Adaptive Bitrate Streaming Of Live Content with Manifest Update Push Notification or Long Poll

Abstract

There is provided a client device for receiving a live adaptive bitrate stream, the client device further arranged to receive a manifest of segments of which the live adaptive bitrate stream is comprised and request at least one segment of the live adaptive bitrate stream. The client device is further arranged to subscribe to a push service associated with the manifest files for the live adaptive bitrate stream.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A client device configured for receiving a live adaptive bitrate stream, the client device comprising:
 a processor; and   a memory containing instructions executable by the processor whereby the client device is operative:
 to receive a manifest identifying segments of live adaptive bitrate stream is comprised; 
 to request at least one segment of the live adaptive bitrate stream; and 
 to subscribe to a push service associated with manifests for the live adaptive bitrate stream by:
 sending a request for an updated manifest using HTTP Long-polling, the request thereby opening a connection for receipt of a message pushed from the push service relating to the updated manifest; 
 
 to wait for the message to be pushed from the push service over the open connection; and 
 to receive the message pushed from the push service, the connection being then closed. 
   
     
     
         2 . The client device of  claim 1 , operative, further:
 to wait for the message to be pushed from the push service, wherein the message comprises the updated manifest.   
     
     
         3 . The client device of  claim 1 , operative, further:
 to wait for the message to be pushed from the push service, wherein the message comprises a notification that the updated manifest is available; and   responsive to receiving the notification, to request the updated manifest.   
     
     
         4 . The client device of  claim 1 , operative, further:
 upon receiving a manifest of the live adaptive bitrate stream, to detect an address for subscribing to the push service indicated in the received manifest; and   to subscribe to the push service by sending the request for an updated manifest to the detected address.   
     
     
         5 . A method in a client device arranged to receive a live adaptive bitrate stream from a server, the method comprising:
 receiving a manifest identifying segments of which the live adaptive bitrate stream is comprised;   requesting at least one segment of the live adaptive bitrate stream; and   subscribing to a push service associated with manifests for the live adaptive bitrate stream by:
 sending a request for an updated manifest using HTTP Long-polling, the request thereby opening a connection for receipt of a message pushed from the push service relating to the updated manifest; 
 waiting for the message to be pushed from the push service over the open connection; and 
 receiving the message pushed from the push service, the connection being then closed. 
   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein subscribing to the push service comprises:
 waiting for the message to be pushed from the push service, the message comprising the requested updated manifest.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein subscribing to the push service comprises:
 waiting for the message to be pushed from the push service, the message comprising a notification that the updated manifest is available; and   responsive to receiving the notification, requesting the updated manifest.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5 , comprising:
 responsive to receiving a manifest of the live adaptive bitrate stream, detecting an address for subscribing to the push service indicated in the received manifest; and   subscribing to the push service by sending the request for an updated manifest to the detected address.   
     
     
         9 . A server arranged to deliver a live adaptive bitrate stream, the server comprising:
 a processor; and   a memory containing instructions executable by the processor whereby the server is operative:
 to send adaptive bitrate segments requested by at least one client device; 
 to send a manifest requested by at least one client device, the manifest listing available adaptive bitrate segments; and 
 to provide a push service to at least one subscribing client device by:
 receiving from a subscribing client device, using HTTP Long-polling, a request for an updated manifest, thereby opening a connection for sending to the subscribing client device a pushed message relating to the requested updated manifest; and 
 responsive to determining that the manifest has been updated, sending the pushed message to the subscribing client device over the open connection, the connection being then closed. 
 
   
     
     
         10 . The server of  claim 9 , operative, further, to provide the push service by sending the pushed message to the subscribing client device, the pushed message comprising the requested updated manifest. 
     
     
         11 . The server of  claim 9 , operative, further, to provide the push service by sending the pushed message to the subscribing client device, the pushed message comprising a notification that the requested updated manifest is available. 
     
     
         12 . The server of  claim 9 , operative, further, to include in the manifest an indication of an address for subscription to the push service. 
     
     
         13 . A method in a server, the server arranged to deliver a live adaptive bitrate stream, the method comprising:
 sending adaptive bitrate segments requested by at least one client device;   sending a manifest listing available adaptive bitrate segments; and   providing a push service to at least one subscribing client device, wherein providing the push service comprises:
 receiving from a subscribing client device, using HTTP Long-polling, a request for an updated manifest, thereby opening a connection for sending to the subscribing client device a pushed message relating to the requested updated manifest; 
 responsive to determining that the manifest has been updated, sending the pushed message to the subscribing client device over the open connection, the connection being then closed. 
   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein providing the push service comprises:
 sending the pushed message to the subscribing client device, the pushed message comprising the requested updated manifest.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein providing the push service comprises:
 sending the pushed message to the subscribing client device, the pushed message comprising a notification that the requested updated manifest is available.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , comprising including in the manifest an indication of an address for subscription to the push service. 
     
     
         17 . A computer program product, comprising a computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions executable by a processor of a client device arranged to receive a live adaptive bitrate stream from a server, whereby the client device is operative to:
 receive a manifest identifying segments of which the live adaptive bitrate stream is comprised;   request at least one segment of the live adaptive bitrate stream; and   subscribe to a push service associated with manifests for the live adaptive bitrate stream, based on being operative to:
 send a request for an updated manifest using HTTP Long-polling, the request thereby opening a connection for receipt of a message pushed from the push service relating to the updated manifest; 
 wait for the message to be pushed from the push service over the open connection; and 
 receive the message pushed from the push service, the connection being then closed. 
   
     
     
         18 . A computer program product, comprising a computer-readable medium having stored actions executable by a processor of a server is arranged to deliver a live adaptive bitrate stream, whereby the server is operative to:
 send adaptive bitrate segments requested by at least one client device;   send a manifest listing available adaptive bitrate segments; and   provide a push service to at least one subscribing client device, wherein to provide the push service, the server is operative to:
 receive from a subscribing client device, using HTTP Long-polling, a request for an updated manifest, thereby opening a connection for sending to the subscribing client device a pushed message relating to the requested updated manifest; 
 responsive to determining that the manifest has been updated, send the pushed message to the subscribing client device over the open connection, the connection being then closed.