Binary Control Information Trees for Forward-Compatible Multimedia Streams
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional communication systems lack flexibility and efficiency in signaling and versioning, particularly in digital television broadcast systems, where unforeseen changes and new technologies require forward compatibility, and existing data protocols like XML are not bandwidth-efficient.
Innovation Solution
A method for generating and transmitting control information using a tree-based data structure with a service descriptor that specifies protocol versions, allowing audiovisual devices to ignore incompatible data and configure themselves to present multimedia streams efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a text-based data format like XML is used to structure control information, then human readability and extensibility are improved, but bandwidth efficiency deteriorates due to excessive overhead
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a binary encoding scheme that copies the essential structure of XML/JSON data formats but represents them in a compact binary form rather than text form. The service descriptor and control information are encoded using binary trees and bit fields that mirror the hierarchical structure of text-based formats while achieving significant compression.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter representation from human-readable text to compact binary values. Control information parameters are encoded using variable-length bit fields where the most significant bits indicate the type of information and the remaining bits contain the actual parameter values, dramatically reducing the bandwidth required to transmit the same information.
2Device complexity
If control information format is changed in predefined ways with limited flexibility, then system complexity is reduced, but adaptability to new technologies and unforeseen changes deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The control information is segmented into distinct fields within the service descriptor, each with specific functions. The binary structure divides information into type indicators, length fields, and data fields, allowing individual fields to be modified or extended without affecting the overall structure. This segmentation enables incremental updates and additions to the control information format.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a dynamic control information format where the service descriptor can be extended with new fields and the binary structure can accommodate variable-length parameters. The encoding scheme allows for optional fields and extensible data structures that can evolve to support new services and technologies while maintaining compatibility with existing decoders that ignore unrecognized fields.
3Adaptability or versatility
If all control information is transmitted to ensure future compatibility, then forward compatibility is improved, but bandwidth consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential control information needed for current operation while encoding optional and extensible fields in a compact form. The service descriptor separates mandatory control information from optional extensions, allowing receivers to process only the necessary fields while ignoring or deferring processing of optional fields that may be relevant for future enhancements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transmits a complete service descriptor structure that includes both current and potential future control information fields, but encodes them in a compact binary format that minimizes overhead. The structure provides for optional fields and extensibility markers that enable future functionality without requiring full transmission of all possible future features at maximum detail levels.
Data Source
AI summary
Bit efficient control information communication techniques. Control information for configuring an audiovisual device to present multimedia content may be generated. The control information may be organized according to a tree data structure having a plurality of nodes. The control information may include commands for navigating the nodes of the tree structure to locate data values stored at leaf nodes of the tree structure. Some commands may have associated data fields. Each command, and each data field, may include bit portions of uniform length. A designated bit of command bit portions may have a first value indicating that the bit portion is a command, while a designated bit of data field bit portions may have a second value indicating the bit portion is a data field. The second value may be different than the first value.