Abstract: A method for altering bandwidth consumption when receiving content in a user device includes determining a first user device status where the first user device status indicates whether content, which is being accessed by a content-rendering application, is viewable on a display of the user device, based on the first user device status, selecting one of a plurality of available alternative content segments, and receiving the selected content segment.

Abstract: In overview, the various embodiments provide methods implemented by a processor executing a DASH client on a receiver device for determining when, in view of a change in the receiver device's resources (e.g., bandwidth, battery power, etc.), to cancel or abandon downloading the current segment at the current representation and restart download of the current segment at a different representation to meet one or more performance objectives and/or optimizations related to the change in the receiver device's resources. In various embodiments, the receiver device processor may perform a cost-benefit analysis to determine whether switching representations during the ongoing download of the current segment will benefit the performance of the receiver device, and the receiver device processor may switch representations in response to determining that switching representations would improve the performance of the receiver device.

Abstract: Methods, devices, systems, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for improving the reception of data at a computing device by proactively utilizing new TCP connections in response to identifying that TCP connections have stalled. In an embodiment, a processor of the computing device may perform operations including monitoring a status of requests via a plurality of TCP connections, identifying a stalled TCP connection having a missing request based on the monitoring, wherein the stalled TCP connection is configured to utilize a first network interface and access a first data source, evaluating other TCP connections to determine whether the other TCP connections stall using the first network interface or when accessing the first data source; identifying a second network interface and a second data source based on the evaluating, and reissuing the missing request with a new TCP connection configured to use the second network interface and access the second data source.

Abstract: A device for retrieving media data includes one or more processors configured to determine, for a segment of a representation of media data, whether to use segment index (SIDX) information of the segment, and in response to determining not to use the SIDX information, retrieve media data of the segment without using the SIDX information of the segment. The processors may determine whether to retrieve the SIDX information based on a determination of whether the segment includes SIDX information and/or based on a playback duration of the segment.

Abstract: A method for altering bandwidth consumption when receiving content in a user device includes determining a first user device status where the first user device status indicates whether content, which is being accessed by a content-rendering application, is viewable on a display of the user device, based on the first user device status, selecting one of a plurality of available alternative content segments, and receiving the selected content segment.

Abstract: In a channel switching scheme for wireless communication, when a wireless device transmitting and/or receiving user data of a first type via a first channel needs to switch to transmitting and/or receiving user data of a second type, a second channel is established for the second type of user data. To reduce latency and interference that may otherwise be associated with such a switch, at least one parameter for communicating on the second channel is sent over the first channel. The wireless device that receives the parameters(s) may immediately commence taking action to switch to the second channel. In addition, the wireless device that sent the parameter(s) may concurrently tear down the first channel while establishing the second channel.

Abstract: A communication system enables a node to utilize multiple communication interfaces to connect to an overlay network. The use of multiple communication interfaces provides a redundant overlay network connection, thereby enabling a node to maintain connectivity or select a preferred connection to the overlay network, increasing efficiency or reducing costs in the overlay network. A network in which member nodes obtain services in the absence of server-based infrastructure is referred to as a “peer-to-peer overlay network” (or “overlay network” or simply “overlay”). Overlay networks consist of several nodes from hundreds, to thousands, joined together in a logical routing structure. Individual nodes often participate in routing and maintenance aspects of the overlay. Typically an overlay is formed through the enrollment and joining of all these nodes as defined by the overlay protocol. Nodes forming peer-to-peer overlay networks may communicate with each other over various network technologies.