Dynamic QoS in a network distributing streamed content

摘要

In a home network a number of receiving devices are connected to receive streamed audio visual content from one or more sources by way of a network hub. One source is a set top box, having a hard disc drive, which provides a real time broadcast stream, stream 1, as well as a recorded output stream, stream 2. Another source is local storage which is capable of outputting its stored content, stream 3, at ×32 normal speed, that is, fast forward. If there are bandwidth limitations on the network then the receiver (receiving the fast forward stream 3 will experience errors. When errors are detected, the receiver sends a message back to the source which then takes action to reduce the bit rate of its output stream.

主权项

1. A method of providing dynamic Quality of Service (QoS) in a home network distributing streamed audiovisual content, the home network comprising:
a plurality of sources outputting streams of audiovisual content; a plurality of receiving devices each connected to receive audiovisual content from one or more of said sources, each receiving device being arranged to output the received content stream as analog audiovisual content; and a network hub for routing the content from one of said sources to a selected one of said receiving devices upon request from said selected one receiving device; the method comprising:
setting a priority for the content stream to be output from said one source, priority being set in dependence upon the characteristics of that content stream the playback rate of the content stream;entering a trick mode of the content stream from the said one source in which the content is adjusted so as to be presented at a faster than normal playback rate either forwards or backward in time, wherein the audiovisual content stream has a bit rate that is higher in the trick mode than in normal playback;dynamically lowering the priority of the streamed content output in response to entering the trick mode, wherein at least two playback rates are available when the trick mode is entered, one of said at least two rates being faster than the other of said at least two rates, and both of said at least two rates being faster than the normal rate, wherein a lower priority is determined for the faster rate than the slower rate; anddetermining the throughput rate of content streams from each of the sources in the network in dependence upon the priority set for each content stream.