Bandwidth Distribution Algorithm for Adaptive Streaming
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Solution Overview
Problem
In bandwidth distribution for adaptive streaming, existing technologies face challenges in ensuring fair and efficient bandwidth allocation among competing clients, leading to degraded quality due to unawareness of other clients' bandwidth consumption, especially when devices with different bandwidth requirements operate simultaneously.
Innovation Solution
A method where client devices exchange parameters describing their data sessions, applying a bandwidth distribution algorithm to allocate bandwidth fairly among them, using protocols like multicast messaging or centralized message collection to determine and redistribute available bandwidth based on priority and requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If DASH clients independently adapt to network conditions without awareness of other clients, then each client can dynamically adjust its bandwidth usage, but bandwidth distribution becomes unfair and quality degrades when multiple clients compete for limited network resources
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where DASH clients exchange bandwidth consumption information through SDP (Session Description Protocol) annotations. Each client reports its current bandwidth usage and receives feedback about other clients' usage patterns, enabling informed adaptation decisions that maintain both dynamic responsiveness and fair distribution. The feedback loop allows clients to adjust their bandwidth requests based on real-time network conditions and peer behavior.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism using SDP messages as a communication channel between DASH clients. These messages serve as intermediaries that carry bandwidth information without requiring direct client-to-client negotiation. The SDP framework acts as a standardized intermediary protocol that enables information exchange while maintaining independence of each client's adaptation logic.
2Productivity
If TCP protocol is used for bandwidth sharing, then connections can evenly share overall network bandwidth, but UDP protocol steals all bandwidth from TCP and even TCP connections cannot ensure fixed bandwidth repartition when multiple devices with different requirements compete
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic bandwidth allocation where clients can adjust their bandwidth requests in real-time based on SDP feedback from other clients. Instead of static TCP-based even sharing or uncontrolled UDP consumption, the system dynamically adapts each client's bandwidth usage to match current network conditions and peer requirements. This dynamic approach allows prioritization of certain clients while maintaining overall efficient utilization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the bandwidth parameter dynamically through SDP message exchanges. Clients modify their bandwidth request parameters based on received feedback about network conditions and other clients' needs. This parameter adjustment mechanism enables controlled bandwidth repartitioning that responds to changing conditions while maintaining fairness and meeting diverse client requirements.
3Adaptability or versatility
If more DASH clients compete for the same network bandwidth, then network coverage and service availability improve, but bandwidth availability per client decreases and quality degradation becomes more critical
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses feedback mechanisms where each client reports its bandwidth consumption and receives information about total network usage and other clients' requirements. This feedback enables clients to automatically reduce their bandwidth requests when network congestion is detected, ensuring that quality degradation is avoided even as more clients join the network. The feedback loop maintains stability regardless of client count.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal bandwidth coordination mechanism that works regardless of the number of clients. The SDP-based information exchange protocol is scalable and functions effectively whether there are 2 clients or 20 clients. This universal approach allows the system to accommodate varying numbers of clients while maintaining fair and efficient bandwidth distribution through standardized information exchange.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention concerns the exchange of parameters between communication devices of a network describing their respective data sessions and the application, at a communication device, of a bandwidth distribution algorithm using the exchange parameters to allocate bandwidth to one or more data sessions in the network.