Abstract: Methods of throttling video streaming downloads in burst transmissions to a mobile device are driven by the network client. By knowing various input parameters such as the media bitrate, the current (average) network link bitrate, transceiver state timeout characteristics (e.g., inactivity timers), and power consumption information for various mobile device operating states, the network client can decide the proportion of each repeating burst interval duration to spend in an idle state. From a control parameter and the other input parameters, it can calculate the amount of media data it then needs to request in each burst transmission. Other calculations further inform this decision, such as the relative average power consumption (as compared to staying at a high activity state continuously).

Abstract: A streaming server sends a multimedia stream for delivery by a hybrid unicast-broadcast delivery network to a mobile terminal. To assist that mobile terminal change access delivery from unicast to broadcast, the streaming server sends multimedia content timing information that indicates one or more interstices in the content of the multimedia stream. The mobile terminal receives such multimedia content timing information upon receiving the multimedia stream by unicast. Although the mobile terminal determines the same multimedia stream is also available by broadcast, the mobile terminal initiates a change from unicast to broadcast during an interstice. Because the mobile terminal delays the access change until an interstice, any data loss resulting from the access change has a minimal effect on a subscriber's experience of the multimedia content. Moreover, regular occurrence of interstices ensures that such change will not be significantly delayed, and thus, neither will use of broadcast.

Abstract: Methods of throttling video streaming downloads in burst transmissions to a mobile device are driven by the network client. By knowing various input parameters such as the media bitrate, the current (average) network link bitrate, transceiver state timeout characteristics (e.g., inactivity timers), and power consumption information for various mobile device operating states, the network client can decide the proportion of each repeating burst interval duration to spend in an idle state. From a control parameter and the other input parameters, it can calculate the amount of media data it then needs to request in each burst transmission. Other calculations further inform this decision, such as the relative average power consumption (as compared to staying at a high activity state continuously).

Abstract: A method of determining whether to generate a video refresh request includes receiving a packet and performing at least one of determining whether the received packet contains an error and determining whether a packet prior to the received packet was lost. Responsive to a determination that the received packet contains an error, an error index is increased. Responsive to a determination that a packet prior to the received packet has been lost, the error index is increased. Responsive to a determination that the received packet does not contain an error and that a packet prior to the received packet has not been lost, the error index is decreased.

Abstract: An improved imaging system and method for providing increased viewer control over the operating parameters of the imaging system is described. Viewer control is facilitated by including a backchannel within the imaging system, whereby a viewer may adjust spatial and temporal resolution, quantization and other operating parameters of the video transmission.