Data Communication System with Segmented Primary and Secondary Channels

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing real-time communication systems, such as those using the Internet for audio and video conferencing, face challenges in ensuring low latency due to varying processing power of client devices and infrastructure differences, leading to suboptimal communication quality when multiple devices with different capabilities are used.

Innovation Solution

A data communication system that categorizes data into primary and secondary types, prioritizing immediate transmission of primary data and acknowledging secondary data to adjust communication rates and packet sizes based on network and device characteristics, using a centralized server or peer-to-peer mode to manage data flow and optimize network usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If data packets are transmitted through multiplicity of routes in the Internet, then network flexibility and redundancy are improved, but latency and delivery timing reliability deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedelivery timing reliabilityVSAvoidlatency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments data transmission into two distinct channels: a dedicated low-latency channel for time-critical audio packets and a standard Internet channel for less time-sensitive data. This segmentation allows audio packets to bypass the multiplicity of routes that cause latency, while maintaining network flexibility for other data types.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a dedicated transmission channel as an intermediary between the audio source and destination. This intermediary channel is specifically designed for low-latency audio packet delivery, separating the audio transmission path from the general Internet routing infrastructure that causes variability and delay.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If video information is transmitted concurrently with audio information, then complete communication quality is improved, but network bandwidth consumption and processing load increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication qualityVSAvoiddata volume
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the communication protocol to handle audio and video data separately. Audio packets are transmitted through a dedicated low-latency channel, while video packets use the standard Internet channel. This segmentation allows selective transmission based on time-criticality, reducing overall data volume when video is not immediately needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies partial action by transmitting only audio information when time-criticality is the primary concern, and only video information when bandwidth is available and latency is less critical. This selective transmission approach reduces data volume compared to concurrent transmission of both audio and video streams.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Loss of time

If audio information is transmitted with minimal delay, then real-time communication quality is improved, but video transmission capability is compromised due to bandwidth allocation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaudio delayVSAvoidvideo transmission quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the transmission infrastructure into a dedicated low-latency channel for audio and a standard channel for video. This allows audio packets to receive prioritized treatment with minimal delay while video packets transmit at appropriate quality levels without being forced to share the same constrained channel, resolving the trade-off between audio latency and video quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS9413797B2Data communication system and method
Publication Date: 2016.08.09 ADEIA MEDIA HOLDINGS INC
  • US9413797B2 patent drawing
  • US9413797B2 patent drawing
  • US9413797B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A data communication system includes a centralized server arrangement coupled via a communication network arrangement to a plurality of client devices. The centralized server arrangement and the plurality of client devices exchange data. The system allocates the data into a primary type of data and at least a secondary type of data. The primary data is communicated substantially immediately within the system, and the at least secondary data is communicated in the system in association with corresponding acknowledgements (ACK) in response to receipt and processing of the at least secondary type of data at one or more of the client devices. At least one of the one or more client devices is optionally a wireless-enabled mobile communication device or a wirelessly-connected personal computer (PC).