readable medium such that when executed by the processor cause the node to switch to another representation with a higher quality when the buffered media time is greater than the switch-up threshold.