Delta File System for HTTP Streaming MPD Updates

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current HTTP adaptive streaming systems face significant bandwidth consumption issues due to the frequent updating and distribution of large Media Presentation Description (MPD) files, especially in live streaming scenarios, where clients need to download the entire MPD every few seconds to adapt to changing conditions, leading to resource inefficiencies.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a delta file system where only the changed information since the last update is downloaded, using XPath expressions to identify and apply changes to the MPD, reducing the bandwidth requirements and computational resources needed for compression and decompression.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the entire MPD file is downloaded frequently to adapt to changing conditions, then the adaptability of the streaming system is improved, but the bandwidth consumption increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveadaptabilityVSAvoidbandwidth consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The MPD file is segmented into a base MPD file containing static information and delta files containing only the changed portions. Clients download the base MPD file once and then only download small delta files for updates, rather than downloading the entire MPD file repeatedly. This segmentation allows the system to maintain adaptability while dramatically reducing bandwidth consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention extracts only the changed information from the MPD file into separate delta files. These delta files contain minimal data representing only the modifications since the last version. By taking out only the necessary changed portions rather than the entire file, the system achieves efficient updates with minimal bandwidth usage while preserving full adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If the MPD file is updated frequently to reflect changing stream conditions, then the reliability of the streaming system is improved, but the quantity of data transmitted increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovereliabilityVSAvoiddata transmitted
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The MPD update mechanism is segmented into base files and incremental delta files. This allows frequent updates to be transmitted in small, manageable portions rather than as large complete files, maintaining reliability through frequent updates while minimizing the quantity of data transmitted.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system discards the practice of transmitting redundant unchanged data and recovers only the essential changed information in delta files. This approach maintains reliability by providing up-to-date information while minimizing data transmission volume by discarding redundant content.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

3Loss of energy

If compression is applied to reduce MPD file size, then the bandwidth consumption is reduced, but the computational resources needed for compression and decompression increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebandwidth consumptionVSAvoidcomputational resources
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Rather than applying compression algorithms that require significant computational resources, the invention extracts only the changed portions of the MPD file into delta files. This extraction approach reduces bandwidth consumption by eliminating redundant unchanged data without requiring heavy compression/decompression operations, thus avoiding the increase in computational resources.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP3399717B1Media presentation description delta file for HTTP streaming
Publication Date: 2021.04.21 BLACKBERRY LTD
  • EP3399717B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3399717B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3399717B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method for obtaining media presentation description information. The method includes a client obtaining information related to a change in a first Media Presentation Description (MPD) on a server. The method further includes the client updating a second MPD on the client with the information related to the change.