Using quality information for adaptive streaming of media content

Abstract

Different representations are associated with an instance of media content, and a representation can include multiple portions of media content. A respective quality value and bitrate can be associated with each of the portions. Information about the instance of content, including bitrate and quality information, can be accessed by and/or sent to a client. The quality information indicates the availability of measures of quality (e.g., quality values) and where those quality values reside or how they can be retrieved. The client can use quality as well as bitrate to make more intelligent decisions while streaming the content. For example, while the content is being downloaded over a network, the client can adapt to changes in available network bandwidth by selecting one portion of the instance of media content over another based not just on its bitrate but also based on its quality value.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 generating information about an instance of media content, the information comprising quality information for the instance of media content, wherein a plurality of different representations is associated with the instance of media content, each of the different representations in the plurality of representations comprising a plurality of portions of the instance of media content, each of the portions in the plurality of portions having a respective quality value associated therewith, wherein a quality value comprises a measure of quality of a respective portion of the instance of media content; and   providing the information to a client, the information indicating availability of the quality values.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a quality value for a first portion of the instance of media content is included in a box associated with the first portion. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the quality information comprises an element in the information about the instance of media content, the element indicating the quality value is available in the box. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the quality information comprises an element in the information about the instance of media content, wherein a quality value for a first portion of the instance of media content is an attribute of the element. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a quality value for a first portion of the instance of media content is included in a first file in a location different from a second file comprising the first portion of media content. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the quality information comprises an element in the information about the instance of media content, the element indicating the quality value is available in the first file and providing a path to the first file. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising measuring and recording a quality value for each of the portions in the plurality of portions. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising publishing the information about the instance of media content to allow the client to access the information. 
     
     
         9 . A device comprising:
 a memory including computer-readable instructions; and   a processor coupled with the memory, wherein the processor is configured to read the instructions to:   generate information about an instance of media content, the information comprising quality information for the instance of media content, wherein a plurality of different representations is associated with the instance of media content, each of the different representations in the plurality of representations comprising a plurality of portions of the instance of media content, each of the portions in the plurality of portions having a respective quality value associated therewith, wherein a quality value comprises a measure of quality of a respective portion of the instance of media content; and   provide the information to a client, the information indicating availability of the quality values.   
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein a quality value for a first portion of the instance of media content is included in a box associated with the first portion. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the quality information comprises an element in the information about the instance of media content, the element indicating the quality value is available in the box. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the quality information comprises an element in the information about the instance of media content, wherein a quality value for a first portion of the instance of media content is an attribute of the element. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein a quality value for a first portion of the instance of media content is included in a first file in a location different from a second file comprising the first portion of media content. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the quality information comprises an element in the information about the instance of media content, the element indicating the quality value is available in the first file and providing a path to the first file. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the processor is further configured to read the instructions to:
 measure and record a quality value for each of the portions in the plurality of portions.   
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the processor is further configured to read the instructions to:
 publish the information about the instance of media content to allow the client to access the information.