Patent Application
20140019590
Advances in Internet and carrier communications technologies have triggered an exponential upsurge in the amount of content that is available to communications devices. Service providers are faced with the challenge of effectively managing exponential growth in data traffic. For example, different content types, such as video, audio, and webpage, pose different demands for quality of service (QOS). Media content, such as video files, are often times compressed or cached by service providers before being delivered to an end-user device, such as a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a pad computer, or a smart phone. Specifically, the bit rate of the video files may be reduced. Additionally, the format of the video files may be converted to save bandwidth.
According to the invention, there is provided the method of claim 1, the method of claim 14, the method of claim 20, the method of claim 24, the method of claim 32 and the method of claim 33.
According to the invention, there is also provided the apparatus of claim 29, the computer program of claim 30 and the system of claim 31. Other embodiments of a system for providing media optimization are also described.
Other aspects and advantages of embodiments of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrated by way of example of the principles of the invention.
Throughout the description, similar reference numbers may be used to identify similar elements.
It will be readily understood that the components of the embodiments as generally described herein and illustrated in the appended figures could be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations. Thus, the following more detailed description of various embodiments, as represented in the figures, is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure, but is merely representative of various embodiments. While the various aspects of the embodiments are presented in drawings, the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale unless specifically indicated.
The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by this detailed description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.
Reference throughout this specification to features, advantages, or similar language does not imply that all of the features and advantages that may be realized with the present invention should be or are in any single embodiment. Rather, language referring to the features and advantages is understood to mean that a specific feature, advantage, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, discussions of the features and advantages, and similar language, throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, refer to the same embodiment.
Furthermore, the described features, advantages, and characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, in light of the description herein, that the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific features or advantages of a particular embodiment. In other instances, additional features and advantages may be recognized in certain embodiments that may not be present in all embodiments of the invention.
Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the indicated embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment.
The content delivery system 100 may include any type of end-user device or devices configured to request content from the content source 114 on behalf of at least one end-user and/or to render received content for presenting to the end-user. An end-user device may be any type of communications device, such as a wireless device, a device that communicates through wires with other entity or entities, or a device that communicates wirelessly and through wires with other entity or entities. The content may be any type of content. For example, the content may include one or more webpage files, one or more text files, one or more image files, one or more audio files, or one or more video files, or any combination thereof. In an embodiment, the content includes media content, such as one or more image files, one or more audio files, or one or more video files, or any combination thereof. For example, the content may be a media stream, which is time sensitive media content that is constantly received by and presented to an end-user while being delivered by the content source. The media stream may be a video stream and/or a non-video stream such as an audio stream, or any combination thereof. For example, the media stream may be a live video and/or audio broadcast of an event over the Internet 112. In another example, the media stream is an Internet radio broadcast. In yet another example, the media stream is an on-demand video and/or audio stream. In an embodiment, the media stream corresponds to a single hyperlink or multiple hyperlinks, such as a Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) link or links, where media (e.g. video) delivery can be done using HTTP progressive download or adaptive streaming download mechanisms. The end-user may be a single person, multiple persons, other entity or entities. In the embodiment depicted in
The wireless device 102 of the content delivery system 100 can be any type of device that communicates using electromagnetic communications signals. The wireless device can support various different radio frequency (RF) communications protocols, including without limitation, Global System for Mobile communications (GSM), Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMax) and communications protocols as defined by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) or the 3rd Generation Partnership Project 2 (3GPP2), 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) and Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.16 standards bodies. Although some wireless communications protocols are identified herein, it should be understood that the present disclosure is not limited to the cited wireless communications protocols. In an embodiment, the wireless device is a handheld wireless device, such as a cell phone, a mobile phone, a smartphone, a pad computer, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a handheld gaming device etc.
