How Networks Keep Video Streams Smooth During Busy Times
A method for internet providers to automatically balance network resources so that multiple users streaming video simultaneously experience the best possible overall quality.
Original patent title: “Video streaming quality of experience degradation control using a video quality metric”
A method for internet providers to automatically balance network resources so that multiple users streaming video simultaneously experience the best possible overall quality. Granted to WiLAN Labs Inc in 2017 with 34 claims and 9 forward citations.
Key facts
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent describes a system for managing network traffic when many people are streaming video at once. It monitors each individual video stream by looking at data like buffer levels—how much video is pre-loaded—and instances of freezing or skipping. It then calculates a quality score for every user and uses an objective function to decide how to distribute limited network bandwidth. By adjusting scheduling parameters for each stream, the network aims to maximize the total quality across all users, preventing one person's high-definition stream from causing everyone else's video to buffer.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover methods that rely solely on static bandwidth allocation without considering real-time video quality metrics.
- Does not cover client-side video compression algorithms or codecs like H.264 or HEVC.
- Does not cover hardware-specific network routing protocols that do not implement a degradation control algorithm.
- Does not cover systems that prioritize traffic based only on user subscription tier rather than actual video quality metrics.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
What made this novel
Instead of just giving everyone equal bandwidth, the system uses an objective function to mathematically maximize the sum of all users' quality scores, allowing the network to 'sacrifice' a tiny bit of quality on one stream to prevent a total freeze on another.
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Adaptive bitrate streaming management in ISP core networks
Content Delivery Network (CDN) traffic shaping
Mobile network video optimization for 4G/5G base stations
Why it matters
The bigger picture
As streaming services like Netflix and YouTube became the primary source of internet traffic, network congestion became a major issue. This patent provides a mathematical framework for ISPs and content delivery networks to manage 'Quality of Experience' (QoE) dynamically. It helps prevent the 'tragedy of the commons' where individual high-demand streams degrade the experience for the entire network neighborhood.
Filed
June 28, 2013
Granted
January 3, 2017
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Major telecommunications infrastructure providers like Ericsson, Nokia, and Huawei, as well as large-scale CDN operators like Akamai and Cloudflare, utilize similar traffic management logic to optimize video delivery across their global networks.
Market impact
This technology enabled the transition from 'best-effort' internet delivery to 'quality-aware' delivery. It helped ISPs manage the massive surge in video traffic during the 2010s without needing to upgrade physical infrastructure as frequently, effectively creating a more efficient market for bandwidth allocation.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent describes a system for managing network traffic when many people are streaming video at once. It monitors each individual video stream by looking at data like buffer levels—how much video is pre-loaded—and instances of freezing or skipping. It then calculates a quality score for every user and uses an objective function to decide how to distribute limited network bandwidth. By adjusting scheduling parameters for each stream, the network aims to maximize the total quality across all users, preventing one person's high-definition stream from causing everyone else's video to buffer.
The clever bit
Instead of just giving everyone equal bandwidth, the system uses an objective function to mathematically maximize the sum of all users' quality scores, allowing the network to 'sacrifice' a tiny bit of quality on one stream to prevent a total freeze on another.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover methods that rely solely on static bandwidth allocation without considering real-time video quality metrics.
- Does not cover client-side video compression algorithms or codecs like H.264 or HEVC.
- Does not cover hardware-specific network routing protocols that do not implement a degradation control algorithm.
- Does not cover systems that prioritize traffic based only on user subscription tier rather than actual video quality metrics.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Moderate
Citation count
20/40
Early citations
Claim breadth
20/20
Very broad protection
Recency
10/20
Granted 5–10 years ago
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$134K – $430K
Midpoint $269K · 7.0 yr remaining · industry ×1.4
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
The original legal language
Original claims
34 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
ElArabawy, A., Gell, D., & Stanwood, K. L. (2017). How Networks Keep Video Streams Smooth During Busy Times (U.S. Patent No. 9,538,220). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/9538220/netflix-a-b-testing-framework
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How Networks Keep Video Streams Smooth During Busy Times cover?
A method for internet providers to automatically balance network resources so that multiple users streaming video simultaneously experience the best possible overall quality.
Who owns patent US 9538220?
WiLAN Labs Inc owns this patent, granted in 2017.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on January 3, 2037, when the invention enters the public domain.
What is patent US 9538220 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 9 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
As streaming services like Netflix and YouTube became the primary source of internet traffic, network congestion became a major issue. This patent provides a mathematical framework for ISPs and content delivery networks to manage 'Quality of Experience' (QoE) dynamically. It helps prevent the 'tragedy of the commons' where individual high-demand streams degrade the experience for the entire network neighborhood.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover methods that rely solely on static bandwidth allocation without considering real-time video quality metrics.
Patent monitoring