Adaptive client-driven push of resources by a server device

Abstract

At least one embodiment of a method of transmitting data between a server device and a client device includes receiving, from the client device, an HTTP request to obtain first data, wherein the HTTP request includes first data identifying information allowing identification of the first data on the server device and includes one or more additional header fields, retrieving and sending the first data to the client device, identifying a set of second data that can be pushed to the client device, as a function of a first indication contained within the one or more additional fields, identifying a subset of the set of second data, as a function of a second indication that is not derived from the received HTTP request, and pushing data of the identified subset of second data to the client device.

1 . A server apparatus for transmitting data to a client apparatus, the server apparatus comprising:
 a receiving unit configured to receive, from the client apparatus, a HTTP request for data;   a detecting unit configured to detect a push request in a header field of the HTTP request received from the client apparatus;   a determining unit configured to determine whether the header field of the HTTP request further comprises an indication of a type of data to be pushed to the client apparatus;   a identifying unit configured to
 identify data to be pushed to the client apparatus based on an indication of a type of data to be pushed, if the header field of the HTTP request further comprises an indication of a type of data to be pushed to the client apparatus, and 
 identify data to be pushed to the client apparatus based on a predetermined indication of a type of data to be pushed, the predetermined indication of a type data to be pushed being determined by the server apparatus independently of the HTTP request, if the header field of the HTTP request does not comprise an indication of a type of data to be pushed to the client apparatus, 
   a transmitting unit configured to transmit, to the client apparatus, data corresponding to the HTTP request; and   a pushing unit configured to push, to the client apparatus, the identified data to be pushed.   
     
     
         2 . The server apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the received HTTP request is a request for a Media Presentation Description (MPD). 
     
     
         3 . The server apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the received HTTP request is a request for video segment data. 
     
     
         4 . The server apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a sending unit configured to send acknowledgment data to the client apparatus, the acknowledgment data being representative of indication relating to the identified data to be pushed. 
     
     
         5 . The server apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the acknowledgment data are at least representative of a type of data to be pushed to the client apparatus. 
     
     
         6 . The server apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the acknowledgment data are at least representative of a value of at least one parameter associated with the type of data to be pushed to the client apparatus. 
     
     
         7 . The server apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined indication of a type of data to be pushed comprises a value of at least one parameter associated with a type of data to be pushed, the server apparatus further comprising an obtaining unit configured to obtain the value of the at least one parameter. 
     
     
         8 . The server apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a sending unit configured to send a push promise message to announce the push of data to the client apparatus following the reception of the HTTP request. 
     
     
         9 . The server apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined indication of a type of data to be pushed comprises a time duration of media data to be pushed or an amount of data to be pushed. 
     
     
         10 . A communication method for a server apparatus to transmit data to a client apparatus, the communication method comprising:
 receiving, from the client apparatus, a HTTP request for data;   detecting a push request in a header field of the HTTP request received from the client apparatus;   determining whether the header field of the HTTP request further comprises an indication of a type of data to be pushed to the client apparatus;   if the header field of the HTTP request does not comprise an indication of a type of data to be pushed to the client apparatus,
 identifying data to be pushed to the client apparatus according to a predetermined indication of a type of data to be pushed, the predetermined indication of a type data to be pushed being determined by the server apparatus independently of the HTTP request; 
   transmitting, to the client apparatus, data corresponding to the HTTP request; and   pushing, to the client apparatus, the identified data to be pushed.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the received HTTP request is a request for a Media Presentation Description (MPD). 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the received HTTP request is a request for video segment data. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising a step of sending acknowledgment data to the client apparatus, the acknowledgment data being representative of indication relating to the identified data to be pushed. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the acknowledgment data are at least representative of a type of data to be pushed to the client apparatus. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the acknowledgment data are at least representative of a value of at least one parameter associated with the type of data to be pushed to the client apparatus. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the predetermined indication of a type of data to be pushed comprises a value of at least one parameter associated with a type of data to be pushed, the method further comprising a step of obtaining the value of the at least one parameter. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising a step of sending a push promise message to announce the push of data to the client apparatus following the reception of the HTTP request. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the predetermined indication of a type of data to be pushed comprises a time duration of media data to be pushed or an amount of data to be pushed. 
     
     
         19 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions of a computer program for implementing a communication method for a server apparatus to transmit data to a client apparatus, the communication method comprising:
 receiving, from the client apparatus, a HTTP request for data;   detecting a push request in a header field of the HTTP request received from the client apparatus;   determining whether the header field of the HTTP request further comprises an indication of a type of data to be pushed to the client apparatus;   if the header field of the HTTP request does not comprise an indication of a type of data to be pushed to the client apparatus,
 identifying data to be pushed to the client apparatus according to a predetermined indication of a type of data to be pushed, the predetermined indication of a type data to be pushed being determined by the server apparatus independently of the HTTP request; 
   transmitting, to the client apparatus, data corresponding to the HTTP request; and   pushing, to the client apparatus, the identified data to be pushed.   
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 19 , wherein the received HTTP request is a request for a Media Presentation Description (MPD) or a request for video segment data.