US 12,224,814 B2
Multi-bitrate video with dynamic blocks
Ross Gilson, Philadelphia, PA (US)
Assigned to Comcast Cable Communications, LLC, Philadelphia, PA (US)
Filed by Comcast Cable Communications, LLC, Philadelphia, PA (US)
Filed on Aug. 28, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/457,076.
Application 18/457,076 is a continuation of application No. 17/590,548, filed on Feb. 1, 2022, granted, now 11,777,556.
Application 17/590,548 is a continuation of application No. 17/015,910, filed on Sep. 9, 2020, granted, now 11,277,167, issued on Mar. 15, 2022.
Application 17/015,910 is a continuation of application No. 14/630,107, filed on Feb. 24, 2015, granted, now 10,804,958, issued on Oct. 13, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2024/0048178 A1, Feb. 8, 2024
Int. Cl. H04N 21/24 (2011.01); H04B 3/06 (2006.01); H04N 19/12 (2014.01); H04N 19/164 (2014.01); H04N 19/177 (2014.01); H04N 21/236 (2011.01)
CPC H04B 3/06 (2013.01) [H04N 19/12 (2014.11); H04N 19/164 (2014.11); H04N 19/177 (2014.11); H04N 21/23611 (2013.01); H04N 21/2401 (2013.01); H04N 21/2402 (2013.01)] 28 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method comprising:
receiving, by a computing device and from a client device, a request for a content item;
receiving a quality of service measurement associated with a network connection of the client device;
determining, based on the quality of service measurement, a modified minimum quantity of blocks, of a data stream associated with the content item, to be downloaded at the client device before the client device initiates playback of the data stream;
sending, to the client device, a message to cause the client device to download the modified minimum quantity of blocks before a initiating playback of the data stream; and
sending, to the client device, a first portion of the data stream.
 
8. A computing device comprising:
one or more processors; and
memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, configure the computing device to:
receive, from a client device, a request for a content item;
receive a quality of service measurement associated with a network connection of the client device;
determine, based on the quality of service measurement, a modified minimum quantity of blocks, of a data stream associated with the content item, to be downloaded at the client device before the client device initiates playback of the data stream;
send, to the client device, a message to cause the client device to download the modified minimum quantity of blocks before the initiating playback of the data stream; and
send, to the client device, a first portion of the data stream.
 
15. A system comprising:
a client device and a computing device,
wherein the client device comprises:
one or more first processors; and
first memory storing first instructions that, when executed by the one or more first processors, configure the client device to:
send, to the computing device, a request for a content item; and
wherein the computing device comprises:
one or more second processors; and
second memory storing second instructions that, when executed by the one or more second processors, configure the computing device to:
receive, from the client device, the request for the content item;
receive a quality of service measurement associated with a network connection of the client device;
determine, based on the quality of service measurement, a modified minimum quantity of blocks, for initial playback of a data stream associated with the content item, to be downloaded at the client device before the client device initiates playback of the data stream;
send, to the client device, a message to cause the client device to download the modified minimum quantity of blocks before initiating playback of the data stream; and
send, to the client device, a first portion of the data stream.
 
22. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing instructions that, when executed, cause:
receiving, from a client device, a request for a content item;
receiving a quality of service measurement associated with a network connection of the client device;
determining, based on the quality of service measurement, a modified minimum quantity of blocks, of a data stream associated with the content item, to be downloaded at the client device before the client device;
sending, to the client device, a message to cause the client device to download the modified minimum quantity of blocks before initiating playback of the data stream; and
sending, to the client device, a first portion of the data stream.