Bandwidth Adaptation by Squeezing Idle Traffic in Browsers: An Active Window Detection Based Approach for Next Generation Networks

Abstract

This letter proposes a novel algorithm named bandwidth adaptation by squeezing idle traffic (BASIT), which aims at reducing the video traffic in idle tabs/windows of browsers. The algorithm is based on detecting active tabs/windows in the browsers at client end. Video data on idle tabs are intelligently compressed by the server to save network bandwidth. Bandwidth wasted on idle video traffic is reduced by either sending the lowest quality of the video or only audio throughout the idle duration of the tabs/windows. It is understandable that substantial amount of bandwidth can be saved by applying BASIT algorithm on browsers.