Anticipatory Video Signal Processing for Latency Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Digital video systems experience latency between user requests and video information presentation due to processing and communication delays, which users seek to minimize.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that receive and process both requested and non-requested video streams simultaneously, where the non-requested stream is pre-processed to reduce latency by buffering, decrypting, and parsing data in advance, ensuring quick access when needed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If video streams are processed only when requested, then processing resources are conserved, but latency increases between user request and video presentation
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary processing of video streams by pre-decoding and pre-buffering the currently displayed video stream and anticipating future video streams before user requests occur. This advance preparation eliminates processing delays when users request channel changes or navigate video content, directly reducing latency while processing only relevant streams.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts which video streams to pre-process based on real-time user behavior analysis. By monitoring channel change patterns, pause durations, and navigation behaviors, the system adaptively selects which future streams to buffer, optimizing the balance between reducing latency and conserving processing resources according to actual usage patterns.
2Loss of time
If multiple video streams are pre-processed simultaneously, then latency is reduced, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments video stream processing into distinct functional modules: stream reception, conditional access decryption, video decoding, buffer management, and presentation. This modular architecture allows simultaneous pre-processing of multiple streams while managing complexity through clear separation of concerns and independent module optimization.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces buffer memory as an intermediary between video stream reception and presentation. This buffer acts as a mediator that decouples the timing of stream acquisition from presentation, allowing multiple streams to be pre-processed and stored without requiring complex real-time coordination during actual video playback.
3Speed
If video streams are buffered in advance, then access speed improves, but memory requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies partial buffering by pre-processing and storing only the portions of video streams that are most likely to be requested next, rather than buffering entire streams. Based on user behavior analysis, the system buffers just enough data to cover anticipated viewing needs, reducing memory requirements while maintaining fast access speed for predicted content.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method that provide reduced latency in a video signal processing system. Various aspects of the present invention may comprise receiving a current request from a user for first video information. Such a request may, for example, be received with a user interface module. A first video stream and a second video stream may be received simultaneously, where the first video stream comprises the first video information currently requested by the user, and the second video stream comprises second video information not currently requested by the user. A video receiver module may, for example, perform such receiving. The first video stream may be processed to present the first video information to the user at the current time. Further, the second video stream may be pre-processed in preparation for being presented to the user in the future. A video processing module may, for example, perform such video stream processing.