Patent ID: 8218657
Filing Date: 2012-07-10
Classification: G10L,H04L,Y02D

Abstract:
1. A method for transmitting a media stream over a network comprising the steps of: providing a transmitter and a receiver connected through the network, wherein the transmitter includes an encoder having an adjustable bit rate and a transmission buffer having a fixed size; encoding, by the encoder, with an encoding bit rate an original media stream into an encoded media stream; transmitting the encoded media stream to the receiver; monitoring a throughput of the encoded media stream; wherein the monitoring step provides a result based on at least a rate at which the transmission buffer is filled and cleared; computing an adjustment to the encoding bit rate using the result of the monitoring step without changing the size of the transmission buffer; and adjusting the encoding bit rate so as to encode the encoded media stream at an adjusted bit rate; wherein the adjusting is executed after receiving, from the receiver, a request for a change in the encoding bit rate; and wherein the encoding bit rate is reduced if the transmitter buffer repeatedly overflows and the encoding bit rate is increased if the transmitter buffer is repeatedly empty.