The radio access network 104 of the content delivery system 100 is configured to facilitate radio communications between at least one end-user device such as the wireless device 102 and a core network that includes the data gateway 106, the media optimizer 108, the Internet gateway 110, the Internet 112, and the content source 114. In an embodiment, the radio access network includes one or more base stations to facilitate communications among wireless devices that are within a communications range of the base stations. The base stations may be base station controllers (BSCs), radio network controller (RNCs) or other equivalent components. Each base station has at least one RF transceiver and the base stations communicate with the wireless devices using RF communications signals. The radio access network facilitates network communications among multiple wireless devices within the same radio access network and between wireless devices in other radio access networks and provides interfaces to facilitate communications with other entities, such as a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), a Wide Area Network (WAN), the Internet, Internet servers, hosts, etc., which are outside of the radio access network. Data signals communicated between the wireless device and the radio access network include, but are not limited to, analog and/or digital RF signals (i.e., radio waves) for any type of communications mode, including text messaging, multimedia messaging, voice calling, and Internet browsing. The radio access network can support various different RF communications protocols, including without limitation, GSM, UMTS, CDMA, WiMax and communications protocols as defined by 3GPP, 3GPP2, or IEEE 802.16. Although some wireless communications protocols are identified herein, it should be understood that present disclosure is not limited to the cited wireless communications protocols.
Although the content delivery system 100 depicted in
The data gateway 106 of the content delivery system 100 configures outgoing data access requests for use with one or more networks and configures incoming data for use by or display on an end-user device such as the wireless device 102. As shown, the data gateway interfaces directly with the radio access network 104 and the media optimizer 108, although other embodiments may include other intermediate functional elements. In one embodiment, the data gateway uses GPRS Tunneling Protocol (GTP) to communicate with the radio access network. Other embodiments may use other communications protocols. Other conventional operations of the data gateway are known. For example, the data gateway enables users of wireless devices to roam between cells, for example, to move between different locations within the radio access network, by tracking the wireless device's identity across the network. The data gateway may also provide authentication and data formatting functions.
The Internet gateway 110 of the content delivery system 100 provides a gateway for communications between at least one end-user device such as the wireless device 102 and Internet-connected hosts and/or servers in the Internet 112, which can also be referred to as the “cloud.” The Internet gateway may include a Serving General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) Support Node (SGSN) and a Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN). For example, the Internet gateway can be a Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) gateway that converts the WAP protocol used by the radio access network to the HTTP protocol used by the Internet. In an embodiment, the Internet gateway enables wireless devices to access multimedia content, such as Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML), compact HTML (cHTML), and extensible HTML (xHTML), which is stored on Internet-connected hosts and/or servers.
The media optimizer 108 of the content delivery system 100 is configured to optimize delivery of content that is requested by at least one end-user device, such as the wireless device 102. In the embodiment depicted in
A content delivery network (CDN) can be used by a content provider or owner to optimize delivery of content from the content provider to an end-user device. For example, a content provider, such as the content source 114, may employ a mobile CDN for optimization of content that is to be delivered to subscribers of a cellular network. However, a CDN has one caveat: to optimize content in the CDN, the content needs to be injected from the content provider to the CDN. For example, a CDN typically requires that a content provider uses a content-injection application programming interface (API), which is provided by the CDN, to inject content to the CDN. Content-injection APIs usually differ from CDN to CDN. To use a specific CDN, a content provider has to use the API provided by the specific CDN. Thus, if the access network 116 offers an access network CDN to a content provider, the content provider needs to inject content into the access network CDN through the CDN API provided by the access network CDN.
