CACHING ENTITY

摘要

Caching entity adapted to cache encoded video segments for delivery to a plurality of client entities over a network using a request-response protocol such as the hypertext transport protocol, said video segments being part of a video object and each of said video segments being encoded according to a set of predefined respective quality levels, said caching entity including a popularity measurement unit adapted to maintain popularity values for respective ones of said encoded video segments and a decision unit adapted to identify in function of said popularity value a subset of encoded video segments to be cached by said caching entity,characterized in that said caching entity also includes a rate estimation unit adapted to obtain in function of time an estimated fluctuation in available bit rate over said network between said caching entity and said client entities and that said decision unit in addition to said popularity values also uses said estimated fluctuation to identify said subset of encoded video segments in such a way that said subset contains encoded video segments said user entities will most probably request.