ABR Segment Bitrate Selection for Consistent Video Quality
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing adaptive bitrate (ABR) streaming methods result in bandwidth wastage and significant quality drops due to segment replacement, leading to a poor user experience (QoE) as they fail to maintain consistent video quality across segments.
Innovation Solution
The client device proactively selects segments with bitrates that are lower than the available bandwidth but within a predetermined video quality range, minimizing segment replacement and maintaining consistent video quality by preemptively 'dropping down' the ABR ladder during periods of low motion or movement, using machine learning models to predict and adjust segment bitrates based on user perception and network conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the client device requests segments at the highest available segment bitrate that does not exceed the available bandwidth, then the video quality is maximized, but segment replacement occurs when bandwidth variability causes buffering to fail, resulting in bandwidth wastage and quality drops
Solution Approach 1:
The system proactively selects segments with bitrates lower than the current available bandwidth but within a predetermined video quality range, rather than always selecting the highest bitrate. This preliminary action prevents segment replacement by anticipating bandwidth variability, thereby avoiding wasted bandwidth from re-downloading segments and maintaining consistent video quality.
2Duration of action of moving object
If the client device increases the size of the player buffer or the number of segments to be buffered, then the time period for buffering increases allowing higher bandwidth utilization, but the delay or start-up time in presentation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the bitrate parameter of selected segments to be within a predetermined range rather than always selecting the maximum bitrate. This allows the client device to maintain a reasonable buffer size without excessive start-up delay, while still achieving sufficient buffering time to handle bandwidth variability and prevent segment replacement.
3Reliability
If the client device requests alternative segments at lower segment bitrate to avoid playback stalls, then playback continuity is maintained, but significant quality drops occur and user experience deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback from bandwidth measurements and segment buffering status to dynamically adjust segment bitrate selections. By monitoring whether segments are buffering successfully within the predetermined quality range, the system can maintain playback continuity while avoiding significant quality drops, as selections are constrained to remain within the acceptable video quality range.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems, e.g., implemented by a client device, are provided for requesting a segment of a media content item using adaptive bitrate (ABR) streaming so as to improve the latter. To do so, a client device determines a first segment bitrate based on an available bandwidth. The client device then determines that a second segment bitrate is available, the second segment bitrate being lower than the first segment bitrate, and that a video quality of the segment of the media content item requested at the second segment bitrate is within a video quality variation range. Based on the determining that the video quality of the segment of the media content item requested at the second segment bitrate is within the video quality variation range, the client device requests the segment of the media content item at the second segment bitrate.