FR3128084A1 - method for managing the playback of multimedia content. - Google Patents

Abstract

TITLE: process for managing the playback of multimedia content. The invention relates to a management entity (MNG) for access to segmented content, the segments being able to be downloaded on request, via a communication link (LI1), at times, called reference times, the request accessing a segment including a first encoding rate chosen from a set of first available encoding rates, the received segments being able to be read at a reading speed that can vary with respect to a reference reading speed, the entity (MNG) comprising, a. An estimation module capable of estimating the bandwidth that will be required for downloading the first segments during accelerated playback b. A selection module capable of, upon detection of a reading speed other than the reference reading speed, selecting a first encoding bit rate taking into account the result of the estimation and the current bandwidth. Figure 1

Description

method for managing the playback of multimedia content.

The field of the invention is that of digital multimedia content, namely digital audio and/or video content, also called audiovisual content.

The invention relates most particularly to a method for managing the playback of multimedia content.

The contents referred to here are contents divided into segments associated with several respective encoding rates selectable on requests sent from a multimedia stream playback device.

A playback device targets any device capable of receiving multimedia streams in the form of segments, for example a decoder, a mobile telephone, a tablet, etc.

A content is for example a television on demand content, a video on demand content, etc.

State of the art

Today, there are many audiovisual content playback devices that allow a user to access multimedia content such as video on demand (VOD), television on demand (TVOD), etc. The reading devices are suitable for receiving digital content in the form of multimedia data and for rendering it to a rendering device.

Some reading devices now offer the possibility of reading content slightly accelerated, for example 1.05 times faster (rated x1.05) than normal, or 1.1 times faster (x1.1). We are talking here about a real accelerated reading mode and not an accelerated mode of navigation in a content. The objective of this accelerated reading mode is to be able to view content in a slightly shorter time than the actual duration of the content, for example to save time.

This accelerated playback is problematic when the content is segmented content, with each segment available in multiple encoding rates. Such content is, for example, content downloaded in adaptive streaming mode. The MPEG-DASH standard (for English “Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP”, in French “dynamic adaptive streaming over HTTP”) is an audiovisual format standard for broadcasting on the Internet; this standard is based on the preparation of the content in different representations of variable quality and speed, cut into short segments (of the order of a few seconds), also called “chunks” by those skilled in the art. Each of these segments is made available individually by means of an exchange protocol between the rendering terminal and the multimedia content provider server. The protocol mainly targeted is the HTTP protocol, but other protocols (eg FTP) can also be used. The organization of the segments and the associated parameters are published in a description file in XML format.

The principle underlying this standard is that the MPEG-DASH client makes an estimate of the bandwidth available for the reception of segments, and, depending on the filling of its reception buffer, chooses, for the next video segment to load , a representation whose bit rate:

- ensures the best possible quality,

- and allows a reception time compatible with the uninterrupted rendering of the content.

Thus, to adapt to varying network conditions, particularly in terms of bandwidth, existing adaptive download solutions allow the playback device to switch from one version of the content encoded at a certain bit rate, to another encoded at another flow, during the download. This is because each version of the content is divided into video segments of the same length. To allow continuous playback of the content on the playback device, each segment must reach the terminal before its scheduled time of playback. The perceived quality associated with a segment increases with the size of the segment, expressed in bits, but at the same time, larger segments require more transmission time, and therefore present an increased risk of not being received in time for continuous playback of content.

The playback device must therefore find a compromise between the overall quality of the content, and its uninterrupted reproduction, by carefully selecting the next segment to be downloaded, among the various encoding rates offered. To do this, there are different algorithms for selecting the quality of the content according to the available bandwidth, which can present more or less aggressive strategies, or more or less secure.

In a content environment broadcast in HAS adaptive streaming mode, the video segment selection algorithm is based on the duration of each segment to determine the quality of the stream to be downloaded and displayed. As a result, when playback is sped up, the buffer may be empty before the next segment is even received. This defect results in restitution defects (freeze, etc.) of the content on the restitution device.

