Client-Side Virtual Duration Management for Streaming Navigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current streaming technologies require frequent server pings to manage streaming content duration, leading to increased channel traffic and server processing demands, which can hinder system efficiency and user navigation capabilities.
Innovation Solution
Implementing client-side logic to determine and manage the virtual current duration of streaming content, allowing for local estimation and extension of stream duration without continuous server updates, using metadata communication to facilitate navigation and playback controls.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If frequent server pings are used to manage streaming content duration, then accurate stream duration management is achieved, but server processing demands and channel traffic increase
Solution Approach 1:
The client device autonomously determines stream duration by receiving an initial duration value from the server and independently calculating current duration based on stream position and playback rate, without requiring continuous server updates. This transfers the computational burden from server to client, reducing server processing demands while maintaining duration management accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The server provides the total stream duration in advance during the initial stream establishment, enabling the client to perform all subsequent duration calculations locally without needing to query the server repeatedly. This preliminary provision of duration information eliminates the need for frequent server pings.
2Productivity
If client-side logic is implemented to determine virtual current duration, then server load is reduced, but complexity of client-side processing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The duration determination functionality is segmented into two parts: the server provides the total stream duration and the client independently calculates current duration based on stream position and playback rate. This segmentation allows the client to handle simple arithmetic operations locally while the server maintains its primary streaming function, balancing complexity distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a virtual duration concept that acts as an intermediary between the actual stream data and the playback control system. This virtual duration is calculated client-side using simple formulas based on stream position and playback rate, providing a simplified representation that enables navigation controls without requiring complex server-client communication protocols.
3Measurement precision
If continuous server updates are used for stream duration information, then navigation accuracy is maintained, but channel traffic increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous updates, the system uses periodic local calculations at the client side based on the stream position and playback rate. The client updates the virtual duration periodically using simple arithmetic operations rather than continuously querying the server, maintaining navigation accuracy while eliminating the energy consumption associated with continuous network communication.
Data Source
AI summary
In general, in one aspect, streaming content is received from a server, the streaming content being stored and queued for client-side playback from the server. Information about the streaming content is received. A virtual current duration of the streaming content is determined at a client-side application based on the information about the streaming content. A timeline control is generated based on the determined virtual duration, the timeline control presenting a representation of the virtual duration and allowing navigation forward and backward in the streaming content. The timeline control is displayed at the client-side display device.