Determining a quality of experience metric based on uniform resource locator data

Abstract

A method includes receiving, at a server associated with a network operator, a plurality of uniform resource locators (URLs) associated with a media stream provided to a client device. The method includes processing, at the server, the plurality of URLs to determine a quality of experience metric. Processing the plurality of URLs includes extracting first URL data from a first URL and second URL data from a second URL of the plurality of URLs. The first URL data includes a first segment identifier associated with a first segment of a media content item and a first bit rate identifier. The second URL data includes a second segment identifier associated with a second segment of the media content item and a second bit rate identifier. A quality of experience metric may be determined based at least in part on the first URL data and the second URL data.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 obtaining, by a processing system including a processor, a plurality of uniform resource locators associated with delivery of a media stream from an over-the-top (OTT) video service provider to a communications device of a user;   extracting, by the processing system, first bit rate information from a first uniform resource locator of the plurality of uniform resource locators, wherein the first uniform resource locator corresponds to a first segment of the media stream requested by the communications device;   extracting, by the processing system, second bit rate information from a second uniform resource locator of the plurality of uniform resource locators, wherein the second uniform resource locator corresponds to a second segment of the media stream requested by the communications device;   comparing, by the processing system, the first bit rate information to the second bit rate information to determine first quality of experience information for the delivery of the media stream to the communications device; and   communicating, by the processing system, the first quality of experience information to the communications device to alert the user regarding the first quality of experience information for the delivery of the media stream to the communications device.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising sending, by the processing system, a report to a network operator device, the report based on quality of experience information associated with the media stream, wherein the quality of experience information includes the first quality of experience information. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the obtaining the plurality of uniform resource locators comprises obtaining the plurality of uniform resource locators from a log of requests at a server associated with the OTT video server provider. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the obtaining the plurality of uniform resource locators comprises obtaining the plurality of uniform resource locators on a communication path used by the OTT video service provider to deliver the media stream to the communications device. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising extracting, by the processing system, trick play information from the second uniform resource locator, wherein the trick play information requests a fast forward of the media stream, a pause of the media stream, or a rewind of the media stream. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the obtaining the plurality of uniform resource locators comprises obtaining the plurality of uniform resource locators external to a communication path used by the OTT video service provider to deliver the media stream to the communications device. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising determining the first quality of experience information from a video resolution, a frame rate, a video encoding rate, an audio encoding rate, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         8 . A non-transitory, machine-readable medium, comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a processing system including a processor, facilitate performance of operations, the operations comprising:
 obtaining a plurality of uniform resource locators associated with delivery of a media stream from an over-the-top (OTT) video service provider to a communications device of a user;   extracting first bit rate information from a first uniform resource locator of the plurality of uniform resource locators, wherein the first uniform resource locator corresponds to a first segment of the media stream requested by the communications device;   extracting second bit rate information from a second uniform resource locator of the plurality of uniform resource locators, wherein the second uniform resource locator corresponds to a second segment of the media stream requested by the communications device;   comparing the first bit rate information to the second bit rate information to determine first quality of experience information for the delivery of the media stream to the communications device; and   communicating the first quality of experience information to the communications device to alert the user regarding the first quality of experience information for the delivery of the media stream to the communications device.   
     
     
         9 . The non-transitory, machine-readable medium of  claim 8 , wherein the operations further comprise sending a report to a network operator device, the report based on quality of experience information associated with the media stream, wherein the quality of experience information includes the first quality of experience information. 
     
     
         10 . The non-transitory, machine-readable medium of  claim 8 , wherein the obtaining the plurality of uniform resource locators comprises obtaining the plurality of uniform resource locators from a log of requests at a server associated with the OTT video server provider. 
     
     
         11 . The non-transitory, machine-readable medium of  claim 8 , wherein the obtaining the plurality of uniform resource locators comprises obtaining the plurality of uniform resource locators on a communication path used by the OTT video service provider to deliver the media stream to the communications device. 
     
     
         12 . The non-transitory, machine-readable medium of  claim 8 , wherein the operations further comprise extracting trick play information from the second uniform resource locator, wherein the trick play information requests a fast forward of the media stream, a pause of the media stream, or a rewind of the media stream. 
     
     
         13 . The non-transitory, machine-readable medium of  claim 8 , wherein the obtaining the plurality of uniform resource locators comprises obtaining the plurality of uniform resource locators external to a communication path used by the OTT video service provider to deliver the media stream to the communications device. 
     
     
         14 . The non-transitory, machine-readable medium of  claim 8 , wherein the operations further comprise determining the first quality of experience information from a video resolution, a frame rate, a video encoding rate, an audio encoding rate, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         15 . A system comprising:
 a processing system including a processor; and   a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitate performance of operations, the operations comprising:   obtaining a plurality of uniform resource locators associated with delivery of a media stream from an over-the-top (OTT) video service provider to a communications device of a user;   extracting first bit rate information from a first uniform resource locator of the plurality of uniform resource locators, wherein the first uniform resource locator corresponds to a first segment of the media stream requested by the communications device;   extracting second bit rate information from a second uniform resource locator of the plurality of uniform resource locators, wherein the second uniform resource locator corresponds to a second segment of the media stream requested by the communications device;   comparing the first bit rate information to the second bit rate information to determine first quality of experience information for the delivery of the media stream to the communications device; and   communicating the first quality of experience information to the communications device to alert the user regarding the first quality of experience information for the delivery of the media stream to the communications device.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the operations further comprise sending a report to a network operator device, the report based on quality of experience information associated with the media stream, wherein the quality of experience information includes the first quality of experience information. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the obtaining the plurality of uniform resource locators comprises obtaining the plurality of uniform resource locators from a log of requests at a server associated with the OTT video server provider. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the obtaining the plurality of uniform resource locators comprises obtaining the plurality of uniform resource locators on a communication path used by the OTT video service provider to deliver the media stream to the communications device. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the operations further comprise extracting trick play information from the second uniform resource locator, wherein the trick play information requests a fast forward of the media stream, a pause of the media stream, or a rewind of the media stream. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the obtaining the plurality of uniform resource locators comprises obtaining the plurality of uniform resource locators external to a communication path used by the OTT video service provider to deliver the media stream to the communications device.