In an embodiment, the access network 116 enables delivery optimization capabilities based on network assets of the access network and the requirement of a content provider. For example, a cellular network operator or a mobile operator's assets may include last mile delivery with network-aware capabilities (e.g. bandwidth, congestion, prioritization, latency), in-network content distribution (edge caching, edge broadcast) as Software as a Service (SaaS) for operator partners that require guaranteed delivery, and/or traffic mediation capabilities that allow the network operator to provide CDN—like capabilities without preliminary content injection. For specific content, a content provider can selectively activate one or more optimization features that are performed by the access network. For example, a content provider may not want to optimize media content, such as video content, if an end-user is downloading the media content to save for later viewing, e.g., with the option “save-as.” In an embodiment, a content provider may disallow the access network to perform transcoding or optimization (e.g. compression) or provide the end-user with a choice of enabling or disabling transcoding or optimization (e.g. compression) performed by the access network. In another example, a content provider or even an end-user might not want degraded quality just for the sake of smooth playing. High definition (HD) experience might be worth waiting for a full video clip to load even if it stalls sometimes. In an embodiment, a content provider may provide an end-user with a choice of selecting different qualities, such as different resolutions, of media content and/or enabling or disabling transcoding or optimization (e.g. compression) performed by the access network based on network congestion conditions. In another example, conventional media optimization techniques, such as video optimization techniques, are often sold for enhancing the end-user experience but the techniques are applied indiscriminately without approval of the content provider. In conventional systems where no CDN agreements are in place, a network operator triggers optimization in a unilateral fashion and does not provide the ability to let the content provider or owner or even an end-user to decide whether in-network optimization should be utilized. In addition, there is no formal process for a media content provider or owner to decide whether or not a media optimization platform of a carrier network deployed on the data path should apply optimization (e.g., compression or altering or caching) on its media content. In an embodiment, the content provider makes an agreement with the access network to provide an end-user with a choice of enabling or disabling in-network optimization of the access network.
In an embodiment, the optimization features that can be implemented upon consent of the end user include all of the functions of traditional CDNs and/or other functions that traditional CDNs cannot offer. Examples of optimization features include, without limitation, caching, media optimization, and/or content broadcast. Caching may be performed in various fashions, such as, on-the-fly. In an embodiment, the access network 116 performs edge caching, which involves the use of one or more caching servers to store content in a place or places closer to end users than the content provider. In another embodiment, the access network honors or follows a set of caching rules of a content provider. For example, the content provider may specify that most popular content, premium content, and/or a specific type of content needs to be cached by the access network. Media optimization can be performed in various fashions, such as, on-the-fly. In an embodiment, media optimization is performed by the access network based on network congestion conditions and/or device capabilities. Content broadcast may be performed in various fashions, such as, on-the-fly. In an embodiment, HD versions of live streams are fetched from a content provider by the access network. The access network can perform real-time Adaptive Streaming (AS) transformation and multi-stream delivery to devices such as handsets, which incur huge cost benefits in terms of processing and peering for the content provider.
In an embodiment, access network 116-based media optimization is triggered from a web site of the content source 114. For example, the wireless device 102, through an application such as a web browser, sends a request for media content that contains an optimization command that is generated from an instruction contained in a webpage that is hosted at the content source and specifies a technique for optimizing the media content using the access network. The optimization command, which may be sent jointly with a request for media content, may be in any form, which includes, without limitation, an HTTP header or headers, a URL modification or modifications (e.g. one or more additional query string parameters or one or more URL domain modification parameters), and/or an Internet Protocol (IP) header or headers. The optimization command can be interpreted by the access network to trigger at least one corresponding media optimization technique to be implemented on corresponding media content on the fly. In an embodiment, the access network obtains identification information from a request for media content, such as destination information (e.g. the destination IP of the request or the destination Uniform Resource Locators (URL)), sender information (e.g. the sender IP of the request), and/or the identification information of the request itself (e.g. a session number). In this embodiment, the access network uses the obtained identification information to identify a response to the request that contains media content. Once the corresponding content is identified, one or more media optimization techniques are applied to the content. For example, a request for media content and/or a response to the request may be in the form of a single IP packet or multiple IP packets. Each IP packet may include an HTTP segment, a Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) segment/header, and an IP segment/header. The HTTP segment may include an HTTP request message, such as an HTTP GET request message, which includes a start line, which is also referred to as the request line, and request headers. The request headers may contain a host URL and acceptable response formats. The request line may contain the “GET” operation, a request URL such as “video.html” that describes the resource of the host on which to perform the “GET” operation, and an HTTP version such as HTTP 1.1. The TCP segment may include TCP information, such as source port, destination port, and TCP sequence number. The IP segment may include IP information such as source IP address, destination IP address, and time to live (TTL). The intercepting of a request for media content and the triggering of a media optimization technique can be performed by a single device, such as the media optimizer 108, or performed individually or collaboratively by multiple devices. In an embodiment, the media optimizer intercepts a request for media content from the wireless device, where the request is made to the content source and contains an optimization command that specifies a technique for optimizing the media content using the access network, and where the optimization command is generated from an instruction contained in a webpage that is hosted at the content source. In addition, the media optimizer applies the technique for optimizing the media content to media content that is received as a response to the request.