The invention offers a solution that does not have the disadvantages of the state of the art.

The invention

To this end, according to a functional aspect, the subject of the invention is a method for managing access to segmented content, the segments being able to be downloaded on request, via a communication link, at times, called times reference, the request for access to a segment including a first encoding rate chosen from a set of first available encoding rates, the received segments being able to be played at a reading speed which may vary with respect to a reading speed reference, the method comprising,

• a step of estimating the bandwidth that will be required for downloading the first segments during accelerated playback,
• upon detection of a reading speed other than the reference reading speed, a step of selecting a first encoding bit rate taking into account the result of the estimation and the current bandwidth

A change in segment reading speed imposes less spaced durations between the instants of reception of the segments than when the segments are received during normal reading (or reference speed). Less spaced download times result in a higher bandwidth occupation than the encoding rate of the first segments indicated in the description file. The invention proposes, when the reference speed is modified, to modify the method for selecting the encoding bit rate in the description file by taking into account the fact that the bandwidth that the segment to be downloaded will occupy will not correspond to the encoding bitrate indicated in the description file. In the case of accelerated playback, the bandwidth occupied by downloading the segments will be greater than during playback at a reference speed. The invention thus makes it possible to select an encoding bit rate of a segment which ensures uninterrupted reading of the content.

Note that the estimation step can be performed before or after detecting the change in playback speed.

The modification may consist of an acceleration of the reading speed. According to a first embodiment, if the reading speed is greater than the reference reading speed, the step of selecting the first rate comprises

• a sub-step of obtaining new encoding bit rates, called second encoding bit rates, based on the first encoding bit rates and obtained by taking into account the duration between the times of downloading of the segments linked to the playback speed detected,
• a sub-step of taking into account the second bit rates and the current bandwidth on the communication link when choosing the first encoding bit rate to be selected for the segment to be downloaded.

In this mode, the management entity determines, following the detection of a fast reading and therefore of a smaller spacing than normal between times of reception of the segments, the bandwidth necessary to download a segment for each encoding bitrate proposed in the description file. More precisely, the management entity obtains bit rates, called second encoding bit rates, higher than the first bit rates. Then, the management entity checks which second encoding bit rates are lower than the current available bandwidth; to do this, the management entity obtains a set of second encoding bitrates concerned and selects a second bitrate from this set; for example, the management entity retains in this set the largest second encoding bit rate lower than the current bandwidth so as to ensure, despite a possible drop in bit rate, a quality restitution. Following the comparison, the management entity recovers the first encoding bit rate of the description file which corresponds to the second encoding bit rate retained. Finally, a request for access to a segment specifying this first encoding rate is transmitted. The invention can therefore lead to the reception of segments with a lower encoding rate than if the speed had been the reference reading speed; however, this ensures uninterrupted playback.

According to a variant of the first mode, the second bit rates are obtained by carrying out the following steps

To. a step for obtaining an acceleration factor linked to the speed used;

b. a step of applying the acceleration factor to the first encoding bit rates, respectively.

This variant uses previously calculated acceleration factors for each playback speed. In this first mode, taking the acceleration factor into account can lead to a selection of a lower encoding bit rate, and therefore a lower image quality, but this reduction guarantees continuous playback ( without freezing) video content.

According to a variant, the acceleration factor is updated following a modification of the reading speed. This variant allows the management module to be reactive to any change in reading speed (x1, x1.05, x1.08, etc.).

According to another variant of the first mode, when several accelerated reading speeds are possible and associated with respective acceleration reading speeds, the factor linked to the highest speed is applied to the first encoding speeds regardless of the speed used during accelerated playback. This variant allows the acceleration factor to be maintained throughout accelerated playback even if it varies as the content plays. This reduces both the calculations and the use of the resources (battery, processor, etc.) of the reading device.

