Adaptive Media Streaming Protocol for Bandwidth-Constrained Live Production
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current technologies for broadcasting high-quality digital media over networks face limitations due to inadequate bandwidth and inflexibility, particularly when using consumer devices like smartphones and tablets, which struggle to deliver Tier 1 broadcast quality video and are impractical for continuous live broadcasting over mobile networks.
Innovation Solution
A streaming protocol that adapts to network conditions, allowing for high-quality media streaming from non-studio devices to a central point, utilizing multiple data networks, and enabling low-quality streaming in real-time, with features like low latency, jitter reduction, and background re-transmission of missed data to ensure continuous live production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If high-quality media streams are transmitted over mobile networks, then media quality is improved, but network bandwidth requirements become impractical for continuous live broadcasting
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the media stream into two separate channels: a low-bitrate live stream for real-time viewing and a high-bitrate recorded stream for quality archiving. This segmentation allows the system to meet both the bandwidth constraints of mobile networks and the quality requirements for broadcast media by directing different quality levels through different transmission paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a central server as an intermediary that receives both the low-bitrate live stream and the high-bitrate recorded stream from remote devices. The server then distributes the appropriate stream quality to different destinations, enabling high-quality media delivery without requiring the mobile network to handle the full bandwidth burden continuously.
2Manufacturing precision
If conventional broadcasting technologies are used, then broadcast quality is achieved, but network infrastructure becomes inflexible and cannot connect to all desired locations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal media transmission system where any device with media generation capability (smartphones, tablets, cameras) can function as a broadcast source. The system accommodates multiple network types (mobile, wired, wireless) and dynamically adapts the transmission protocol based on available bandwidth, enabling flexible connectivity to any location while maintaining broadcast quality through selective high-bitrate transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the transmission protocol and bitrate based on real-time network conditions. When high bandwidth is available, the system transmits high-bitrate recorded streams for optimal quality. When bandwidth is constrained, it automatically switches to low-bitrate live streaming, ensuring continuous operation across diverse network environments while maintaining broadcast-quality output where possible.
3Quantity of substance
If low-bitrate streaming is used for live broadcasting, then network bandwidth requirements are reduced, but media quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary recording of media at high bitrate locally on the device before transmission. This pre-recorded high-quality material is then transmitted to the central server for distribution, allowing the system to leverage the device's local storage capacity to preserve quality while using the network efficiently for only the essential live transmission of selected segments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the transmission parameter dynamically based on network conditions and content importance. The system transmits low-bitrate streams for routine content but switches to high-bitrate transmission when network bandwidth is sufficient or when the content requires preserved quality. This parameter adaptation allows the system to optimize both bandwidth utilization and media quality according to real-time conditions.
Data Source
AI summary
A computerized method for integrating media streams from a multiplicity of media systems over at least one network into a single media product at high media technical quality, the method comprising the steps of, at certain media systems from among the multiplicity thereof: a. Generating a low volume (LV) media stream representation from a high volume media stream, where the low volume stream's bit-rate is different from the high volume stream's bit-rate; b. streaming the low volume media stream to a content generation center via a data communication network; c. Maintaining high volume local data as a high volume media stream in a storage medium coupled to at least one of the media systems; and d. maintaining mapping information between the low volume stream and the high volume local data for enabling access to media portions in the high volume media stream storage, which correspond based on LV stream time.