US 11470138B2

Patent Summary: U.S. Patent 11,470,138 B2

Title: Apparatus, system, and method for multi-bitrate content streaming

Assignee: Dish Technologies LLC

Inventors: David F. Brueck, Mark B. Hurst, R. Drew Major

Filing Date: May 18, 2020

Issue Date: October 11, 2022

Abstract:
An apparatus for multi-bitrate content streaming includes a receiving module configured to capture media content, a streamlet module configured to segment the media content and generate a plurality of streamlets, and an encoding module configured to generate a set of streamlets. The system includes the apparatus, wherein the set of streamlets comprises a plurality of streamlets having identical time indices and durations, and each streamlet of the set of streamlets having a unique bitrate, and wherein the encoding module comprises a master module configured to assign an encoding job to one of a plurality of host computing modules in response to an encoding job completion bid. A method includes receiving media content, segmenting the media content and generating a plurality of streamlets, and generating a set of streamlets.

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Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims

U.S. Patent 11,470,138 B2 has one independent claim.

Claim 1:

This claim describes a method for streaming media content over a network, like the internet, to a user's device. The core idea is to break down a video or audio file into very small segments, which the patent calls "streamlets." These streamlets are then encoded at multiple different bitrates (quality levels).

Here's a breakdown of the process described in the claim:

• Receiving Content: A system first receives the media content, for example, a live TV show or a movie.
• Creating "Streamlets": The system then divides this content into a series of short, sequential segments called "streamlets." Each streamlet might only be a few seconds long.
• Encoding at Multiple Qualities: For each individual streamlet, the system creates several different versions, each encoded at a different bitrate. This results in a "set" of streamlets for each moment in the video, ranging from low quality to high quality. All streamlets in a set represent the same piece of the content but differ in quality and file size.
• Serving Streamlets on Demand: When a user wants to watch the content, their device (the "client") requests these streamlets one by one from a web server.
• Adapting to Network Conditions: The client device constantly monitors the network conditions. If the internet connection is fast and stable, it requests the high-bitrate (high-quality) streamlets. If the connection slows down, the device can seamlessly switch to requesting lower-bitrate (lower-quality) streamlets for the upcoming segments of the video. This prevents buffering and interruptions in playback.
• Using Standard Web Protocols: The whole process uses standard HTTP requests, the same technology used for browsing websites. This makes the system highly scalable and compatible with existing internet infrastructure like web servers and caching systems, avoiding the need for specialized streaming servers or protocols.

In essence, this claim outlines a foundational method for adaptive bitrate (ABR) streaming. By breaking content into small, multi-quality chunks and allowing the client to intelligently switch between them based on network performance, the invention aims to provide a smooth, uninterrupted viewing experience that automatically adjusts to the user's available bandwidth.