Client Recording Device ABR Content Fragment Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Adaptive bitrate (ABR) media streaming over unreliable transport mechanisms poses challenges for optimal recording at local storage devices, particularly due to uneven network utilization and high costs associated with dimensioning network capacity for busy times, which hinders efficient recording of ABR content.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for a client recording device that selects ABR content fragments based on network bandwidth conditions, applies a constant bitrate quality requirement, and stores fragments at multiple quality levels, allowing for intelligent recording and playback by varying the recording time pointer relative to the real-time content time parameter, and provides local manifest files for playback.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If network capacity is dimensioned for busy times to ensure high-quality ABR streaming, then recording quality is improved, but network cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by buffering ABR content at the client recording device before actual playback or recording. During off-peak hours when network utilization is low, the device proactively downloads and stores content segments locally, avoiding the need for high network capacity during peak times. This preliminary buffering resolves the contradiction by preparing content in advance when network resources are abundant and cheap, then using local storage during peak times when network capacity would be expensive.
2Loss of time
If ABR content is recorded in real-time during busy periods, then recording timeliness is improved, but network congestion increases and quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system downloads and buffers ABR content segments during off-peak hours before they are needed for playback or recording. By performing the download action in advance when network congestion is low, the system ensures content is available locally without competing for network resources during busy periods. This eliminates the trade-off between timeliness and quality, as content is prepared beforehand and can be immediately played back or recorded without network dependency.
Solution Approach 2:
The client recording device acts as an intermediary between the content delivery network and the final playback/recording process. It introduces a local buffer as an intermediate storage layer that decouples the real-time network streaming from the local playback/recording operations. This intermediary buffer absorbs network variability and congestion, allowing high-quality content to be downloaded during off-peak times and then delivered locally without quality degradation during peak times.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple bitrate quality levels are stored locally, then playback flexibility is improved, but local storage space consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality by storing multiple bitrate versions of ABR content segments at different quality levels in the local buffer. Each content segment is available in multiple quality representations, allowing the playback device to select the appropriate quality level based on current network conditions, device capabilities, or user preferences. This resolves the contradiction by enabling playback flexibility through multi-quality storage while managing local space through selective buffering strategies and quality adaptation.
Data Source
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AI summary
A system and method for recording ABR content at a client recording device. A variety of recording service selection mechanisms may be applied at the client side based on network bandwidth conditions and other criteria for selecting ABR content fragments encoded at suitable bitrate quality levels to be downloaded for recording at the client recording device. One or more post- recording optimization schemes may also be applied in one arrangement with respect to, for example, the client recording device's media storage space.