Adaptive Bitrate Streaming Latency Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
In adaptive bitrate (ABR) streaming, high latency can lead to inaccurate bandwidth estimation, causing user devices to fail to switch to a different bitrate version of content when network conditions warrant such a switch, resulting in a poor user experience.
Innovation Solution
The user device determines the latency associated with receiving a segment of content and uses this information to estimate the time to receive a second segment of a higher or lower bitrate version. This estimated time is then compared to a threshold to decide whether to switch to the new bitrate version.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If bandwidth estimation is performed using traditional methods, then the process is simple, but the accuracy deteriorates when latency is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the latency component from the total time measurement. By separating latency (L) from the total time to receive a segment, the system obtains a corrected time value (T-L) that accurately reflects only the bandwidth-related delay, thereby improving bandwidth estimation accuracy in high-latency environments
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary latency measurement before using the time value for bandwidth estimation. By measuring latency in advance and storing it for subsequent calculations, the system prepares the corrected time value needed for accurate bandwidth estimation without adding complexity to the ongoing estimation process
2Manufacturing precision
If the user device switches to higher bitrate versions, then the playback quality improves, but the risk of freezing or stalls increases when bandwidth is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback from corrected bandwidth estimation (based on latency-removed time measurements) to dynamically adjust bitrate selection. By continuously monitoring the relationship between estimated bandwidth and required bandwidth for different versions, the system makes informed switching decisions that balance quality and playback continuity
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the bitrate version selection based on real-time network conditions. By making the bitrate choice adaptive rather than static, the system can respond to changing bandwidth availability, switching to higher bitrates when conditions permit and lower bitrates when necessary to maintain continuous playback
3Manufacturing precision
If the user device requests higher bitrate segments, then the content quality improves, but the time to receive the segment increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system requests slightly more data than the minimum buffer requirement by targeting a fill ratio greater than 1.0. This partial excessive action accounts for variability in network conditions and ensures that even if the actual reception time exceeds expectations, the buffer will still be sufficiently filled to maintain continuous playback
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are described for performing adaptive bitrate (ABR) streaming. A user device may request a segment of a first version of a plurality of versions of a content asset from a content provider, and may receive the segment. An estimated time to receive a second segment of a second version of the content may be determined based on metrics associated with receipt of the segment of the first version and in a manner that takes into account latency with the network, such that a determination whether to switch to a higher or lower bitrate version of a content asset during ABR streaming may be more accurately made.