US 12,273,577 B2
Adaptive multicast streaming
Guy J. Grigsby, Denver, CO (US); Carl Veazey, Longmont, CO (US); and Ian Eckart, Thornton, CO (US)
Assigned to Comcast Cable Communications, LLC, Philadelphia, PA (US)
Filed by Comcast Cable Communications, LLC, Philadelphia, PA (US)
Filed on Apr. 6, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/131,657.
Application 18/131,657 is a continuation of application No. 16/103,268, filed on Aug. 14, 2018, granted, now 11,659,222.
Prior Publication US 2024/0080510 A1, Mar. 7, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. H04N 21/2662 (2011.01); H04L 12/18 (2006.01); H04L 65/611 (2022.01); H04N 21/235 (2011.01); H04N 21/25 (2011.01); H04N 21/6405 (2011.01); H04N 21/845 (2011.01)
CPC H04N 21/2662 (2013.01) [H04L 12/1868 (2013.01); H04L 65/611 (2022.05); H04N 21/235 (2013.01); H04N 21/252 (2013.01); H04N 21/6405 (2013.01); H04N 21/8456 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method comprising:
receiving, by a first computing device via a first multicast transmission and at a first bitrate, a plurality of segments of a media content item, wherein each of the segments is less than the entire media content item;
determining a rate of arrival of the plurality of segments;
after determining that the rate of arrival does not satisfy a threshold rate of arrival, receiving, by the first computing device via a second multicast transmission and at a second bitrate, at least one additional segment of the media content item, wherein the first and second bitrates are different;
determining a time period based on a difference between a first time stamp, corresponding to a first time in a playback of the media content item at which the at least one additional segment begins, and a second time stamp corresponding to a second time in a playback of the media content item at which a first segment of the plurality of segments begins, wherein the first time is different from the second time, wherein the first segment of the plurality of segments and the at least one additional segment each contain data that represents at least some of the same part of the media content item; and
after expiration of the determined time period, stopping receipt of the media content item via the first multicast transmission at the first bitrate.