Abstract: Session description message extensions include information describing a multimedia presentation or a single media presentation. The session description message is typically sent from one device to another device to which the multimedia or single media presentation will be streamed. Several extensions are described that extend the information that can be included in the session description message.

Abstract: Systems and methods for midstream determination of varying available bandwidth for streaming content between two network entities are described. During content streaming, a client requests a server to surge the content transmission rate. One or more bandwidth measurements are taken during the surge to determine if the increased transmission rate can be adequately managed. If the increased transmission rate can be adequately managed, the client may request the server to transmit remaining content at a transmission rate that is not greater than the increased, or surged, transmission rate. In a multi-bitrate file scenario, the surge rate may be higher than the rate of the fastest useable stream. In such a case, the fastest useable stream is selected. If the increased transmission rate is not suitable for future transmission, then the rate may remain at the original transmission rate.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for streaming multimedia data from a client to a server using HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP). A session is initiated with a header that identifies a content length header that is a maximum allowed by the server, regardless of the actual length of the data to be streamed. If a firewall or proxy server limits access to the server, the content length of the data is specified to be about an amount of data that can be streamed to the server in one minute. If more data remains to be streamed when an amount of data approximating the content length has been streamed, a continuing streaming session is requested and subsequent data is streamed to the server in the continuing streaming session. The process repeats until all data has been streamed.

Abstract: Systems and methods for improved streaming of variable bit rate multimedia content are described. The described systems and methods solve some streaming problems by streaming the variable bit rate content at a constant bit rate that is negotiated between a server and a client. As a result, a transmission channel from server to client is utilized in an efficient manner. If the client is able to buffer the streamed content (to a hard drive, for example) the content can be streamed at a rate that is significantly less than its peak bit rate, even at a rate that is less than its average bit rate.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described that support variable play speed control for media streams. The variable play speed control for media streams discussed herein provides an end-to-end solution for media stream delivery, playback, and user interface that enables end users and software developers to dynamically control the playback speed of media streams without losing the ability to comprehend the media content.

Abstract: Systems and methods for midstream determination of varying available bandwidth for streaming content between two network entities are described. During content streaming, a client requests a server to surge the content transmission rate. One or more bandwidth measurements are taken during the surge to determine if the increased transmission rate can be adequately managed. If the increased transmission rate can be adequately managed, the client may request the server to transmit remaining content at a transmission rate that is not greater than the increased, or surged, transmission rate. In a multi-bitrate file scenario, the surge rate may be higher than the rate of the fastest useable stream. In such a case, the fastest useable stream is selected. If the increased transmission rate is not suitable for future transmission, then the rate may remain at the original transmission rate.

Abstract: Automatic detection of intermediate network device capabilities includes analyzing requests received, at a particular device, from a remote device. The analyzing is performed to determine, based on the content of the requests, whether an intermediate device on the network situated between the device and the remote device does not support streaming of data from the device to the remote device using the pipelining feature of Hypertext Transport Protocol (HTTP) 1.1. In one implementation, a test is performed by sending two back to back requests from the remote device to the particular device. The test is determined to be a success if the requests are received within a threshold amount of time of one another, and a failure if the requests are not received within the threshold amount of time of one another.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided for use with a client and server device connected through a communication link. The client device sends a startup request to the server device. The startup request identifies a streamable media content that is to be provided to the client device, a communication link bandwidth associated with the communication link, and an amount of the desired streamable media content that is to be provided at a bitrate greater than the encoded bitrate but no greater than about the communication link bandwidth. The server device buffers at least the amount of the streamable media content, and transmits the amount of the buffered streamable media content at the higher bitrate. The server device locates a discrete rendering point in the amount of the buffered streamable media content and initiates transmission beginning with the discrete rendering point.

Abstract: Improved caching control for streaming media includes one or more cache control directives associated with streaming media content that can be used by a source of the streaming media content to identify how caching proxy servers are to handle the streaming media content. Upon receipt of the streaming media content, the caching proxy servers handle the content as indicated by the cache control directive(s).

Abstract: Various functionality with respect to streaming media content is made available to users. Such functionality includes one or more of: streaming media content at a rate independent of the encoded bit rate of the content, allowing streaming of content to continue even when the user has selected various shuttle control options (e.g., pause, stop, fast forward, seek, rewind, etc.), allowing streaming content to be recorded for playback at a later time, and allowing streaming content to be time-shifted.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided for use with a client and server device connected through a communication link. The client device sends a startup request to the server device. The startup request identifies a streamable media content that is to be provided to the client device, a communication link bandwidth associated with the communication link, and an amount of the desired streamable media content that is to be provided at a bitrate greater than the encoded bitrate but no greater than about the communication link bandwidth. The server device buffers at least the amount of the streamable media content, and transmits the amount of the buffered streamable media content at the higher bitrate. The server device locates a discrete rendering point in the amount of the buffered streamable media content and initiates transmission beginning with the discrete rendering point.