Although the media optimizer 108 is shown in
The content source 114 of the content delivery system 100 is configured to store content and to process a request for content from an end-user device such as the wireless device 102. The content source may store video content and/or non-video content such as text files, webpage files, image files, audio files, or any combination thereof. In an embodiment, the content source stores media content, processes a request for the media content, and streams requested media content to an end-user device over at least one streaming protocol. The content stored in the content source may be encoded or not encoded or compressed or uncompressed. The content source may serve content over a single transport protocol or multiple transport protocols. In an embodiment, the content source serves video content over HTTP such as HTTP-Adaptive Streaming (HTTP-AS) and/or real time streaming protocol (RTSP) or other similar protocols. The content source may be an HTTP server. In an embodiment, the content source is organized as a video web site, such as YouTube.com, Google Videos, Metacafe.com, and Hulu.com. Although the content delivery system is shown in
The content source 114 may enable one or more end-users to utilize media optimization functions of the access network 116. In an embodiment, the content source 114 hosts a webpage that contains media content and an instruction for optimizing the media content using the access network. The content source receives a request for the webpage from an end-user device such as the wireless device 102 and sends the media content to the end-user device through the access network, where the media content is optimized according to a technique specified in the instruction. In an embodiment, the instruction does not trigger any media optimization. The media content may be video content and/or non-video content such as text files, webpage files, image files, audio files, or any combination thereof.
The traffic router 230 is configured to intercept traffic between the wireless device 102 and the content source 114. In the embodiment depicted in
The media optimization platform 232 is configured to apply the optimization techniques to media content that is received as a response to a request intercepted by the traffic router 230. In the embodiment depicted in
Examples of the optimization techniques include, without limitation, codec transforming, encoding, size adaptation, bit rate adaptation, caching, transcoding, live stream handling, content broadcast, and bandwidth shaping (e.g., for HTTP progressive download and adaptive streaming). Caching may be performed on-the-fly. In an embodiment, at least one of the media optimization engines 234-1 . . . 234-N performs edge caching. In another embodiment, at least one of the media optimization engines honors or follows a set of caching rules of a content provider. For example, a content provider may specify that most popular content, premium content, and/or a specific type of content needs to be cached by one or more of the media optimization engines. In an embodiment, media optimization is performed by the access network on the fly, for example, based on network congestion conditions and/or device capabilities. Content broadcast may be performed on-the-fly. In an embodiment, HD versions of live streams are fetched from a content provider by at least one of the media optimization engines, which can perform real-time AS transformation and multi-stream delivery to devices such as handsets. In an embodiment, at least one of the media optimization engines is configured to perform bit rate adjustment and/or format conversion of at least one content element. For example, a media optimization engine may change coding parameters or the coding standard of a media file and/or adjust spatial and temporal resolution of a media file. A media optimization engine may encode an encoded media file, such as a video file, into another encoded media file of a different format or encode a non-encoded media file into an encoded media file. In another example, a media optimization engine may encode a content file into an encoded file that is more efficient from a delivery perceptive. At least one of the media optimization engines can perform bit rate adjustment and/or format conversion of one or more content elements according to characteristics of at least one end-user device such as the wireless device 102. The characteristics of the wireless device may include hardware characteristics, such as the physical dimensions and the resolution of the wireless device display, processor and memory specifications, and software characteristics, such as supported codecs and delivery protocols of the wireless device. The media optimization engines can also be used for the optimization of any type of content. For example, the media optimization engines can be used for the optimization of video content, non-video content such as text, webpage, image, audio, or any combination of video and non-video content. In an embodiment, each of the media optimization engines may be capable of optimizing a selected type of content. Although some optimization techniques are identified herein, it should be understood that present disclosure is not limited to the cited optimization techniques. In an embodiment, at least one of the media optimization engines honors or follows a set of rules of a content provider to perform media optimization.
