Discarded-Packet Sequence Signaling for Media Playback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing media data transmission protocols, such as RTSP/RTMP and HTTP/TCP, prioritize sequence preserving performance, leading to network delays and freezing during media playback when network conditions deteriorate, affecting user experience.
Innovation Solution
A data packet transmission method where a network element determines and sends a data packet with sequence information of a to-be-discarded packet, allowing the terminal device to decode subsequent packets without waiting, thereby improving continuity and real-time performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If TCP sequence preserving performance is used to ensure data packet sorting reliability, then data transmission accuracy is improved, but network delay increases and real-time performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of packet handling by introducing a discard threshold mechanism. When the number of discarded packets reaches a threshold, the system switches from strict sequence preserving mode to a mode that allows out-of-order delivery, thereby reducing network delay while maintaining acceptable reliability through selective discarding of excessive packets.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of always preserving sequence order, the patent inverts the approach by deliberately discarding packets that would cause excessive delay. The system prioritizes real-time performance over complete sequence preservation when network conditions deteriorate, allowing the playback to continue with available packets rather than waiting for lost packets.
2Reliability
If retransmission of lost packets is performed to ensure sorting reliability, then data completeness is improved, but freezing during playback occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies discarding by intentionally dropping packets that would cause playback freezing. Instead of attempting to recover all lost packets through retransmission, the system discards packets beyond a certain threshold and recovers playback continuity by proceeding with the next available packets, thus maintaining user experience despite incomplete data.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs partial retransmission or selective discarding rather than attempting to recover every lost packet. When network conditions are poor, the system accepts that some packets will be lost and focuses on maintaining continuous playback with the packets that are successfully received, rather than waiting for complete data recovery.
3Reliability
If all data packets are transmitted in sequence to ensure sorting reliability, then data accuracy is improved, but user experience deteriorates due to freezing
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically changes the parameter of packet delivery behavior based on network conditions. When network quality is good, strict sequence preserving mode is used for high data accuracy. When network quality deteriorates, the system switches to a more flexible mode that prioritizes continuous playback, thereby maintaining acceptable user experience under varying network conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic adaptability by making the packet handling strategy flexible rather than static. The system monitors network conditions and adjusts its behavior accordingly, switching between sequence preserving mode and out-of-order delivery mode to optimize both data accuracy and user experience under different network scenarios.
Data Source
AI summary
A data packet transmission method includes receiving, by a first network element, a first data packet of a first service from an application server. The method also includes determining, by the first network element, first sequence information of a second data packet. The second data packet is a to-be-discarded data packet of the first service. The first sequence information indicates a sequence of the second data packet. The method further includes determining, by the first network element, a third data packet. The third data packet includes the first sequence information. The method additionally includes sending, by the first network element, the third data packet to a terminal device.