Cisco Technology, Inc.

Sangeeta Ramakrishnan

John T Chapman

Fang Wu

Xiaoqing Zhu

Alon Shlomo Bernstein

Xiaomei Liu

Ji Zhang

Ziv Nuss

Vladimir Yanover

Alon Ben Ami

Yi Tong Tse

Rundong Huang

Ke Shen

Paul Thomas Bradley

Charles J Duffy

Ron Zafrir

Joel Warren Schoenblum

Michael Paul Overcash

Samie Beheydt

Harshavardhan Parandekar

Bruce Albert Thompson

Zheng Lu

Gitesh Shah

Tung-Fai Chan

Prasanna Mucharikar

Ashok Bhaskar

A method for cross-domain service optimization is implemented on a computing device and includes defining at least one key quality indicator (KQI) target for at least one end-to-end (E2E) service, where the at least one E2E service crosses more than one domain of a communications network, receiving an indication of quality of experience (QoE) for the at least one E2E service, based on the indication of QoE, translating the at least one KQI target to at least one set of service optimization instructions for each domain from among the more than one domain, and for each domain, applying the service optimization instructions.

Cross-domain service optimization

Constant quality video encoding with encoding parameter fine-tuning may be provided. First, an aggregation window comprising a plurality of video frames from a transport stream may be determined. Next, a plurality of video quality values may be determined where the plurality of video quality values indicate a video quality for corresponding respective ones of the plurality of video frames in the aggregation window. Then a determined conformance rate value for the aggregation window may be determined. The determined conformance rate value may indicate a number of the plurality of video quality values that have one of the following characteristics: equal to the target video quality value and greater than the target video quality value. The determined conformance rate value may then be used to adjust at least one of the encoding parameters used in the constant quality encoding of the source.

Constant quality video encoding with encoding parameter fine-tuning

Previously known network management methods are incapable of concertedly managing respective levels of perceptual playback quality of media content data for a number client devices. In particular, previously known methods fail to regulate ABR-enabled client devices and the like that are each operating to individually consume as much of one or more shared network resources as possible without regard to the degree performance improvements. By contrast, various implementations disclosed herein provide network-centric concerted management of respective levels of perceptual playback quality of media content data on each of a number of client devices. The respective levels perceptual playback quality are concertedly managed by adjusting one or more shared network resources (e.g., bandwidth, processor time, memory, etc.). Adjustments are made in response to an aggregate quality of experience (QoE) metric characterizing a distribution of QoE levels for the client devices sharing the one or more shared network resources.

Quality of experience based network resource management

Various implementations disclosed herein enable client devices to share a network resource in order to produce more evenly distributed perceptual playback quality levels within each subscription tier. Sharing of a network resource is facilitated by providing client devices with one or more QoE distribution indicator values, which enables client device participation in the allocation of the network resource. In some implementations, a client device method includes determining a local QoE level value, and then modifying a representation selection of media content data based on the local QoE and one or more QoE distribution indicator values. The local QoE level value characterizes perceptual playback quality of media content data received by the client device using the shared network resource. The QoE distribution indicator values characterize at least in part the relative QoE values associated with a plurality of client devices sharing the shared network resource with the client device.

Allocating portions of a shared network resource based on client device groups

Various implementations disclosed herein enable a more efficient allocation of one or more shared network resources amongst a plurality of client devices based on media content complexity and client device resource status in order to better manage perceptual playback quality. In some implementations, a method includes obtaining a plurality of resource constraint values associated with a plurality of client devices sharing a network resource, and jointly determining a respective encoding rate level selection and a corresponding resource allocation for each of the plurality of client devices based on a combination of one or more resource constraint values and the assessment of the respective perceptual quality level values, such that a combination of resulting quality levels satisfies a joint quality criterion.

Quality management of media encoding for multiple client devices

In one implementation, a method performed by a client device includes: determining a perceptual characterization metric, where the perceptual characterization metric provides a quantitative characterization of factors that determine quality of experience associated with a first playback profile of media content presented by the client device; and normalizing the perceptual characterization metric based on characterization factors associated with the client device. The method further includes: obtaining an aggregate perceptual characterization metric that is based at least in part on the normalized perceptual characterization metric from the client device and one or more other perceptual characterization metrics from other client devices sharing at least one network resource with the client device; and determining whether to change the first playback profile based on a function of the first normalized perceptual characterization metric and the aggregate perceptual characterization metric.

Method and device for network-assisted client-centric QoE optimization

Management of heterogeneous client device groups

Joint quality management across multiple streams

Techniques are provided for adjusting or modifying content request messages in a video streaming environment. An aggregation device is configured to receive a content request message from a client device. The content request message has a request for a first content file of a video stream of a content file type with a first bit rate. The aggregation device determines the first bit rate. The aggregation device then accesses a database that stores a plurality of content files of the content file type at a corresponding plurality of bit rates and determines all available bit rates of the content file type. Network conditions are analyzed for client devices to determine whether the content request message should be adjusted to request a second content file with a second bit rate that is lower than the first bit rate.

Network assisted rate shifting for adaptive bit rate streaming

A method, a system, and an apparatus provide for a cable modem termination system (CMTS). The CMTS may include a virtual machine configured to provide a plurality of virtual CMTSs (vCMTSs). The CMTS may also include a plurality of subscriber groups. Each subscriber group of the plurality of subscriber groups may be assigned to a vCMTS of the plurality of vCMTSs. Additionally, each vCMTS is configured to provide a process.

Virtual cable modem termination system

Statistical remultiplexing of adaptive bit rate streams may be provided. First a video quality associated with a first representation of a content stream being delivered to a first client on a shared network may be determined. The content stream may be available in a plurality of representations, each representation comprising a plurality of chunks of varying sizes and a manifest having an indication of a quality level and a bit rate for the representation. Next, network conditions may be analyzed to determine whether a bit rate of the content stream being delivered to the first client device should be adjusted to adjust the video quality. Based on the determined video quality and the network conditions, it may then be communicated to the first client device to request a second representation of the content stream.

Statistical remultiplexing of ABR streams

Techniques are provided for enabling multicast traffic for a Cable Modem Termination System (CMTS) Modular Headend Architecture (MHA) system. The techniques allow a single modular CMTS core Media Access Control (MAC) domain to service a plurality of physical layer devices. When combined with an independent control plane, Downstream External physical layer (PHY) Interface (DEPI), and Upstream External physical layer (PHY) Interface (UEPI), a downstream PHY device becomes a completely independent and scalable network element.

Modular headend architecture with downstream multicast

In one example, a resource manager for an edge device is configured to intelligently distribute streams over the RF channel interface of the edge device. As a result of this intelligent stream distribution by the resource manager, the likelihood that the edge device can power down inactive internal components is significant, especially during periods of low activity.

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San Jose, CA, United States of America

Sangeeta Ramakrishnan