An exemplary operation of the media optimizer 208 is described herein. If a request intercepted by the traffic router includes an optimization command, the traffic router directs the request or a response to the request or media content in the response to the media optimization platform 232 for optimization. The traffic router or the media optimization platform can issue the content request to a content provider or owner such as the content source 114 on behalf of an end-user device. If a request intercepted by the traffic router does not include an optimization command, the traffic router does not direct the response to the request or media content in the response to the media optimization platform. Instead, the traffic router directs the request to a bypass route, which does not include the media optimization platform. The bypass route may be located completely inside the traffic router, as shown in
Conventional network operators typically apply in-network content optimization functions in a unilateral fashion (e.g., without agreement from a third party content provider). In an embodiment in accordance with the invention, third party content providers or owners and potentially end-users are allowed to decide whether or not to trigger in-network content optimization functions. Allowing entities other than the access network operator to control the application of in-network content optimization offers more transparency around when and how in-network content optimization is applied and can prevent network resources from being unnecessarily utilized, e.g., applying media optimization to media that is being downloaded for local storage (e.g., “save-as” use case). In an embodiment, the content provider or owner has the ability to delegate and offload some adaptation processing directly to the access network with the associated benefits in terms of latency reduction, network-aware delivery, Internet peering reduction and so forth. In an embodiment, a content provider or owner makes network information part of the end-user experience. An end-user can select his/her preferred quality. If content, such as a video clip, stalls, the end-user can select an “Auto” mode to trigger in-network content optimization functions on an as-needed basis. Selection of the “Auto” mode can result in an instant improvement in user experience. In an embodiment, the end-user can make the “Auto” mode the preferred default option. A content provider or owner can select the initial content quality or a content optimization option such as the “Auto” mode. For example, a content provider or owner can select the initial content quality or a content optimization option based on network status, to equate the end-user experience with the real-time network constraints. A content provider or owner can sell a higher quality content viewing experience (e.g., 1080p video content) to an end-user during congestion periods (e.g., peak-hour, congested cells, events . . . ) rather than exposing a quality option that cannot be honored by the access network. In an embodiment, some or all of the content quality options or content optimization options result from a negotiation between a content provider or owner of the content source 114 and a network operator of the access network 116. The negotiation maybe performed on-the-fly without the need to previously inject content into a conventional CDN system, which can ensure that the access network is capable of offering the content quality options or the content optimization options to improve the user experience.
The triggering of in-network content optimization functions is not disruptive to content providers or owners. Content providers or owners are free to utilize the in-network optimization functions or to decline their use. The in-network content optimization functions can be used in parallel, sequentially, or in any fashion with an existing content optimization asset of a content provider or owner (e.g., similar to the use of a CDN system). In an embodiment, the content source 114 employs one or more of the media optimization engines 234-1 . . . 234-N to perform at least one media optimization function at the content source. The media optimization engines may be located within the content source and/or outside the content source. The content source can use the media optimizer 108 or 208 of the access network and/or use its own media optimization engines.
In an exemplary operation, an end-user using the wireless device 102 uses a web browser to access a webpage at a website of the content source 114. The end-user selects the Auto mode in the webpage through the device's web browser. The access network 116 is notified to perform network-based video optimization on video content that is from the content source. The end-user then views the optimized video content, decides that the video quality is below his/her expectation, and selects the HD mode in the webpage through the web browser. The access network is notified to deliver video content that is from the content source in HD. For example, the access network may be informed not to perform network-based video optimization on video content that is from the content source. The end-user then views the HD video content, decides that the network is getting slow (e.g., the end-user switches from one access network, such as an ISP with WiFi to another access network, such as a 3G carrier network, with a lower data rate), and selects the “Auto” mode in the webpage through the web browser. The access network is notified to perform network-based video optimization on video content that is from the content source. The end-user then decides to download the video content for a local store (e.g., using a “save-as” function) and selects the HD mode in the webpage through the web browser. Alternatively, the HD mode is selected by the content source on behalf of the end-user. The access network is notified to deliver video content that is from the content source in HD mode and the end-user gets an original version of the video content.
