Adaptive Video Encoding for Multi-Party Communication

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Solution Overview

Problem

In multi-party video communication, terminals with varying processing capabilities face challenges in optimizing video encoding parameters, leading to inefficient resource utilization and suboptimal video communication quality, as uniform encoding parameters do not account for differences in terminal capabilities, resulting in wasted resources for high-capability terminals and decreased quality for low-capability terminals.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that dynamically determine encoding parameters for important and common videos based on the terminal's processing capability and the number of video encoders in use, adjusting the highest encoding frame rate to balance quality and resource consumption, with an adaptive adjusting module that initializes and adjusts encoding parameters to ensure the difference in Mean Opinion Score (MOS) between important and common videos remains within a threshold and total computing resource consumption does not exceed the terminal's capability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple video encoders are used for multi-party video communication, then video communication quality can be improved, but computing complexity increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevideo communication qualityVSAvoidcomputing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by differentiating between important videos and common videos, allocating different encoding parameters to each type. Important videos receive higher encoding priorities and resources, while common videos use lower resources, thereby improving overall communication quality without uniformly increasing computing complexity across all video streams.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent dynamically adjusts encoding parameters including frame rate, resolution, and bitrate based on network conditions and terminal capabilities. By changing these parameters adaptively, the system optimizes video quality while controlling computing complexity, resolving the contradiction between quality and computational load.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Device complexity

If uniform encoding parameters are used for all video encoders, then device complexity is reduced, but resource utilization becomes inefficient and video quality decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveencoding parameter managementVSAvoidresource utilization efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements local quality by assigning different encoding parameters to different video streams based on their importance and terminal capabilities. Each video encoder operates with optimized parameters tailored to its specific requirements, improving resource utilization efficiency without requiring complex centralized parameter management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces dynamic parameter adjustment where encoding parameters are not fixed but adapt based on network conditions, terminal capabilities, and video importance. This dynamic approach improves resource utilization efficiency while keeping parameter management complexity manageable through automated adaptation rather than manual configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If high encoding parameters are used for all videos, then video quality is improved, but computing resource consumption exceeds terminal capabilities

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevideo qualityVSAvoidcomputing resource consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by differentiating between important and common videos, allocating high encoding parameters only to important videos that require high quality, while using lower parameters for common videos. This selective allocation improves overall video quality perception while keeping total computing resource consumption within terminal capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses partial action by applying high encoding parameters only partially to important video streams rather than all streams. This selective high-quality encoding for critical videos maintains acceptable quality where needed while significantly reducing total computing resource consumption to fit within terminal capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

4Use of energy by moving object

If low encoding parameters are used for all videos, then computing resource consumption is reduced, but video communication quality deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomputing resource consumptionVSAvoidvideo communication quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements local quality by ensuring that important videos receive sufficient encoding resources to maintain acceptable quality, while common videos can use lower parameters. This differentiated approach maintains video communication quality for critical streams while reducing overall computing resource consumption to acceptable levels.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP2819405B1Video coding method in multi-person video communications and terminal
Publication Date: 2021.08.11 TENCENT TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) CO LTD
  • EP2819405B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2819405B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2819405B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present disclosure provides a method and a terminal for video encoding in multi-party video communication. The method includes: after a terminal X joins in a multi-party video communication, A, respectively determining a number of important video encoders in use and a number of common video encoders in use of the terminal; B, according to a processing capability of the terminal and a newest determining result, respectively determining an encoding parameter for an important video and an encoding parameter for a common video, and informing each important video encoder in use and each common video encoder in use to perform video encoding according to the newly determined encoding parameters. The present disclosure further provides a terminal. According to the solution of the present disclosure, the overall video communication quality may be improved.