Techniques for short buffer adaptive bitrate streaming

Abstract

Systems, methods, and computer storage media are described herein for optimizing adaptive bitrate streaming for content (e.g., streams of live events). Bitrate selections may be made based at least in part on the current state of the playback. When the playback is in a transient state (e.g., when the user has recently played or navigated within the content), bitrate selections may be determined utilizing a virtual buffer that simulates a playback buffer. The virtual buffer may be initialized with a predetermined fullness value. As content fragments are received and queued on the playback buffer, the fullness values for the virtual buffer and the playback buffer may be adjusted differently. When the fullness of the playback buffer exceeds the virtual buffer, subsequent bitrate selections may be determined utilizing the playback buffer. The virtual buffer may be utilized to simulate a steady state playback buffer while the playback buffer populates.