Data flow control method and apparatus

摘要

There is provided a method of controlling a transmission rate of a data stream by a server transmitting the data stream to a client device over a network, the method comprising receiving a feedback message from the client, the feedback message containing information indicating a positive or negative acknowledgement of receipt for each one of a plurality of data packets of the data stream; calculating values of a plurality of metrics, wherein each of the values is indicative of transmission quality of the network and is calculated based at least in part on the information contained in the feedback message, and wherein the values include a first value of a first metric representing packet loss; and adjusting the transmission rate if at least one of the values satisfies a corresponding condition; wherein the first metric is prioritized among the plurality of metrics such that an adjustment of the transmission rate responsive to a second value of a second metric satisfying the corresponding condition is conditional on the first value of the first metric not satisfying the corresponding condition.