Server-side scheduling for media transmissions

摘要

A server that incorporates the subject disclosure may perform, for example, operations including monitoring current transport characteristics of an internet protocol network communicatively coupled to the server and to a mobile device. Data packets are transported to the device according to a dynamic adaptive streaming over hypertext transfer protocol. A future transport characteristic of the network is predicted according to the trajectory of the device. A request is received from the device for transmission of a data packet, and a time for fulfilling the request is scheduled according to the current and predicted transport characteristics. The operations further comprise selecting a transmission rate for transmission of the data packet to the mobile device responsive to detecting the time for fulfilling the request. The device performs buffering of the data packet for a future presentation of the media content. Other embodiments are disclosed.

主权项

1. A server comprising:
a processor; and a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, facilitate performance of operations, comprising:
monitoring current transport characteristics of a network communicatively coupled to the server and to a mobile device, wherein data packets representing media content are transported by the network to the mobile device according to an adaptive streaming protocol, wherein the network comprises an internet protocol network;monitoring movement of the mobile device;predicting a future location of the mobile device;predicting future transport characteristics of the network with respect to the mobile device, in accordance with a trajectory of the mobile device;receiving a request from the mobile device for transmission over the network of a data packet;scheduling a time for fulfilling the request in accordance with the future transport characteristics of the network and the current transport characteristics of the network to avoid a degradation in a viewing quality of media content presented by the mobile device;selecting a transmission rate for transmission of the data packet to the mobile device responsive to detecting the time for fulfilling the request, wherein the data packet is transmitted using the adaptive streaming protocol,wherein the mobile device performs buffering of the data packet for a future presentation of the media content,wherein varying transmission rates are available to the mobile device along the trajectory, andwherein the monitoring comprises monitoring a rate of arrival at the server of requests for the media content, the requests originating from the mobile device and being directed to the server, to determine a first network throughput associated with a current location of the mobile device;predicting a second network throughput associated with the predicted future location of the mobile device; andin accordance with the second network throughput being less than the first network throughput, transmitting data packets to the mobile device for buffering at the mobile device.