Patent ID: 8150992
Filing Date: 2012-04-03
Classification: H04L,H04N

Abstract:
1. A method comprising: receiving a request from a first client device for a media asset from a media content provider (MCP), wherein the MCP is capable of providing multiple versions of the media asset, wherein each of the versions of the media asset is associated with a different playback rate as measured in bits per second; receiving a request from a second client device for the media asset from the MCP; calculating a desired overall bandwidth utilization by: selecting, with a delivery information server, in response to the request from the first client device, one of the multiple versions of the media asset for the first client device; selecting, with the delivery information server, in response to the request from the second client device, one of the multiple versions of the media asset for the second client device such that a bandwidth utilization by the MCP when transferring the selected versions of the media asset to the first and second client devices over the network link is substantially equal to the desired overall bandwidth utilization for the billing period as indicated by the data transfer policy; and causing, with the delivery information server, the MCP to transfer the selected versions of the media asset over the network link to the first and second client devices.