Patent ID: 8190760
Filing Date: 2012-05-29
Classification: H04L,H04N

Abstract:
1. A system for managing multiple video players, comprising: a single client platform coupled to a set of one or more servers via a network connection, the single client platform comprising: a plurality of video players configured to stream a plurality of videos from the set of servers over the network connection, wherein each of the video players has a video output frame where a respective one of the plurality of videos is rendered for viewing by an end user on a video display of the single client platform, wherein the plurality of video players are prioritized according to a relative importance using priority values, wherein the priority values are used to apportion bandwidth allotments between the plurality of video players for video playback qualities of the plurality of videos when an amount of available bandwidth on the network connection is less than what the plurality of video players want to consume collectively; a bandwidth monitoring module configured to determine the amount of available bandwidth; an arbitration module configured to: a messaging module in communication with the arbitration module, the messaging module being configured to send a message to at least one of the plurality of video players to reduce the video playback quality or stop playback of each of the respective videos of the at the least one video player when the video playback quality is not sustainable as calculated by the arbitration module.