Batch Request Mechanism for Adaptive Media Streaming
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Solution Overview
Problem
Adaptive bitrate streaming in media players often experiences playback issues like re-buffering due to high round-trip times, which can lead to a decrease in available bandwidth, causing a switch to lower quality video profiles, thereby reducing video quality and increasing re-buffering probabilities.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a batch request mechanism that allows media players to send requests for multiple segments at once, reducing the number of round-trip times and potentially aborting the batch request if network conditions change, to maintain higher video quality by avoiding unnecessary switches to lower quality profiles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If adaptive bitrate streaming switches to lower quality profiles when bandwidth decreases, then re-buffering issues are alleviated, but video quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by requesting multiple segments in advance before bandwidth issues occur. By buffering multiple segments ahead of time, the player can maintain playback without switching to lower quality profiles when bandwidth decreases, thus preventing re-buffering while preserving video quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention maintains continuous useful action by keeping the playback buffer filled with pre-requested segments. This allows the media player to continue playing at high quality without interruption when bandwidth fluctuates, eliminating the need to switch between quality profiles and maintaining both reliability and quality.
2Speed
If media players request segments sequentially one at a time, then network round-trip times are minimized per request, but overall download speed decreases due to multiple round-trip times
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges multiple segment requests into a single batch request, combining multiple individual requests into one network transaction. This reduces the total number of round-trip times required to download multiple segments, thereby increasing overall download speed while minimizing time loss from repeated network latency.
Solution Approach 2:
The player performs preliminary actions by requesting multiple future segments in advance within a single batch request. This allows the player to prepare playback content ahead of time without incurring multiple round-trip delays, improving download efficiency and reducing time loss.
3Speed
If batch requests are sent for multiple segments, then download speed improves and round-trip times are reduced, but network bandwidth consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by requesting multiple segments in advance, allowing the player to buffer content before it is needed. This approach improves download speed by reducing round-trip times while managing bandwidth consumption efficiently, as the player can control the timing and size of batch requests based on actual playback needs rather than continuously consuming bandwidth.
Data Source
AI summary
In some embodiments, a method analyzes information regarding a round-trip time where the round-trip time is based on sending a request for a segment of a media program and receiving the segment of the media program. The method determines when to switch from requesting a single segment of the media program to sending a request that requests a plurality of segments of the media program. When switching from requesting the single segment of the media program, the request for the plurality segments of the media program is sent where at least two or more of the segments are received without sending a subsequent request for the two or more segments.