Camcorder Streaming Architecture for Multi-Device Broadcast
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current technologies for real-time audiovisual streaming from headset camcorders to mobile devices over internetworks lack efficient methods for managing and optimizing the streaming of audiovisual content to multiple recipients, leading to potential quality issues and network congestion.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a real-time audiovisual streaming architecture that uses a personal cast session model, allowing broadcasters to stream live audio and video to invited viewers through a smartphone gateway, with adaptive bitrate adjustment and transcoding to H.264 format, and includes end-to-end throttling to maintain quality and manage network resources effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If real-time audiovisual streaming is implemented from headset camcorder to multiple mobile devices over internetwork, then broadcasting capability and viewer reach are improved, but network congestion and streaming quality deterioration occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the streaming delivery by creating separate unicast connections to each invited viewer's mobile device, rather than using a single broadcast channel. This allows independent quality control for each viewer while maintaining overall system scalability. The personal cast session model divides the streaming task into manageable individual connections, resolving the contradiction between serving multiple viewers and maintaining quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically adjusts streaming parameters including bitrate, resolution, and encoding format based on real-time network conditions and device capabilities. The system negotiates optimal parameters with each viewer's device and adapts them during transmission, allowing high-quality streaming to multiple devices without causing network congestion that would degrade quality.
2Reliability
If adaptive bitrate adjustment is implemented to maintain streaming quality, then viewer experience is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the streaming system continuously monitors network conditions, device capabilities, and viewer preferences, then adjusts bitrate and encoding parameters accordingly. This closed-loop control enables automatic quality optimization without requiring complex manual configuration, reducing operational complexity while maintaining high reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adapts streaming parameters during operation based on changing network conditions and device requirements. The personal cast session model allows real-time negotiation and adjustment of bitrate, resolution, and format for each viewer, enabling quality optimization without fixed complex configurations.
3Productivity
If end-to-end throttling is applied to manage network resources, then network congestion is reduced, but data loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different throttling strategies to different parts of the data stream based on local requirements. Critical audio and video frames are prioritized over less important data, and different quality levels are maintained for different viewers based on their individual network conditions. This localized quality management reduces congestion while minimizing essential data loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potential harm of network congestion into a benefit by using throttling to prioritize critical streaming data. By strategically dropping less important packets during congestion, the system maintains acceptable quality for essential content while managing network resources, turning the harmful effect of limited bandwidth into a quality-filtering mechanism.
Data Source
AI summary
A camcorder includes an input interface via which audiovisual information is received at a first rate measured in frames per second, n. A media processor coupled via a bus to the input interface receives the audiovisual information at the rate n, and transfers it to a capture buffer coupled via the bus at a second rate measured in frames per second, x, for storage. An output interface coupled via the bus to the media processor transmits the audiovisual information at a third rate measured in frames per second, y, wherein x plus y is less than or equal to n. A set of computing instructions executed on the general purpose processor in the camcorder program the media processor to transfer the audiovisual information to the capture buffer at the rate x and to transmit the audiovisual information at the rate y to the output interface.