According to a material aspect, the invention relates to an entity for managing access to segmented content, the segments being able to be downloaded on request, via a communication link, at times, called reference times, the request for access to a segment including a first encoding rate chosen from a set of first available encoding rates, the segments received being able to be read at a reading speed that may vary with respect to a reference reading speed, the entity comprising,

To. An estimation module capable of estimating the bandwidth that will be required for downloading the first segments during accelerated playback

b. A selection module capable of, upon detection of a reading speed other than the reference reading speed, selecting a first encoding bit rate taking into account the result of the estimation and the current bandwidth.

According to another material aspect, the invention relates to a decoder comprising a management entity as defined above.

According to another material aspect, the invention relates to a computer program able to be implemented on an entity as defined above, the program comprising code instructions which, when it is executed by a processor , carries out the steps of the selection method defined above.

Finally, according to another material aspect, the invention relates to a data medium on which has been stored at least one series of program code instructions for the execution of a management method as defined above. .

Such recording medium can be any entity or device capable of storing the program. For example, the medium may comprise a storage means, such as a ROM, for example a CD ROM or a microelectronic circuit ROM, or else a magnetic recording means, for example a USB key or a hard disk.

On the other hand, such a recording medium may be a transmissible medium such as an electrical or optical signal, which may be conveyed via an electrical or optical cable, by radio or by other means, so that the program computer it contains is executable remotely. The program according to the invention can in particular be downloaded onto a network, for example the Internet network.

Alternatively, the recording medium may be an integrated circuit in which the program is incorporated, the circuit being adapted to execute or to be used in the execution of the aforementioned display control method.

The invention will be better understood on reading the following description, given by way of example and made with reference to the appended drawings in which:

There represents a computer system on which an exemplary embodiment of the invention is illustrated.

There is a simplified block diagram of the device hardware structure of the playback device

There illustrates content comprising segments with which several encoding bitrates are associated, respectively.

There illustrates the steps of an embodiment of the method of the invention in the case where the reading speed is slightly increased.

Detailed description of an embodiment illustrating the invention:

We now present, in relation to the , a progressive download architecture based on the use of HAS adaptive streaming according to one embodiment of the invention. It should be specified here again that the invention is not limited to the HAS technology but extends to all other data downloading technologies.

The computer system SYS includes a multimedia stream playback device STB, for example a decoder connected to a TV playback terminal such as a playback device.

In our example, the playback device STB can be connected to a port of the TV playback device or integrated into the playback device. In our example, for illustrative purposes, we have chosen a system in which the STB playback device is connected via a port to the TV rendering device.

In our example, the reading device STB is located in a local area network LAN controlled by a home gateway (not shown in the figures). The context of the local network is given as an example and could easily be transposed to a "best effort" Internet network, a corporate network, etc.

The gateway is able to communicate via a telecommunications network such as a wide area network WAN known to those skilled in the art.

A digital content server SRV is located in our example in the wide area network WAN. The content server SRV receives, for example, digital television content channels from a broadcast television network (not shown), and/or videos on demand, and makes them available to client terminals, here the device STB playback.

In our example, the playback device is a client. It is common, in this client-server context, to use, to exchange data between the client terminal STB and the content server SRV, an adaptive progressive downloading technique, in English “adaptive streaming”, abbreviated as HAS based on the HTTP protocol. This type of technique makes it possible in particular to offer good quality content to the user by taking into account the variations in bandwidth which may occur on the link between the client terminal STB and the service gateway, and/or between the latter and the content server SRV.

There represents an architecture of a reading device STB. This device STB conventionally comprises memories MEM associated with a processor CPU. The memories can be of the ROM (Read Only Memory) or RAM (Random Access Memory) type or else Flash.

The STB decoder includes a buffer memory also called cache memory or “buffer” by those skilled in the art.

The STB decoder can transmit content to be restored to the TV restitution device via a communication module COM2. This module COM2 is for example an HDMI link.

The STB decoder communicates with the gateway via an Ethernet module for local wired communication or via a WiFi type radio module for local wireless communication with the GTW residential gateway. The module in question is referenced CMO1 on the .

