Abstract: A data flow control method for managing the flow of media data from a sending node to a receiving node over a communication network, the receiving node capable of playing said media data, wherein the data transmitted to the receiving node is a sequence of data segments encoded at a plurality of different data rates, and wherein the data flow control method is implemented by the receiving node for controlling the flow of said data from the sending node to the receiving node, the method further comprising: identifying a condition of the communication network between said sending and receiving nodes; identifying a condition of the data buffer at the receiving node; and adjusting the media data flow through said communication network based on the identified condition of the communication network and the identified condition of the receiving node.

Abstract: Described embodiments are directed to methods and apparatus for redirecting a client device to a selected streaming server in response to receiving a request for content. The streaming server to which the client is redirected can be selected based on one or more criteria such as streaming server loads (e.g. connection loads and processing loads) and content storage location, using a data structure stored at the redirection server.

Abstract: A data flow control method for managing the flow of media data from a sending node to a receiving node over a communication network, the receiving node capable of playing said media data, wherein the data transmitted to the receiving node is a sequence of data segments encoded at a plurality of different data rates, and wherein the data flow control method is implemented by the receiving node for controlling the flow of said data from the sending node to the receiving node, the method further comprising: identifying a condition of the communication network between said sending and receiving nodes; identifying a condition of the data buffer at the receiving node; and adjusting the media data flow through said communication network based on the identified condition of the communication network and the identified condition of the receiving node.

Abstract: The present invention provides a data flow control method for transmission of media data from a sending node to a receiving node, the receiving node capable of playing said media data, over a communication network, the method comprising identifying a condition of the communication network between said sending and receiving nodes, identifying a condition of the receiving node, and adjusting the media data flow through said communication network based on the identified condition of the communication network and the identified condition of the receiving node.

Abstract: There is provided a method of controlling a transmission rate of a data stream by a server transmitting the data stream to a client device over a network, the method comprising receiving a feedback message from the client, the feedback message containing information indicating a positive or negative acknowledgement of receipt for each one of a plurality of data packets of the data stream; calculating values of a plurality of metrics, wherein each of the values is indicative of transmission quality of the network and is calculated based at least in part on the information contained in the feedback message, and wherein the values include a first value of a first metric representing packet loss; and adjusting the transmission rate if at least one of the values satisfies a corresponding condition; wherein the first metric is prioritized among the plurality of metrics such that an adjustment of the transmission rate responsive to a second value of a second metric satisfying the corresponding condition is condition