How to stream live encoded video

Abstract

This invention provides a method, streaming controller, and system for streaming live encoded video to one or more clients. [Solution] The method includes detecting multiple video stream requests (S302), obtaining the maximum bitrate value of the return video stream (S304), calculating the perceived quality (QoE) value (S306), determining the number of return video streams such that the cumulative difference between the QoE value of each video stream request and the calculated return QoE of the matching return video stream is minimized (S308), determining the bitrate of the return video stream (S310), obtaining the number of return video streams (S312), and streaming the return video stream (S314).

Claims

1. A method for streaming live encoded video to one or more clients, wherein the method is Detecting multiple video stream requests from one or more clients (14a-14d, 58) (S302), For each video stream request, obtain the maximum bitrate value that the return video stream (24, 54) is permitted to have (S304). The requested quality of experience (QoE) value for each video stream request is calculated taking into account the maximum bitrate value of the video stream request (S306). Determining a number of return video streams (24, 54) that is less than the number of video stream requests (S308, S310), wherein each of the video stream requests can be matched with a return video stream (24, 54) having a bitrate (B) less than or equal to the maximum bitrate value of the video stream request. １ , B ２ , B ３ ) is provided, and the bitrate (B １ , B ２ , B ３ ) determines a number of return video streams (24, 54) that is less than the number of video stream requests, such that the cumulative difference between the QoE value of each video stream request and the calculated return QoE of the matching return video stream is minimized (S308, S310). Obtaining the number of the return video streams (24, 54) according to the determined bit rate (B １ , B ２ , B ３ ), (S312) The return video streams (24, 54) are streamed to one or more clients (14a to 14d, 58) such that each video stream request is responded to with a matching return video stream (24, 54) (S314). Methods that include...

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the operation (S304) of obtaining the maximum bitrate value that the return video stream (24, 54) is permitted to have includes obtaining the requested maximum bitrate value included in the video stream request.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the operation (S304) of obtaining the maximum bitrate value that the return video stream (24, 54) is permitted to have includes determining the bandwidth available for transmitting the return video stream.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the operation (S308) for determining the number of return video streams (24, 54) includes calculating the number taking into account the amount of video stream requests in the plurality of video stream requests.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the number of return video streams (24, 54) is calculated as the logarithm of the amount of video stream requests (S308).

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the number of the return video streams (24, 54) is determined taking into consideration the preferred power consumption of the encoder (12) that encodes the return video streams (S308).

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the requested QoE value and the return QoE value are calculated as one of the following measures: SSIM, PSNR, VMAF, and UQ1.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the video stream request includes one or more requested encoding characteristics, and the requested QoE value for each video stream request is calculated taking into account the requested encoding characteristics (S306).

9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein if the video stream request does not include the requested encoding characteristics, the requested QoE value for each video stream request is calculated taking into account predetermined encoding characteristics (S306).

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the predetermined encoding characteristics are determined considering the video scenes of the requested video stream or the type of camera (10) used to capture the requested video stream.

11. A computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

12. A streaming controller for controlling the streaming of live encoded video to one or more clients (14a-14d, 58), wherein the streaming controller (20) comprises a circuit configuration adapted to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

13. The streaming controller according to claim 12, wherein the circuit configuration is further adapted to acquire the current bandwidth for transmitting video to one or more clients (14a to 14d, 58), and if the current bandwidth for transmission to at least one of the one or more clients (14a to 14d, 58) deviates above a threshold, it triggers the execution of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

14. A camera system comprising a streaming controller (20) according to claim 12 or 13.

15. The camera system according to claim 14, wherein the streaming controller (20) is provided in the relay device (50) of the camera system.

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