Existing ABR algorithms face a significant challenge in estimating future capacity: capacity can vary widely over time, a phenomenon commonly observed in commercial services. In this work, we suggest an alternative approach: rather than presuming that capacity estimation is required, it is perhaps better to begin by using only the buffer, and then ask when capacity estimation is needed. We test the viability of this approach through a series of experiments spanning millions of real users in a commercial service. We start with a simple design which directly chooses the video rate based on the current buffer occupancy. Our own investigation reveals that capacity estimation is unnecessary in steady state; however using simple capacity estimation (based on immediate past throughput) is important during the startup phase, when the buffer itself is growing from empty. This approach allows us to reduce the rebuffer rate by 10-20% compared to Netflix's then-default ABR algorithm, while delivering a similar average video rate, and a higher video rate in steady state.

/pdf/a-buffer-based-approach-to-rate-adaptation-evidence-from-a-42j7jpd30s.pdf

A buffer-based approach to rate adaptation: evidence from a large video streaming service

Project scheduling under uncertainty: survey and research potentials

Methods and apparatus for delivery of packetized content (e.g., video, audio, data, etc.) over a content delivery network. In one embodiment, the content is packetized using an Internet Protocol (IP), and delivered by a service provider over both managed and unmanaged networks to subscribers of the provider, so as to provide delivery at any time, at any location, and via any designated user device. The delivered content may originate from the service provider, third-party content sources (e.g., networks or studios), the subscriber(s) themselves, or other sources including the Internet. Use of a common control and service functions within the network afford the ability to integrate or blend services together, thereby affording the service provider and subscriber new service and economic opportunities. Content delivery sessions may also be migrated from one device to another. A network-based user interface infrastructure, and gateway-based client-side architecture, are also disclosed.

Methods and apparatus for packetized content delivery over a content delivery network

In this 25th year anniversary paper for the IEEE Real Time Systems Symposium, we review the key results in real-time scheduling theory and the historical events that led to the establishment of the current real-time computing infrastructure. We conclude this paper by looking at the challenges ahead of us.

/pdf/real-time-scheduling-theory-a-historical-perspective-4eag5x764v.pdf

Real Time Scheduling Theory: A Historical Perspective

Device Assisted Services (DAS) for protecting network capacity is provided. In some embodiments, DAS for protecting network capacity includes monitoring a network service usage activity of the communications device in network communication; classifying the network service usage activity for differential network access control for protecting network capacity; and associating the network service usage activity with a network service usage control policy based on a classification of the network service usage activity to facilitate differential network access control for protecting network capacity.

Device-Assisted Services for Protecting Network Capacity

In one example, a device includes one or more processing units configured to send, via a network, a request to retrieve at least a portion of media content, wherein the media content conforms to dynamic adaptive streaming over HTTP (DASH), and wherein the request comprises a request that the at least portion be delivered according to a file delivery service, and, in response to the request, to receive streaming data for the at least portion of the media content in accordance with the file delivery service over the network. The device may prepopulate a browser cache with the received data, such that a browser can, in effect, stream data using the file delivery service. The device may initially retrieve data of the media content using unicast, until a switch point of the data received via the file delivery service is reached.

Ip broadcast streaming services distribution using file delivery methods

Systems and methods for providing a boundary scan test of a wired or wireless network having a plurality of network nodes are presented. The system includes a test station communicatively coupled with the network. The test station creates a MAC layer scan test route sequence that includes each link in the network and is independent of the routing mechanism and protocol used for the network. The test station also creates a test agent that is configured to traverse each link in the scan test route sequence. The test agent is then deployed on the network and information about a link is reported back to the test station after the test agent examines the link. The scan test route sequence can be created by sending out a series of broadcast messages from one or more nodes in the network, sequentially applying a network tour to cover the entire network, or performing a depth first search on the entire network.

System and method for identifying nodes in a wireless network

A system and method for routing packets over wireless and wired networks is presented. The system employs an attribute routing scheme that routes communication packets that include objects containing network optimization parameters that are used to control the physical links in the network. The routing transport protocol is logically separated from the objects that are routed, which allows objects having new optimization parameters beyond the conventional network topology parameters or network link parameters to be defined and propagated throughout the network. Additionally, new dynamic routing objects of arbitrary size can be defined that have a customizable update period. These dynamic routing objects are propagated through the network based on their respective custom update periods. The system also includes a feature that enables exponential backoff in the custom update periods. Updates may also be linked to one another, enabling network clients to query the network for related information resulting in efficient implementation of a networking system.

System and method for routing packets in a wired or wireless network

Methods and systems enable receiving on mobile devices credits, tokens or coupons from mobile TV broadcast service providers. Credits may be delivered via direct unicast messages such as SMS or e-mail, or via broadcast provisioning messages. Subscription response messages may be used to deliver credits to mobile devises which transmit a request for service. Broadcast service providers may push credits to mobile devices by transmitting a solicited pull message or a credit grant push message. Credits may be sent to mobile devices within a credit response message or a long term decryption key message. Credits may be used a purchase transaction, with the broadcast service provider controlling redemption of credits by sending an a long term decryption key message via a unicast network or a short term decryption key message via the broadcast network to cause mobile devices to decrement their stored credits.

Systems and methods for distributing and redeeming credits on a broadcast system

In one example, a device for receiving information for multimedia data includes one or more processors configured to determine a byte range of a file of a representation of multimedia content to request from a source device, form a uniform resource locator (URL) that specifies, in a file path portion of the URL, according to a template, the file and the byte range in accordance with requirements of the source device, and issue a GET request that specifies the formed URL to the source device.

Donald W. Gillies

Papers

Ip broadcast streaming services distribution using file delivery methods

System and method for identifying nodes in a wireless network

System and method for routing packets in a wired or wireless network

Systems and methods for distributing and redeeming credits on a broadcast system

Network streaming of video data using byte range requests