Adaptive Streaming Quality Selection Using Gain Factor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current progressive and adaptive streaming technologies face challenges in optimizing bandwidth consumption without compromising the quality of digital content, particularly in varying network conditions, leading to suboptimal user experiences for users with low connection speeds.
Innovation Solution
A method for managing progressive and adaptive streaming that selects the quality of subsequent time segments based on both connection speed and a gain factor, which is calculated from the actual encoding bit rate of previously streamed segments, allowing users with low connection speeds to access higher quality content while maintaining efficient bandwidth use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the client terminal selects higher quality content segments to improve viewing quality, then the quality of digital content increases, but the bandwidth consumption increases and may cause interruptions for users with low connection speeds
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic quality selection where the client terminal continuously monitors reception buffer status and adjusts the quality of subsequent time segments in real-time. The quality parameter is made variable rather than fixed, allowing the system to adapt to changing network conditions and buffer states, thereby optimizing the balance between content quality and bandwidth consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs feedback mechanisms by monitoring the fill level of the reception buffer and using this information to adjust quality selection for subsequent segments. The client terminal receives feedback about buffer status and network conditions, then adjusts its quality selection strategy accordingly, creating a closed-loop control system that prevents buffer underrun while maximizing quality
Solution Approach 3:
The patent changes the quality parameter dynamically based on buffer status and network conditions. Instead of selecting a fixed quality level, the system adjusts the quality parameter (bitrate, resolution) of subsequent time segments based on real-time feedback, transforming a static parameter into a dynamic one that adapts to system conditions
2Loss of energy
If the client terminal selects lower quality content segments to reduce bandwidth consumption, then bandwidth efficiency improves, but the quality of digital content decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts quality downward only when necessary (when buffer level is low) and maintains higher quality when buffer conditions permit, creating a dynamic quality profile rather than a static low-quality selection. This allows the system to achieve bandwidth efficiency without permanently sacrificing quality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies quality reduction partially and temporarily only when buffer status requires it, rather than consistently reducing quality. When buffer levels are sufficient, the system selects higher quality segments, applying quality reduction only to the extent necessary to prevent interruptions, thus minimizing the impact on overall content quality
3Reliability
If the client terminal buffers more data to ensure uninterrupted playback, then playback continuity improves, but the storage requirement and initial buffering time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic quality adjustment that responds to buffer fill level in real-time. When buffer level is high, the system can afford to select lower quality segments that consume less bandwidth. When buffer level drops below a threshold, the system switches to selecting higher quality segments to fill the buffer faster. This dynamic approach ensures playback continuity without requiring excessively large buffer capacity
Data Source
AI summary
A method for managing progressive and adaptive streaming of digital content within a multimedia stream player terminal connected to a communication network, the digital content being associated with a description file of the digital content, which includes a list of time segments of the content each associated with several encoding bit rates or qualities of the content. The method implements: obtaining a connection speed to the communication network determined from a size and a streaming time of at least one already streamed time segment, and selecting, for at least one subsequent time segment to be streamed, a maximum quality of the content, depending on the connection speed and a ratio, called a gain factor, between an actual encoding bit rate of the already streamed time segment and the quality associated with the time segment in the description file.