Adaptive Bitrate Boundary Point Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

In adaptive bitrate streaming, existing technologies face challenges in synchronizing and aligning different representations of video content across multiple profiles to ensure seamless playback, especially under dynamic network conditions, leading to potential interruptions and discontinuities during profile switching.

Innovation Solution

An apparatus and method for determining a shifted cadence in an input stream based on exceptions to a predetermined cadence, identifying key frames that align with this shifted cadence, and designating them as boundary points to facilitate synchronization and alignment across profiles, thereby ensuring smooth transitions between different bitrate profiles.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If adaptive bitrate streaming is implemented to respond to dynamic network conditions, then video quality adaptability is improved, but synchronization and alignment between different content representations deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevideo quality adaptabilityVSAvoidsynchronization and alignment

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by detecting boundary points in advance within content representations before playback occurs. These boundary points are identified by analyzing cadence patterns and key frame positions, allowing the system to pre-determine safe switching points between different bitrate representations, thereby maintaining synchronization when profile switching is needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms by continuously monitoring cadence deviations and comparing actual key frame positions against expected positions based on predetermined cadence. When deviations are detected, the system adjusts boundary point identification accordingly, using this feedback to maintain accurate synchronization across different content representations despite network condition changes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Adaptability or versatility

If profile switching is enabled to optimize playback under varying network conditions, then playback adaptability is improved, but playback continuity and smoothness deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveplayback adaptabilityVSAvoidplayback continuity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The system identifies boundary points in advance within content representations, marking precise locations where profile switching can occur without disrupting playback. By pre-determining these optimal switching points based on cadence analysis and key frame detection, the system ensures that when profile switching is triggered, it occurs at the correct moment to maintain playback continuity and smoothness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses boundary points as intermediary markers that mediate between different content representations. These boundary points serve as transition anchors that allow smooth switching between profiles by providing a common reference framework, thereby maintaining playback continuity while enabling adaptability to varying network conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Duration of action of stationary object

If boundary point detection is performed to enable seamless profile switching, then playback smoothness is improved, but processing complexity and computational overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveplayback smoothnessVSAvoidprocessing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system employs periodic action by analyzing cadence patterns at regular intervals throughout the content representation. Instead of continuously complex analysis, the system performs periodic cadence checks and key frame detections at predetermined intervals, which simplifies the processing while still enabling accurate boundary point detection for smooth playback transitions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses self-service mechanisms where the content representation itself provides the necessary cadence information and key frame markers that enable boundary point detection. By leveraging the inherent structure of the encoded content, the system reduces the need for external complex analysis tools, thereby lowering processing complexity while maintaining playback smoothness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS9407678B2System and method for locating a boundary point within adaptive bitrate conditioned content

Publication Date: 2016.08.02 CISCO TECHNOLOGY INC

AI summary

A method is provided in one example and includes determining an occurrence of an exception to a predetermined cadence associated with an input stream of a profile, determining a shifted cadence based, at least in part, on the exception, receiving an indication of a key frame in the profile, determining that the key frame aligns with the shifted cadence, designating the key frame as a boundary point based, at least in part, on the shifted cadence, and communicating the boundary point.