Netflix Patent Applications

WEB SERVER CONSTRAINT SUPPORT

Granted: June 20, 2013
Application Number: 20130159384
Techniques are disclosed for a web server to support constraints specified by a client. In one embodiment, the web server receives, from the client, a request for one or more blocks of data. The request includes one or more constraints provided by the client. The web server may perform an action responsive to an increase in network congestion, based on the one or more constraints. Accordingly, the web server may handle the request in a manner that more closely meets the needs of the…

MEASURING USER QUALITY OF EXPERIENCE FOR A STREAMING MEDIA SERVICE

Granted: June 20, 2013
Application Number: 20130159498
Techniques are disclosed for representing a user quality of experience (QoE) experienced by users of a streaming media service using a single QoE metric. The single QoE metric may be determined based on a set of empirical characteristics relating to the streaming video service such as startup latency, video quality, and the likelihood of interruptions in streaming playback. The empirical characteristics may be weighted according to how much one factor influences user quality of…

BIT RATE STREAM SWITCHING

Granted: November 1, 2012
Application Number: 20120278449
Embodiments for changing bit rates in streaming media are provided. As portions of a streaming media file are downloaded for playback, the size of the portion is compared with an expected size determined prior to initiating playback of streaming AV data. The portion of the media file may be padded such that the size of the portion matches the size specified prior to initiating playback of streaming AV data.