Method and arrangement for supporting playout of content

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9979925-B2
Application number	US-201113007890-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 17, 2011
Priority date	Jan 18, 2010
Publication date	May 22, 2018
Grant date	May 22, 2018

Abstract

Methods and arrangements in a client node and a server node support a decision on decoding and playout of a certain content in the client node. The methods and arrangements relate to the determining, conveying and obtaining of information related to the characteristics (level) required for decoding and playing out the certain media content at a non-regular playout rate. The method and arrangement in the client node further relate to determining, based on the obtained information, which playout rate(s) is/are supported by the client node in regard of level. The methods and arrangements enable the client node to refrain from attempting to decode and play out of the content at a non-regular rate requiring a level which is not supported by the client node.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method in a client node for supporting a decision on decoding and playout of a certain content, the method comprising:
obtaining information related to said certain content regarding level requirements associated with one or more playout rates for said certain content, said one or more playout rates being different than a predefined regular playout rate for said certain content;
determining, based on the obtained information regarding said level requirements, which of said one or more playout rates is supported by the client node, to thereby enable the client node to refrain from attempting to decode and play out said certain content at a playout rate that has a level requirement which is not supported by the client node.

2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one of:
deciding not to retrieve said certain content from a server node,
restricting selectable playout rates of said certain content,
selecting an alternative version of said certain content,
switching to an alternative version or representation of said certain content,
selecting an alternative decoder, and
decoding and playing out said certain content at a playout rate that has a level requirement which is supported by the client node.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one of said one or more playout rates is a multiple or a fraction of the predefined regular playout rate.

4. A client node for supporting a decision on decoding and playout of a certain content, the client node comprising:
an obtaining circuit configured to obtain information related to said certain content regarding level requirements associated with one or more playout rates for said certain content, one or more playout rates being different than a predefined regular playout rate for said certain content, and
a determining circuit configured to determine, based on the obtained information regarding said level requirements, which of said one or more playout rates are supported by the client node, to thereby enable the client node to refrain from attempting to decode and play out said certain content at a playout rate that has a level requirement which is not supported by the client node.

5. The client node according to claim 4 , wherein the determining circuit is further configured to determine whether one or more of the playout rates that are supported by the client are acceptable according to a predetermined criterion, and wherein the client node further comprises an action circuit configured to take action in accordance with said determination.

6. The client node according to claim 4 , further comprising an action circuit configured to perform at least one of:
decide not to retrieve said certain content from a server node,
restrict selectable playout rates for said certain content,
select an alternative version of said certain content,
switch to an alternative version/representation of said certain content,
select an alternative decoder for decoding of said certain content,
decide to decode and play out said certain content at a playout rate that has a level requirement which is supported by the client node.

7. The client node according to claim 4 , wherein at least one of said one or more playout rates is a multiple or a fraction of the predefined regular playout rate.

8. A method in a server node for supporting a client node's decision on decoding and playout of a certain content, the method comprising:
determining level requirements associated with one or more playout rates for said certain content, said one or more playout rates being different than a predefined regular playout rate for said certain content, and
providing information on the one or more playout rates and the associated level requirements to the client node, said information enabling the client node to determine which playout rates are supported by the client node and thus refrain from attempting to decode and play out said certain content at a playout rate that has a level requirement which is not supported by the client node.

9. The method according to claim 8 , wherein providing the information comprises providing the information as part of a file format structure.

10. The method according to claim 8 , wherein providing the information comprises providing the information in a Media Presentation Description.

11. The method according to claim 8 , wherein the information further indicates an operation that has been or should be performed on said certain content.

12. The method according to claim 11 , wherein said operation involves at least one of
discarding frames of said certain content, and
inserting frames into said certain content.

13. A server node for supporting a client node's decision on decoding and playout of a certain content, the server node comprising:
a determining circuit configured to determine level requirements associated with one or more playout rate for said certain content, said one or more playout rates being different than a predefined regular playout rate for said certain content, and
a providing circuit configured to provide information on the one playout rates and the associated level requirements to the client node, said information enabling the client node to determine which playout rates are supported by the client nod, and thus refrain from attempting to decode and play out of said certain content at a rate that has a level requirement which is not supported by the client node.

14. The server node according to claim 13 , wherein the providing is further configured to provide the information as part of a file format structure.

15. The server node according to claim 13 , wherein the providing circuit is further configured to provide the information in a Media Presentation Description.

16. The server node according to claim 13 , wherein the information further indicates an operation that has been or should be performed on said certain content.

17. The server node according to claim 16 , wherein the operation involves at least one of:
discarding frames of said certain content,
inserting frames into said certain content.

18. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon computer readable code, which when run in an arrangement associated with a client node, supports the client node's decision on decoding and playout of a certain content, the computer readable code causing the client node to:
obtain information related to said certain content regarding level requirements associated with one or more playout rates for said certain content, said one or more playout rates being different than a predefined regular playout rate for said certain content;
determine, based on the obtained information regarding said level requirements, which of said one or more playout rates is supported by the client node, to thereby enable the client node to refrain from attempting to decode and play out said certain content at a playout rate that has a level requirement which is not supported by the client node.

19. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon computer readable code, which when run in an arrangement associated with a server node, supports a client node's decision on decoding and playout of a certain content, the computer readable code causing the server node to:
determine level requirements associated with one or more playout rates for said certain content, said one or more playout rates being different t

Assignees

• Priddle Clinton
• Froejdh Per
• Lohmar Thorsten
• Wu Zhuangfei
• Ericsson Telefon Ab L M

Inventors

• Priddle Clinton
• Fröjdh Per
• Lohmar Thorsten
• Wu Zhuangfei

Classifications

• H04N21/25833

  involving client hardware characteristics, e.g. manufacturer, processing or storage capabilities (allocation of resources considering hardware capabilities in multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/5044; allocation of resources considering software capabilities in multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/5055) · CPC title

• H04L65/1059

  End-user terminal functionalities specially adapted for real-time communication · CPC title

• H04N21/47202

  for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand · CPC title

• H04N21/2387

  Stream processing in response to a playback request from an end-user, e.g. for trick-play · CPC title

• H04L65/4076

  Electricity · mapped topic