US 11677798

Patent Summary: US 11,677,798

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

Assignee: DISH Technologies L.L.C.

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

Filing Date: October 7, 2022

Issue Date: June 13, 2023

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.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims

U.S. Patent 11,677,798 has three independent claims: Claim 1, Claim 9, and Claim 15. Below is a plain-language summary of each.

Claim 1: This claim describes a system for streaming media content. The core idea is to take a piece of media, like a live video, and break it down into small, sequential segments called "streamlets." For each of these small segments, the system creates multiple versions, each encoded at a different quality level or "bitrate." A key part of this system is a "master module" that manages how these different versions are created. It essentially outsources the encoding work to a number of "host" computers. These host computers "bid" on the encoding jobs, and the master module assigns the work based on these bids, which could be based on factors like how fast they can complete the task. This allows for an efficient way to create the various quality levels of the video segments needed for adaptive streaming.

Claim 9: This claim focuses on a method for streaming media content that mirrors the functionality of the system in Claim 1. The method involves several steps: first, receiving the media content. Next, this content is divided into a series of "streamlets," each representing a short a portion of the content. Then, for each of these streamlets, a set of new streamlets is generated. All the streamlets in a set correspond to the same moment in the original content but are encoded at different bitrates, offering a range of quality options. A central part of this method is the process of assigning the work of encoding these streamlets to different computers. This is done through a bidding system, where a "master" system gives the encoding job to a "host" computer based on its bid to complete the work.

Claim 15: This claim describes a specific apparatus designed for streaming media. This apparatus includes a receiving component to get the media content, a "streamlet" component that breaks the content into smaller pieces, and an encoding component. The encoding component is responsible for creating a set of streamlets for each piece of the original content, with each streamlet in the set having a different bitrate. A crucial feature of this apparatus is a "master module" that manages a group of "host" computers. It distributes the encoding tasks to these computers based on "bids" they submit, which reflect their capability to complete the encoding job. This bidding mechanism allows the system to efficiently create the multiple bitrate versions of the content needed for adaptive streaming.