CONTEXT-AWARE STREAMING OF DIGITAL CONTENT

摘要

Techniques are disclosed for streaming digital content from a server to a client device in a way that is tailored to the context in which the client device is used. The context in which a client device is used may refer to, for example, the operational characteristics of the device and/or the environmental conditions under which the device is used. A client device can be configured to collect contextual data characterizing its use context. The way in which streaming media is delivered to the client device can be adjusted based on such contextual data, and in particular, can be adjusted in a way that tailors the content delivery to the specific use context. This can improve user experience and conserve battery and network resources, for example, by avoiding the streaming of high definition content to a device that, due to its use context, is able to render standard definition content.

主权项

1. A method for streaming digital content to a client device, the method comprising:
receiving, by an intermediate server from a client device, a first HTTP GET request corresponding to digital content hosted by a media server, a desired transmission methodology corresponding to a use context of the client device, and a listing comprising a plurality of available transmission methodologies; making a selection of one of the plurality of available transmission methodologies from the listing, the selection being made based on the desired transmission methodology; sending a second HTTP GET request to the media server, the second HTTP GET request including a network address corresponding to the selected one of the plurality of available transmission methodologies; receiving the digital content from the media server, the digital content being transmitted in response to the second HTTP GET request; and forwarding the received digital content to the client device.