In an embodiment, informing an end-user of media optimization options via the content source 114 and triggering a media content optimization technique of the access network 116 is implemented using one or more scripts.
The content source 114 may host a webpage that contains media content and an instruction for optimizing the media content using the access network 116. In an embodiment, the instruction is in the form of at least one script pointer. The script pointer may be embedded into the webpage by the content source and/or by the access network. In an embodiment, the script pointer points to a JavaScript, or other script, which is executed by an application, such as a web browser, of an end-user device. The script server 418 is configured to store the script that is identified (i.e., pointed to) by the script pointer in the webpage. A script stored in the script server may be developed by a content provider or owner and/or the access network.
The HTTP response 502 is sent to the wireless device 102. Upon receiving the HTTP response with the embedded script pointer, the wireless device makes a script request 504 to the script server 418. In an embodiment, the script request is made in an HTTP request although other protocols are possible. In response to receiving the script request, the script server provides the requested script to the wireless device in a script response 506. The script is then run on the wireless device to implement, for example, an API that allows the end-user to select from media quality options and/or media optimization options that are implemented partially or completely by the access network 116 or to use a default media quality option and/or media optimization option that is implemented partially or completely by the access network 116. Although an API is provided as one example of a function of the script, scripts that perform other functions can be used.
In an embodiment, the script server 418 is integrated in the access network 116. In this embodiment, the access network performs media delivery optimization and provides a scripting service, which sets a content provider or owner, such as the content source 114, free from hosting scripts. Because a content provider or owner is free from hosting scripts, the access network can provide a valuable package service to the content provider or owner.
Upon receiving the HTTP response with the embedded script pointer, the wireless device 102 makes an HTTP request “GET scriptserver.com/api/network-awareness.js” to the script server 418 of the access network 116. In response to receiving the script request, the script server provides the requested script to the wireless device. The wireless device runs the script on a web browser and selects from video quality options and/or video optimization options that are implemented by the access network or uses a default video quality option and/or video optimization option that is implemented by the access network. After a video optimization selection is made, the script enables the wireless device to send an HTTP GET message “GET video.avi” that includes an optimization command, such as a special HTTP header, which is used to trigger access network media optimization. In an embodiment, an HTTP header “X-OPWV-Congestion=true” is used as the optimization command to trigger video optimization by the media optimizer 108. The video optimization may be performed by the media optimizer only when the network is congested, e.g., the data rate of the access network is lower than a predetermined threshold. Specifically, the media optimizer can transparently intercept the HTTP GET message with the special HTTP header and interprets the HTTP header to trigger in-access network video optimization. After receiving the HTTP request for video content, the content source 114 sends the video content identified by “video.avi” to the requesting wireless device. The media optimizer intercepts the video content, performs video optimization as needed, and sends the video content (in optimized form or in native form) to the wireless device. In an embodiment, the media optimizer determines that the requested video content (identified by “video.avi”) is not locally accessible (e.g., cached or optimized previously) in the access network and sends a request for video content on behalf of the wireless device. When the requested video content is received from the content source at the media optimizer, the media optimizer applies media optimization on the requested content. In another embodiment, a field within an IP header of an HTTP GET message is used instead of a special HTTP header to trigger access network media optimization.
