Patent ID: 8392600
Filing Date: 2013-03-05
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A computer-implemented method, comprising: receiving, from a server, streaming content queued for client-side playback from the server; determining, at a client-side application, a condition indicative of a cycle of switching versions of the streaming content during playback of the streaming content, the versions having different bit rates requiring different network and processing resources; responsive to the determined condition, preventing up-switching to a stream version having a bit rate that meets or exceeds a locked out bit rate, wherein the locked out bit rate is determined from the condition indicative of a cycle of switching versions; displaying the streaming content on a client-side display device at a bit rate below the locked out bit rate when up-switching is prevented; and allowing the prevented up-switching to a stream version having a bit rate that meets or exceeds the locked out bit rate after expiration of a predetermined condition, wherein at least the determining, the preventing and the allowing are performed by at least one data processing apparatus, and wherein determining a condition indicative of a cycle of switching versions comprises identifying a stream version down-switching that replaces a first version of the streaming content with a downgraded version having a bit rate that requires less network and processing resources relative to a bit rate of the first version, the stream version down-switching being responsive to a number of dropped frames associated with the streaming content exceeding a target number.