Systems and methods for controlling the encoding of a segmented media stream using segment transmit times

摘要

Systems and methods are described for providing a media stream transmitted from an encoding system to a remotely-located media player that requests segments of the media stream. The media stream is encoded into segments according to an encoding parameter. Data is gathered about current conditions of the network and/or the media player, and encoding of the media stream is adjusted during operation to adapt to changing conditions. The encoding parameter is suitably adjusted in response to changes in available bandwidth and/or segment transmit time, as appropriate.

主权项

1. A computer implemented method performed by an encoding system to perform real-time adaptive encoding of a segmented media stream that is collectively made up of a plurality of sequential segments having a duration, wherein the segments are each individually requested by a remotely-located media player, the method comprising:
encoding the sequential segments of the media stream by the encoding system according to at least one encoding parameter that determines a quality of the media stream; receiving, by the encoding system, a request for at least one of the plurality of sequential segments from the remotely-located media player; in response to the request, transmitting one of the sequential segments of the encoded media stream from the encoding system to the remotely-located media player; and adjusting the at least one encoding parameter by the encoding system during encoding of subsequent segments in real time based upon a transmit time of the transmitted one of the sequential segments, wherein the transmit time is the time taken to send the previously transmitted segment, so that the quality of the media stream is adapted in real time based upon the transmit time to send the previously-transmitted segment.