Client-Assisted Time-Shifted ABR Streaming for White Spot Coverage
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Solution Overview
Problem
In wireless communication networks, adaptive bitrate (ABR) streaming of live media content faces challenges in areas with low data coverage or poor signal quality, leading to video outages, as video streaming cannot switch to alternative networks like phone calls, affecting user experience.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for managing ABR streaming sessions in wireless networks by determining when a user equipment (UE) device enters a 'white spot' area with poor video quality, providing an updated manifest file with service outage notifications and cached advertisement segments, and maintaining a persistent connectivity state through time-shifting the media stream based on estimated outage duration and travel parameters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If ABR streaming continues in white spot areas, then network protocol compatibility is maintained, but video quality and user experience deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by detecting white spot areas in advance using location information and travel parameters, then proactively switches to advertisement playback mode before the actual video outage occurs. This prevents video quality deterioration while maintaining continuous streaming service.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the streaming mode based on real-time conditions. It transitions from normal ABR streaming to advertisement-only playback when entering white spot areas, and back to normal streaming when exiting, using dynamic state management to adapt to changing network conditions.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If video streaming switches to alternative networks, then continuity is maintained, but protocol compatibility is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses an intermediary approach by introducing a hybrid mode where advertisement content is played back locally from the buffer during white spot areas, while maintaining the original streaming protocol connection. This mediator content keeps the streaming session alive without requiring protocol switching.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a copy of advertisement content from the original stream and plays it back locally during outages. This copied content serves as a substitute that maintains streaming continuity without requiring alternative network protocols.
3Loss of energy
If advertisement content is pre-cached, then bandwidth efficiency improves, but device storage requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies partial action by caching only advertisement content segments rather than the entire video stream. This selective caching reduces storage requirements while still achieving bandwidth efficiency during white spot areas where ads can be played from the buffer.
Solution Approach 2:
The system discards normal video content during white spot areas and recovers/adapts by playing cached advertisement content instead. This selective content management optimizes both storage usage and bandwidth efficiency by only retaining and playing relevant ad segments.
4Reliability
If time-shifting is implemented, then user experience during outages improves, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary time-shifting by pre-buffering advertisement content and pre-determining white spot areas using location and travel data. This advance preparation simplifies the actual time-shifting operation during outages, reducing real-time complexity while improving user experience.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements self-service time-shifting where the client device autonomously manages the transition to advertisement playback using its own buffer and local resources. This self-managed approach reduces server-side complexity while maintaining improved user experience during outages.
Data Source
AI summary
A scheme for managing ABR live media streaming of content in a wireless radio network environment that may have outage areas. A wireless UE device is configured to determine its current location, speed and travel direction associated therewith and transmit the information to a network node, and receive estimated video outage area information from the network node in response. A request may be provided to the network node for facilitating preloading of advertisement content prior to entering an outage area. Upon entering an outage area, the current ABR live media streaming session is time-shifted for a duration based on how long the outage may last and playback of advertisements pre-populated at the wireless UE device may be commenced. When the wireless UE device exits the outage area, the ABR streaming session may be resumed to play the time-shifted media content from an appropriate segment.