The STB decoder includes an entity able to manage downloading in adaptive streaming mode and therefore able to request a progressive downloading of one of the contents at one of the qualities offered in a description file.

The description file can be downloaded and saved for example in the memories MEM of the decoder STB or can be found outside the decoder STB.

The decoder STB further comprises a management entity MNG whose function will be explained below. In our example, the adaptive download mode download module introduced above is part of the MNG handler module. The invention is not limited to this configuration. The two modules could very well have been separated.

The STB decoder can also contain other modules such as a hard disk (not shown) for storing video segments, a content access control module, a module for processing commands received from the smartphone, etc.

Classically, as will be seen with reference to the , different qualities can be encoded for the same content of a channel, corresponding for example to different encoding bitrates. More generally, we will speak of quality to refer to a certain resolution of the digital content (spatial, temporal resolution, level of quality associated with the video and/or audio compression) with a certain encoding bit rate. Each quality level is itself cut on the content server into time segments (or “segments” of content, in English “chunks”, these three words being used interchangeably throughout this document).

The description of these different qualities and of the associated temporal segmentation, as well as the content segments, is accessible by STB reading device and made available to it via their Internet addresses. Internet addresses identify segments on a network. Such an address may be an identifier of the URI type (Anglo Saxon acronym for “Universal Resource Identifier”) known to those skilled in the art. All of these parameters (qualities, segment addresses, etc.) are generally grouped together in a parameter file, called the description file or “MNF description file”. It should be noted that this parameter file can be a computer file or a set of information descriptive of the content, accessible at a certain address.

In a context of progressive adaptive downloading, the STB playback device can adapt its requests to receive and decode the content requested by the user at the quality that best suits him. For example, if we consider content available at the following three qualities: 1 Mb/s (Megabits per second), 1.95 Mb/s (N2), and 3 Mb/s (N3); Suppose also that the reader device STB has a bandwidth of 5 Mb/s on the link LI1 (between the gateway and the server). In this configuration, the STB playback device can request content at any bit rate below this limit, such as 3 Mb/s.

In general, with reference to the , we note “Ci@Nj” the content number i with the quality Nj (for example the j-th level Nj of quality described in the description file).

The number of encoding bitrates available per segment varies depending on the playback device used. On the , for example a main content C1 comprises five available encoding rates N1-N5.

In our example, the system also includes an encoder and a description file generator that are not shown because they are of no interest for the presentation of the invention. The role of the encoder is to encode digital content in order to obtain several segments and several representations for each segment.

The encoded content is passed to the description file generator which generates URIs for each segment created.

In the example shown, the encoder and the description file generator are installed in the SRV server.

In our example, the reading device STB is a client terminal and can as such enter into communication with the content server SRV to receive one or more contents (films, documentaries, advertising sequences, etc.).

In our example, to visualize a content, the reading device STB obtains an address of the description file MF of a main content (for example, C1) desired. In the following, it will be assumed that this file is a file of the description file type according to the MPEG-DASH standard and we will refer indifferently, depending on the context, to the expression “description file” or “manifest”.

Once the STB playback device has the segment addresses corresponding to the desired content, the STB playback device proceeds to obtain the segments via a download to these addresses. It should be noted that this download takes place here, traditionally, through an HTTP URL, but could also take place through a universal address (URI) describing another protocol (dvb://monsegmentdecontent for example).

When the STB decoder receives the segments, the segments are then reproduced on the screen of the TV restitution device.

The digital content referred to is arbitrary, namely content, a television program broadcast on a deferred basis, or a video on demand, or a personal video of the user, or any other equivalent multimedia content.

In the embodiment described below, the content is for example a television program.

The content server SRV stores the content C1 in the form of segments. More specifically, the HAS content server exposes a video C1 in the form of segments or “chunks” C1i@Nj encoded at different encoding bit rates Nj, where the index i designates a temporal identifier of the “chunk” C1i@Nj as explained above.

