DASH client and receiver with playback rate selection

摘要

A client device presents streaming media and includes a stream manager, a request accelerator, and a source component coupled to the stream manager and the request accelerator for determining which requests to make. A rate selection process can make rate decisions so that the buffer is filled when it is low, avoiding erratically changing rates and can choose the correct steady rate quickly. Multimedia download strategies can be used for HTTP that allow for accurate rate estimations, achieving link capacity even if network delays and packet loss rates are high, achieving timely delivery of the stream, and achieving relatively steady download rates with little short term variability. A receiver might use multiple HTTP connections, decompose media requests into smaller chunk requests, synchronize the connections using TCP flow control mechanisms, and request data in bursts. In addition, the receiver might use an HTTP pipelining process to keep the connections busy.

主权项

1. A method performed by a receiver that receives media for playing out using a presentation element of the receiver, wherein the playing out results in media being consumed from a presentation buffer at one or more playback rates and wherein the receiver is configured to select from a plurality of playback rates, the method comprising: monitoring the presentation buffer, wherein the presentation buffer stores media data at least between a time the media data is received and a time the media data is consumed by a presentation element associated with the receiver; storing an indication of a buffer level, wherein the buffer level corresponds to how much of the presentation buffer is occupied by the media data that is received and not yet consumed by the presentation element; determining an estimated download rate; using the stored indication and the estimated download rate to compute a target playback rate; and selecting a playback rate from among the plurality of playback rates according to the target playback rate, wherein the selected playback rate is less than or equal to a multiplier of the estimated download rate, the multiplier including an increasing function of the buffer level, wherein the multiplier increases as the buffer level increases.