Access Node Buffering for Rapid Media Channel Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional media channel change mechanisms in communications networks result in high channel change latency and inefficient network resource utilization, particularly due to the need to wait for GOP boundaries and the excessive traffic generated by unicast media streams, which can overwhelm network resources during peak channel change times.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a mechanism at an access node to store packets of frequently requested media streams in a buffer, allowing for partial unicast of media streams and aligning unicast packets with multicast transmissions to reduce traffic and latency, thereby enhancing network resource utilization efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If unicast media streams are used for rapid channel change, then channel change latency is reduced, but network traffic volume increases enormously
Solution Approach 1:
The access node buffers packets of frequently requested media streams in advance, so that when a channel change request arrives, the packets are already ready for immediate unicast transmission without waiting for the source to send them in real-time
Solution Approach 2:
The access node acts as an intermediary between the media source and the decoder, receiving multicast packets, buffering them, and then unicasting them to the decoder on demand, thereby reducing the burden on the core network
2Loss of time
If short GOPs are used to decrease wait time, then channel change latency is reduced, but compression efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The access node performs preliminary buffering of media packets before channel change requests arrive, eliminating the need to wait for GOP boundaries at the decoder side while maintaining the original GOP structure and compression efficiency
3Ease of operation
If centralized server implements rapid channel change, then channel change functionality is provided, but network resources are overwhelmed during peak times
Solution Approach 1:
Rapid channel change functionality is implemented locally at the access node rather than centrally at the server, allowing the access node to handle channel change requests independently using its local buffer without consuming core network resources
Data Source
AI summary
A method is provided for enabling rapid media stream channel changes in conjunction with increasing network resource utilization efficiency. A media stream is multicast for reception by a plurality of requesting decoders. The media stream includes packets containing groups of pictures (GOPs), which are stored in a buffer of an access node. At least a portion of the packets are unicast from the access node for reception by a new requesting decoder in response to receiving from the new requesting decoder a request for reception designating a media stream identifier corresponding to the media stream. Thereafter, the media stream is multicast to the new decoder after bringing packet transmission of the unicast media stream into alignment with packet transmission of the multicast media stream.