DASH MPD Hybrid Source Switching for Streaming
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP (DASH) protocols are limited in their ability to seamlessly integrate non-HTTP and HTTP sources for media content delivery, lacking flexibility in switching between different sources and formats, which can impact media presentation quality and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves generating and utilizing a DASH Media Presentation Description (MPD) that combines HTTP and non-HTTP sources, allowing dynamic switching between them, enabling the use of both HTTP and non-HTTP Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) for media content retrieval, and facilitating media content transformations and storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If DASH protocol uses only HTTP sources for media content delivery, then network compatibility and ease of operation are improved, but adaptability and versatility are worsened due to inability to integrate non-HTTP sources
Solution Approach 1:
The MPD structure is extended to support multiple URL schemes (HTTP, HTTPS, FTP, file, and custom schemes) within the same framework. The BaseURL element and Representation structure are designed to accommodate different source types universally, allowing the DASH client to handle both HTTP and non-HTTP sources through a unified interface, thereby achieving multi-functionality without sacrificing ease of operation
2Adaptability or versatility
If DASH protocol integrates multiple source types (HTTP and non-HTTP), then adaptability and versatility are improved, but device complexity increases due to need to handle multiple protocols
Solution Approach 1:
The MPD file serves as an intermediary that describes and coordinates multiple source types. Instead of requiring the client to directly handle complex multi-protocol logic, the MPD provides a standardized description of available sources (HTTP, non-HTTP, local storage) and their relationships, allowing the client to make switching decisions based on pre-defined criteria without implementing complex protocol-handling machinery
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables dynamic source switching where the client can adaptively select between HTTP sources, non-HTTP sources, and local storage based on current network conditions, device state, and content availability. The MPD structure supports time-varying BaseURLs and representation switching, allowing the system to dynamically optimize content delivery without increasing inherent device complexity
3Reliability
If DASH client dynamically switches between HTTP and non-HTTP sources, then media presentation quality is improved through adaptive streaming, but loss of time occurs due to source switching overhead
Solution Approach 1:
The MPD file is generated in advance with pre-defined BaseURLs for different sources (HTTP, non-HTTP, local storage) and their corresponding representations. Switching decisions and source configurations are prepared beforehand in the MPD structure, allowing the client to quickly switch between sources by simply changing to a pre-configured BaseURL without performing complex real-time protocol negotiations or transformations, thereby minimizing switching time
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus comprising a memory, and a processor coupled to the memory and configured to obtain a Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) (DASH) Media Presentation Description (MPD) from an HTTP server, wherein the MPD describes a media presentation as a combination of an HTTP source and a non-HTTP source. A computer program product comprising computer executable instructions stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium such that when executed by a processor, cause a network element (NE) to receive a Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) (DASH) Media Presentation Description (MPD) from an HTTP server; and dynamically switch between a HTTP source and a non-HTTP source of the media presentation described according to the MPD.