Improving HTTP-based video performance using network flow buffering

We present network flow buffering, which is the use of a remote flow-regulating buffer that is deployed between a Web client and server to improve performance of HTTP-based playback of video. We show that HTTP enhanced with network flow buffering significantly improves performance, especially under high packet loss and highly variable bandwidth conditions, when compared with using either straight HTTP or streaming. The benefits of network flow buffering are numerous, and include reducing interruptions to playback, maintaining high video-image quality, and decreasing client-buffering requirements. Network flow buffering is easily implemented with existing Web mechanisms.