Method and system of automatic bandwidth detection

Abstract

A method for measuring a bandwidth of a signal path between a data source and a data recipient involves sending a block of test data from the data source along the signal path to the data recipient, using that test data to obtain a measured bandwidth of the signal path, and transferring information from the data source along the signal path to the data recipient in accordance with the measured bandwidth. The measured bandwidth value can be calculated each time the data recipient accesses a website or the measured bandwidth value can be retained for future use.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application is a reissue of U.S. Pat. No. 6,813,580, which issued from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 462,349 filed on Jun. 16, 2003, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09 / 903,888, filed on Jul. 12, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,601,009.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention is directed to the transmission of data between computers, and, more particularly, to a method of controlling the supply of streaming media sent from a server to a client over the Internet.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]With the continuing expansion of the Internet the transfer of data between different computers over the Internet is becoming ever more widespread. Computers today exchange data over the Internet using a variety of different types of connections. Connections such as T-1 and T-3 lines, cable modems, and DSL have high data transfer rates, typically on the order of 100-1000 Kbits / sec., and are referred to as high ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0021]In a further embodiment, this invention determines the bandwidth of the user's Internet connection when the user first visits a content provider's site. The content provider then stores information regarding the determined bandwidth and that stored information is used so that the user is sent data optimized for the measured bandwidth. The stored information can be used only for the immediate session only, for a predetermined period of time, or even in separate sessions. By using the stored information the content provider avoids the need to again measure the bandwidth of the user's Internet connection.

Problems solved by technology

One particularly bulky type of data is streaming media data.

In some instances, a browser may be unable to display the data sent by a content provider's server because that data is in an unsupported file format.

If the bandwidth is low, less data should be sent, resulting in a smaller and lower-quality image.

If the media player display the streaming media data faster than such data is received, the data buffer will empty, after which jerking, skipping and poor quality playback will occur.

This is a particular problem for users having low bandwidth Internet connections; the low bandwidth connections mean users either will receive low-quality displays, or, since their computers may not receive fresh streaming media data fast enough for proper display, may experience jerking and skipping of the program being played.

Although this problem can to some extent be solved by having the content provider's server send streaming media data with the assumption all users have low bandwidth connections, this would disadvantageously reduce the quality of the playback for those users having high bandwidth connections.

First, this requires the user to take action, which slows the user's browsing experience.

Second, the user may select the wrong link; should the user inadvertently choose a link for a lower bandwidth connection than is appropriate, the user will see a lower quality image that necessary.

If the user selects a link for a higher bandwidth connection than is optimal, the user's computer may not be able to receive streaming media data at that rate.

In such a case, the lack of data could cause playback to skip and jerk.

Each of these actions can contribute to user frustration, which may adversely affect site viewership.

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