The management entity MNG of the decoder STB is responsible for recovering “chunks” from the content server HAS by choosing the video quality Nj according to the network resource available, in this case the bandwidth. We will not describe here in more detail the way in which the management entity MNG chooses the encoding bit rate of the next video segment to be downloaded: there are in fact numerous algorithms allowing this choice to be made. It is recalled however that, most often, the general principle of such algorithms is based on the downloading of a first segment with the lowest encoding rate proposed in the description file, and on the evaluation of the recovery time of this first segment. Based on this, the MNG management entity evaluates whether, given the size of the segment and the time taken to retrieve it, the network conditions allow the next segment to be downloaded at a higher encoding rate. Some algorithms rely on gradually increasing the quality level of downloaded content segments; others propose more risky approaches, with jumps in the levels of encoding bitrates of successive segments.

In the classic case, if a video segment lasts "n" seconds, the recovery of the segment by the management entity MNG must not exceed "n seconds", in order to allow uninterrupted restitution of the content by the decoder STB. It is therefore appropriate for the management entity MNG to operate the best compromise between a restitution quality, and therefore an encoding bit rate, as high as possible, and the download time of the segment, which must be sufficiently low to allow continuous playback on the TV playback device.

The management entity MNG present on the reading device STB controls the downloading of a segment with an optimal encoding rate as described in more detail below.

Initially, the management module MNG retrieves the description file MNF which corresponds to the video content C1 in order to discover the available segments of the video content C1, and the various associated video qualities (or encoding bit rates) Nj. In the example of the , the main content C1 is for example offered in the form of segments of 2s duration, with a first encoding rate N1 = 1 Mb/s, a second encoding rate N2 = 1.95 Mb/s, a third encoding rate N3 = 3Mb/s, a fourth encoding rate N3 = 5Mb/s etc.

In a normal operating mode, the management entity MNG performs the downloading, for example, of successive segments C11@N1 (i.e. the first time segment at an encoding rate of 1 Mb/s), then C12@N2 (i.e. the second time segment at an encoding rate of 1.95b/s), then C13@N3 (i.e. the third time segment at an encoding rate of 3Mb/s), etc.

Segment playback speed may vary from a reference playback speed. The reference speed (denoted X1) is a “normal” playback speed.

Sometimes the playback speed is slightly increased in order to play content faster than normal. It could very well be reduced as well.

According to the invention, the management module estimates the bandwidth that will be required for downloading the first segments during accelerated playback.

Then, following the detection of a reading speed other than the reference speed, the management entity MNG transmits a command for selecting a first encoding bit rate taking into account the result of the estimation and the band current passerby.

In our example, for estimating the bandwidth, the management entity MNG determines for each encoding rate, called first encoding rates, of the description file the bandwidth that would be necessary for downloading the first rates encoding during accelerated playback.

It will be seen in a first embodiment that an acceleration factor is applied to the first encoding bit rates in order to obtain the bandwidth that the segments will occupy due to the accelerated reading. After applying the acceleration factor, the MNG management entity will refer to the second encoding bitrates, compare the second bitrate to the current available bandwidth and select a second encoding bitrate. The management entity then obtains a first encoding rate corresponding to the second encoding rate selected and can request access to a segment with the first encoding rate obtained.

Consider, for example, video segments that are two seconds long (2 sec.) and have an encoding bitrate of 5Mb/s. During a "normal" reading (X1) of a segment encoded at 5 Mb/s, an average of 5 Mb/s of bandwidth is consumed on the LI1 link. Indeed, the video segment which has a duration of 2 seconds is read in 2 seconds; we therefore download on average a segment every 2 seconds which corresponds to the reading speed.

When the playback speed of the video segments is slightly accelerated, for example 1.07 times faster (denoted 1.07) than normal speed (or reference speed), for the same segment duration of 2 seconds, playback lasts only 1.87 sec. (2 sec. / 1.07 sec. = 1.87 sec, “/” corresponds to the division symbol, “sec.” corresponds to the second time unit). It is therefore necessary to download a segment approximately every 1.87 sec (and no longer 1 segment every 2 sec) to have a smooth and continuous reading.

