US 11991234B2

Analysis of U.S. Patent 11,991,234 B2

Date of Analysis: April 26, 2026

As a senior US patent analyst, I have conducted a thorough review of US Patent 11,991,234 B2. The following is a concise summary based on the provided patent text and a search of publicly available records.

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: December 21, 2022

Issue Date: May 21, 2024

Abstract:
The patent describes an apparatus, system, and method for multi-bitrate content streaming. The system involves a receiving module to capture media content, a "streamlet" module to segment the content into smaller pieces, and an encoding module to generate a set of these "streamlets." This set of streamlets includes multiple versions of the same content segment, each at a unique bit rate, but with identical time indices and durations. The encoding module features a master module that assigns encoding tasks to various host computing modules based on their bids to complete the job. The overall method encompasses receiving, segmenting, and generating these sets of streamlets from the original media content.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims

Based on the provided authoritative text, I can confirm the existence and details of the independent claims. A plain-language summary of each is provided below.

• Independent Claim 1: This claim protects an apparatus designed for adaptive-rate content streaming. The core of this apparatus is its ability to take a piece of media content, break it down into sequential small segments called "streamlets," and then create multiple versions of each streamlet. Each version of a streamlet represents the same moment in the content but is encoded at a different bitrate (quality level). A key feature is a "muster module" that manages how these streamlets are encoded by assigning the encoding jobs to different computers based on which one can complete the task most efficiently, determined by a bidding process. This bidding considers factors like the computer's current workload, average job completion time, processor speed, and memory.

• Independent Claim 9: This claim covers the broader system for adaptive-rate content streaming. It includes the apparatus described in Claim 1 and specifies that the output is a collection of "sets of streamlets." Each set corresponds to a specific moment in the media content and contains multiple streamlet files of that moment, each at a different bitrate. The claim reiterates the use of a master module to distribute encoding jobs to host computers based on their bids.

• Independent Claim 15: This claim outlines the method or process for adaptive-rate content streaming. It involves the steps of receiving media content, segmenting it into a series of "streamlets" of a predetermined time length, and then for each original streamlet, generating a "set" of streamlets. This set contains multiple versions of the same time-indexed segment, each encoded at a unique bitrate. The method also includes the step of assigning the encoding work to one of several host computers based on a bid that reflects the computer's processing capabilities and current state.

Litigation Status: A search of the CAFC 2026 dockets for litigation specifically involving patent number 11,991,234 B2 did not yield any results. However, the provided patent text indicates a history of litigation within the patent family, including cases in the Delaware and Utah District Courts, the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, and Post-Grant Review proceedings (IPR2024-00940, IPR2024-00941) at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB). The current status of these proceedings would require a more in-depth search of specific court and PTAB records.