Systems and methods for adaptive streaming of multimedia content

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020152234-A1
Application number	US-201916680482-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 11, 2019
Priority date	Nov 12, 2018
Publication date	May 14, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

The disclosed computer-implemented method includes determining that audio quality is to be adjusted for a multimedia streaming connection over which audio data and video data are being streamed to a content player. The audio data is streamed at a specified audio quality level and the video data is streamed at a specified video quality level. The method also includes determining that a specified minimum video quality level is to be maintained while adjusting the audio quality level. Still further, the method includes dynamically adjusting the audio quality level of the multimedia streaming connection while maintaining the video quality level of the multimedia streaming connection at at least the specified minimum video quality level. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A computer-implemented method for adaptively streaming multimedia content, the method comprising:
determining that audio quality is to be adjusted for a multimedia streaming connection over which audio data and video data are being streamed to a content player, the audio data being streamed at a specified audio quality level and the video data being streamed at a specified video quality level; determining that a specified minimum video quality level is to be maintained while adjusting the audio quality level; and dynamically adjusting the audio quality level of the multimedia streaming connection while maintaining the video quality level of the multimedia streaming connection at at least the specified minimum video quality level.

2 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein dynamically adjusting the audio quality level comprises increasing the audio quality level.

3 . The computer-implemented method of claim 2 , wherein the audio quality level is automatically increased to one or more subsequent higher quality levels until the video quality level reaches a specified quality level that is higher quality than the specified minimum video quality level.

4 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the audio quality level is adjusted according to a specified bitrate ladder.

5 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the audio quality level is dynamically adjusted according to one or more user preferences, the user preferences indicating whether audio or video is to be prioritized in the multimedia streaming connection.

6 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining that the content player is operating on a specified electronic device; identifying one or more audio or video hardware capabilities of the specified electronic device; and dynamically adjusting the audio quality level of the multimedia streaming connection according to the audio or video capabilities of the specified electronic device.

7 . The computer-implemented method of claim 6 , wherein the audio quality level is dynamically adjusted for a plurality of different types of electronic devices.

8 . The computer-implemented method of claim 6 , wherein an audio data rate at which the audio data is transmitted over the multimedia streaming connection is varied based on a cache size associated with the specified electronic device.

9 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein dynamically adjusting the audio quality level comprises decreasing the audio quality level.

10 . The computer-implemented method of claim 9 , wherein the audio quality level is dynamically decreased upon determining that network bandwidth for the multimedia streaming connection has dropped below a specified amount.

11 . The computer-implemented method of claim 9 , wherein the video data corresponds to a movie or television show and wherein the audio quality level is dynamically decreased upon determining that an audio track associated with the movie or television show is substantially silent for at least a minimum specified period of time.

12 . A system comprising:
at least one physical processor; physical memory comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the physical processor, cause the physical processor to:
determine that audio quality is to be adjusted for a multimedia streaming connection over which audio data and video data are being streamed to a content player, the audio data being streamed at a specified audio quality level and the video data being streamed at a specified video quality level;
determine that a specified minimum video quality level is to be maintained while adjusting the audio quality level; and
dynamically adjust the audio quality level of the multimedia streaming connection while maintaining the video quality level of the multimedia streaming connection at at least the specified minimum video quality level.

13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the video quality level is prioritized over the audio quality level in the multimedia streaming connection, such that the audio quality level is dynamically reduced to maintain a specified minimum video quality level.

14 . The system of claim 12 , wherein a bit rate associated with the audio data in the multimedia streaming connection is varied dynamically based on underlying content associated with the audio data.

15 . The system of claim 12 , further comprising, prior to streaming data through the multimedia streaming connection, determining a startup delay that would be incurred if a higher audio bitrate were to be used to stream the audio data.

16 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the audio and video data are streamed to the content player according to one or more margin curves.

17 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the audio quality level is dynamically adjusted for a plurality of audio data streams that are part of the multimedia streaming connection.

18 . The system of claim 12 , further comprising:
analyzing one or more portions of prior transmission data associated with audio and video data transferred during the multimedia streaming connection; predicting a future amount of audio and video data that will be transferred using the multimedia streaming connection; and dynamically adjusting the audio quality level based on the predicted future amount of audio and video data that is to be transferred using the multimedia streaming connection.

19 . The system of claim 12 , further comprising locking the audio quality level at a specified level for at least a minimum amount of time after the dynamic adjustment.

20 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising one or more computer-executable instructions that, when executed by at least one processor of a computing device, cause the computing device to:
determine that audio quality is to be adjusted for a multimedia streaming connection over which audio data and video data are being streamed to a content player, the audio data being streamed at a specified audio quality level and the video data being streamed at a specified video quality level; determine that a specified minimum video quality level is to be maintained while adjusting the audio quality level; and dynamically adjust the audio quality level of the multimedia streaming connection while maintaining the video quality level of the multimedia streaming connection at at least the specified minimum video quality level.

Assignees

• Netflix Inc

Inventors

• Sharma Sean
• Du Pontavice Guillaume

Classifications

• G11B20/00086 Primary

  Circuits for prevention of unauthorised reproduction or copying, e.g. piracy (indicating unauthorised use of record carriers in general G11B23/28; scrambling for television signal recording H04N5/913; network architectures or network protocols for network security H04L63/00; cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for secret or secure communication H04L9/00) · CPC title

• H04N21/8358

  involving watermark {(protecting executable software by watermarking G06F21/16; image watermarking in general G06T1/0021; watermarks inserted in still images for transmission purposes H04N1/32144; inserting watermarks during video coding H04N19/467)} · CPC title

• H04N2201/324

  Selecting a particular authentication information from amongst a plurality of different authentication information · CPC title

• H04N1/32144 Primary

  embedded in the image data, i.e. enclosed or integrated in the image, e.g. watermark, super-imposed logo or stamp · CPC title

• G06T1/0021

  Image watermarking · CPC title