Cooperative Video Transmission via Layer Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current technologies face challenges in transmitting high-quality 'live' video sequences from mobile terminals over limited bit rate wireless networks due to restricted uplink bit rates and energy constraints, making it difficult to achieve high-resolution video transmission.

Innovation Solution

The method employs a cooperative transmission approach using both short-range and long-range radio interfaces, where the transmitting terminal segments the video sequence into base and enhancement layers, transmitting the base layer over long-range and using nearby terminals as relays for the enhancement layers via short-range links to increase uplink bit rates while minimizing energy consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Length of stationary object

If the terminal uses long-range radio interface for video transmission, then the transmission distance is extended, but the uplink bit rate is limited and energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission distanceVSAvoiduplink bit rate
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of stationary objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The video sequence is segmented into base layer and enhancement layer. The base layer is transmitted via long-range radio interface to extend transmission distance, while the enhancement layer is transmitted via short-range radio interface through relay terminals to increase overall bit rate without overloading the long-range uplink channel.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Relay terminals act as intermediaries to receive the enhancement layer from the source terminal via short-range interface and forward it to the destination terminal via long-range interface. This mediator approach allows the source terminal to achieve higher effective bit rate without directly transmitting all data over the constrained long-range uplink.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If the terminal increases radio transmission power for higher bit rate, then the video quality improves, but energy consumption exceeds battery life constraints

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevideo transmission bit rateVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The video data is divided into base layer (transmitted with lower power over long-range interface) and enhancement layer (transmitted with higher power over short-range interface to relay terminals). This segmentation allows the terminal to achieve higher overall bit rate while constraining energy consumption by using the more energy-efficient short-range interface for the enhancement layer.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of transmitting the entire video sequence at high bit rate through the energy-intensive long-range interface, the patent transmits only the enhancement layer (partial action) through short-range interfaces, achieving quality improvement with reduced energy consumption compared to full high-bit-rate transmission.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Manufacturing precision

If the terminal transmits enhancement layer through long-range interface, then the video quality improves, but the energy consumption increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevideo qualityVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSUse of energy by stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different transmission quality and interface types to different video layers: the base layer uses long-range interface for coverage, while the enhancement layer uses short-range interface for high-quality transmission over shorter distances. This local quality approach optimizes energy consumption by matching interface characteristics to layer requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

Relay terminals serve as intermediaries that receive the enhancement layer via short-range interface from the source terminal and forward it to the destination. This intermediary mechanism enables high-quality video transmission through energy-efficient short-range links rather than energy-intensive long-range uplink transmission.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Productivity

If multiple radio interfaces are used for simultaneous transmission, then the bit rate increases, but interference between simultaneous transmission and reception occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebit rateVSAvoidinterference
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs periodic transmission frames with alternating downlink and uplink phases. During downlink frames, the terminal receives data; during uplink frames, the terminal transmits data. This periodic time-division approach allows multiple radio interfaces to be used effectively while avoiding self-interference between simultaneous transmission and reception operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentEP2373027B1Method and system for cooperative transmission of a video sequence.
Publication Date: 2017.12.13 THALES SA
  • EP2373027B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2373027B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The method involves segmenting a video sequence into a base layer and an upgrading layer. The base layer is transmitted towards a receiving terminal (5) via a long range radio interface e.g. wide area network interface, of an emitting terminal (1). The upgrading layer is transmitted towards a cooperation terminal (2) via a short range radio interface e.g. wireless local area network interface, of the emitting terminal. The upgrading layer is transmitted towards the receiving terminal via a long range radio interface of the cooperation terminal. An independent claim is also included for a system for transmitting a video sequence to a receiving terminal.