Patent ID: 8516144
Filing Date: 2013-08-20
Classification: H04L,H04N

Abstract:
1. A computer-implemented method for providing streaming media to an adaptive bitrate streaming media player, the method comprising: providing streaming media content to the adaptive bitrate streaming media player executing on a client device, the streaming media content being provided according to a variable bitrate that varies over time; during playback of media content on the adaptive bitrate streaming media player, determining bitrate values used at a plurality of different times for providing the streaming media content to the adaptive bitrate streaming media player; tracking a bitrate history of the player, the tracking comprising storing the one or more determined bitrate values determined for the plurality of different times during the playback of the media content; storing the tracked bitrate history in a cookie accessible by the adaptive bitrate streaming media player; responsive to receiving a request from the adaptive bitrate streaming media player for streaming media content, retrieving the tracked bitrate history from the cookie; determining a startup bitrate based on the bitrate history, the startup bitrate comprising an initial bitrate for streaming the media content to the adaptive bitrate streaming media player; storing the determined startup bitrate in the cookie accessible by the adaptive bitrate streaming media player; and streaming media content to the adaptive bitrate streaming media player, wherein the streaming begins at the determined startup bitrate.