Accelerated Media Stream Delivery for Reduced Transition Delay
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need to reduce the delay experienced when switching between digital media streams in digital television and multimedia services, particularly due to buffering and group-of-pictures delays, which affect the timely decoding and display of content.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an accelerated delivery system that allows for a burst of the new media stream to be delivered at a faster rate than the nominal rate, using an accelerated delivery client and handler that assesses resource usage and network congestion to grant or deny requests for accelerated delivery, and determines the starting frame for the accelerated portion of the stream.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If normal rate delivery is used for media streams, then network resources are conserved and stability is maintained, but stream transition delay increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by delivering a burst of packets at an accelerated rate before the decoder buffer is completely depleted. The accelerated delivery handler proactively sends multiple packets ahead of time, allowing the decoder to start processing content sooner without waiting for the buffer to fill at normal rate. This resolves the contradiction by reducing transition delay through advance preparation while maintaining network stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the delivery rate based on buffer status and network conditions. The accelerated delivery handler monitors buffer depletion and selectively applies accelerated delivery only when necessary, switching between normal and accelerated rates. This dynamic approach reduces transition delay when needed while maintaining overall network productivity and stability during normal operation.
2Loss of time
If accelerated delivery is implemented, then stream transition delay is reduced, but network congestion may increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies partial accelerated delivery by sending only a limited burst of packets at accelerated rate rather than continuously accelerating all traffic. The accelerated delivery handler sends a controlled number of packets (e.g., enough to fill the buffer or reach a threshold) then returns to normal delivery rate. This partial action reduces transition delay effectively while limiting the impact on network congestion to acceptable levels.
Solution Approach 2:
The accelerated delivery handler uses feedback mechanisms to monitor network conditions, buffer status, and delivery effectiveness. Based on this feedback, the system dynamically adjusts whether to grant accelerated delivery requests and how many packets to send. This feedback loop allows the system to reduce transition delay when network conditions permit while avoiding exacerbation of congestion when the network is already strained.
3Loss of time
If burst delivery is sent at accelerated rate, then buffer fills faster and playback starts earlier, but resource usage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary buffer filling by sending an accelerated burst of packets before normal playback resumes. This preliminary action loads the buffer ahead of time, allowing the decoder to start processing and displaying content earlier without waiting for continuous high-rate delivery. The trade-off is acceptable because the burst is limited in size and duration, and the benefits of earlier playback outweigh the temporary increase in bandwidth consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies partial accelerated delivery by limiting the burst size to only what is necessary to achieve early playback start, rather than continuously accelerating all traffic. The accelerated delivery handler sends enough packets to fill the buffer or reach a threshold, then returns to normal delivery rate. This partial action achieves the goal of earlier playback while minimizing the overall resource consumption compared to continuous acceleration.
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, a method includes requesting accelerated delivery of a specified media stream. The media stream contains a plurality of video frames. The method also includes receiving a response to the accelerated delivery request and selecting, based on the response, a source media stream. The method also includes receiving the source media stream into a buffer and decoding the received media stream from the buffer, at a selected playout rate.