The average bandwidth required to download a 2 sec segment encoded at 5Mb/s every 1.87 sec is therefore 2 / 1.87 * 5 = 5.34Mb/s, therefore higher than with the normal or reference playback speed.

When we are in accelerated reading, the bandwidth used to consume a quality is therefore greater than in normal reading. It is therefore important to take into account an acceleration factor to be applied to the first encoding bit rates in order to avoid playback interruptions which would have as their origin the fact that there are no longer any segments in the buffer memory. The use of the factor will be illustrated with reference to the .

The invention anticipates a need for additional bandwidth linked to the rapid reading of content. As explained above, the management entity will select the first encoding rate associated with a second encoding rate whose value is lower than the available bandwidth.

Two embodiments will be presented below, one using an acceleration factor the other, less expensive in terms of computing resources, simply removing representations in the description file.

There represents a sequence of steps illustrating the first embodiment of the method of the invention. In this mode, as shown above, an acceleration factor will be used to determine the new representation.

In this mode, it is considered that the representations (or encoding bit rates) available on the SRV server for each segment are three in number: 1 Mb/s, 1.95 Mb/s and 3 Mb/s.

The steps are as follows:

During a first step, an access request REQ(C1) to a content C1 is transmitted from the decoder STB to the content server SRV.

Following the transmission of the request, the reading device STB receives the description file MF with the various encoding bit rates available MF (1Mb/s, 1.95Mb/s and 3Mb/s) and can, thanks to this file description, access the different segments and the desired representations.

The description file also indicates the duration of the segments, for example two seconds. With a segment duration of 2 seconds, the player should on average retrieve segments in less than 2 seconds; otherwise, interruptions (freezes) of the video will inevitably appear.

During a third step, the management entity MNG obtains the value of the current bandwidth (represented by a cylinder on the ) which is for example 2 Mb/s at this instant and selects a segment with a lower representation, namely 1.95 Mb/s.

It is assumed that the third step is repeated several times with respective current bandwidths; representations are selected each time according to the current bandwidth.

At a given instant, an accelerated reading request (X1.05) is received by the management entity MNG.

Accelerated playback could also have been started without a previous playback phase at normal speed.

In our example, the reading is accelerated and the acceleration factor is noted (x1.05).

In the case of accelerated playback, the display time of the video contained in a segment is no longer 2 seconds in our case but approximately 1.9 seconds (2 sec / 1.05 = 1.9 s). The reading device must therefore consider here that the duration of the segment is not 2 seconds but 1.9 seconds. The playback device must therefore request segments at least every 1.9 seconds to avoid playback interruptions, which leads to a greater bandwidth requirement. As stated earlier, for a given encoding bitrate, the new playback speed (X1.05) will require higher bandwidth than if the speed were the reference speed.

The second encoding bit rates are obtained by multiplying the reading speed by the considered encoding bit rate: 1.05 × Ni (i=1,…,5).

Specifically, if the new playback speed is (X1.05), the second encoding bitrate will be the first bitrate multiplied by 1.05 or

For the first rate 1Mb/s, the corresponding second rate is 1.05 Mb/s

For the first rate 1.95 Mb/s, the corresponding second rate is 2.04 Mb/s

For the first bit rate 3 Mb/s, the corresponding second bit rate is 3.15 Mb/s

Assuming that the current bandwidth is still 2Mb/s, only the rate of 1.05 Mb/s is lower than the available bandwidth. In this case, the first bit rate corresponding to the second bit rate of 1.05 Mb/s, namely 1 Mb/s, is selected.

A segment access request with a quality of 1 Mb/s is transmitted to the server.

In our example, the processing can be performed by the MNG management entity or by an external entity such as the SRV server.

If the processing is carried out by the server SRV, the latter receives data representative of a reading speed (X1.n) and can, thanks to this data, carry out the selection of the first encoding bit rate as indicated above.