Upon receiving the HTTP response with the embedded script pointer, the wireless device 102 makes an HTTP request “GET accessnetworkserver.com/api/CDN.js” to the access network 116. In response to receiving the script request, the access network provides the requested script to the wireless device. The wireless device runs the script on a web browser and makes an HTTP request “GET accessnetworkserver.com/api/CDN.manifest” to the access network. The access network responds to the HTTP request “GET accessnetworkserver.com/api/CDN.manifest” with optimization capabilities of the access network. Upon receiving the optimization capabilities of the access network, the wireless device selects from video quality options and/or video optimization options that are offered by the access network or uses a default video quality option and/or video optimization option that can be implemented by the access network. After a video optimization selection is made, the script enables the wireless device to send an HTTP GET message “GET video.avi” that includes an optimization command (e.g., a query string), which is recognized by the access network and triggers video optimization by the media optimizer 108. For example, on-the-fly CDN rules are appended to the video request by the client browser as the optimization command (e.g., as a query string). The media optimizer can transparently intercept the HTTP GET message and interprets the optimization command (e.g., the query string) to trigger video optimization. After receiving the HTTP request for video content, the content source 114 sends the requested video content “video.avi” to the wireless device. The media optimizer intercepts the video content, performs video optimization as needed, and sends the video content to the wireless device. In an embodiment, the media optimizer determines that the requested video content (identified by “video.avi”) is not locally accessible (e.g. cached or optimized previously) in the access network and sends a request for video content on behalf of the wireless device. When the requested video content is received from the content source at the media optimizer, the media optimizer applies media optimization on the requested content. Exemplary message interactions illustrated in
Although the operations of the method(s) herein are shown and described in a particular order, the order of the operations of each method may be altered so that certain operations may be performed in an inverse order or so that certain operations may be performed, at least in part, concurrently with other operations. In another embodiment, instructions or sub-operations of distinct operations may be implemented in an intermittent and/or alternating manner.
It should also be noted that at least some of the operations for the methods may be implemented using software instructions stored on a computer useable storage medium for execution by a computer. As an example, an embodiment of a computer program product includes a computer useable storage medium to store a computer readable program that, when executed on a computer, causes the computer to perform operations, as described herein.
Furthermore, embodiments of at least portions of the invention can take the form of a computer program product accessible from a computer-usable or computer-readable medium providing program code for use by or in connection with a computer or any instruction execution system. For the purposes of this description, a computer-usable or computer readable medium can be any apparatus that can contain, store, communicate, propagate, or transport the program for use by or in connection with the instruction execution system, apparatus, or device.
The computer-useable or computer-readable medium can be an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system (or apparatus or device). Examples of a computer-readable medium include a semiconductor or solid state memory, magnetic tape, a removable computer diskette, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), a rigid magnetic disk, and an optical disk. Current examples of optical disks include a compact disk with read only memory (CD-ROM), a compact disk with read/write (CD-R/W), and a digital video disk (DVD).
In an embodiment, the functionality of at least one component of the content delivery system 100 or 400, such as the media optimizer 108 or 208, the traffic router 232, the media optimization platform 232 or the script server 418, can be performed by a computer, such as a server or router, which executes computer readable instructions.
In an embodiment, at least one element of the content delivery system 100 or 400, such as the media optimizer 108 or 208, the traffic router 232, the media optimization platform 232 or the script server 418, is a logical representation, in which components of the element may be located in a single device or distributed across multiple devices.
Embodiments of the invention can be applied to any type of content. For example, the content may include, without limitation, one or more webpage files, one or more text files, one or more image files, one or more audio files, or one or more video files, or any combination thereof. Because of the large size and time sensitive nature of video content, embodiments of the invention can be especially valuable for improving end-user experiences of viewing video content.
In the above description, specific details of various embodiments are provided. However, some embodiments may be practiced with less than all of these specific details. In other instances, certain methods, procedures, components, structures, and/or functions are described in no more detail than to enable the various embodiments of the invention, for the sake of brevity and clarity.
Additional embodiments are disclosed in the following Clauses:
Although specific embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated, the invention is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangements of parts so described and illustrated. The scope of the invention is to be defined by the claims appended hereto and their equivalents.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2012/055038 | 3/21/2012 | WO | 00 | 9/20/2013 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61454947 | Mar 2011 | US |