According to a variant, when several accelerated reading speeds exist, for example X1.05 and 1.07; on detection of a speed increase, the highest factor is always the factor applied to the first flows. This variant is interesting because it avoids carrying out calculations while the acceleration speed varies during reading. In this case, the following rates will be compared to the current bandwidth:

For the first rate 1Mb/s, the corresponding second rate is 1.07 Mb/s

For the first rate 1.95 Mb/s, the corresponding second rate is 2.08 Mb/s

For the first rate 3 Mb/s, the corresponding second rate is 3.21 Mb/s

As the current bandwidth is 2 Mb/s, the second chosen bit rate lower than the bandwidth is 1.07 Mb/s. The first chosen bit rate for download will always be 1 Mb/s during accelerated playback even if the speed goes down to X1.05.

Finally, it should be noted that the management entity MNG is equipped with the following modules for the realization of the invention:

an estimation module capable of estimating the bandwidth that will be required for downloading the first segments during accelerated playback

a selection module capable of, upon detection of a reading speed other than the reference reading speed, selecting a first encoding bit rate taking into account the result of the estimation and the current bandwidth.

Finally, let us specify here that the term module or the term entity can correspond to a software component as well as to a hardware component or a set of hardware and software components, a software component itself corresponding to one or more programs or sub-programs computer or more generally to any element of a program able to implement a function or a set of functions as described for the modules concerned. In the same way, a hardware component corresponds to any element of a hardware (or hardware) assembly capable of implementing a function or a set of functions for the module concerned (integrated circuit, smart card, memory card, etc. .).

Claims (9)

Method for managing access to segmented content, the segments being able to be downloaded on request, via a communication link (LI1), at times, called reference times, the request for access to a segment including a a first encoding rate chosen from a set of first available encoding rates, the received segments capable of being played at a playback speed which can vary with respect to a reference playback speed, the method comprising,
a step for estimating the bandwidth that will be required for downloading the first segments during accelerated playback,
upon detection of a reading speed other than the reference reading speed, a step of selecting a first encoding bit rate taking into account the result of the estimation and the current bandwidth. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that if the playback speed is greater than the reference playback speed, the step of selecting the first rate comprises
a sub-step of obtaining new encoding bit rates, called second encoding bit rates, based on the first encoding bit rates and obtained by taking into account the duration between the times of downloading of the segments linked to the playback speed detected,
a sub-step of taking into account the second bit rates and the current bandwidth on the communication link (LI1) when choosing the first encoding bit rate to be selected for the segment to be downloaded. Management method according to claim 2, characterized in that the second bit rates are obtained by carrying out the following steps
a step of obtaining an acceleration factor related to the speed used;
a step of applying the acceleration factor to the first encoding bit rates, respectively. Management method according to claim 3, in which the acceleration factor is updated following a modification of the reading speed. Management method according to Claim 3, characterized in that, when several accelerated reading speeds are possible and associated with respective acceleration reading speeds, the factor linked to the highest speed is applied to the first encoding speeds regardless of the speed used during accelerated playback. Management entity (MNG) for access to segmented content, the segments being able to be downloaded on request, via a communication link, at times, called reference times, the request for access to a segment including a first encoding rate chosen from a set of first available encoding rates, the received segments being able to be played at a reading speed that can vary with respect to a reference reading speed, the entity comprising,
An estimation module capable of estimating the bandwidth that will be required for downloading the first segments during accelerated playback
A selection module capable of, upon detection of a reading speed other than the reference reading speed, selecting a first encoding bit rate taking into account the result of the estimation and the current bandwidth. Decoder (STB) comprising a management entity (MNG) as defined in claim 6. Computer program adapted to be implemented on a management entity (MNG) as defined in claim 6, the program comprising code instructions which, when executed by a processor, carry out the steps of the method defined in claim 1. Data carrier on which has been stored at least one series of program code instructions for the execution of a method according to claim 1.