DNS-Based Network Assistance for DASH Streaming Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Temporary bandwidth limitations in cellular or mobile networks can cause media streaming buffer underflow, leading to stalled playback and a poor user experience, as existing solutions like the 3GPP Feasibility Study's Network Assistance function do not fully address these issues.
Innovation Solution
A terminal device with receiver and transmitter circuitry, along with processing circuitry, that communicates through separate paths to identify and request network assistance from infrastructure elements, such as DANE (Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over Hypertext Transfer Protocol-aware Network Elements), to manage bandwidth and prevent buffer underflow by establishing data communication paths for enhanced media streaming.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If network assistance is implemented through separate communication paths, then media streaming stability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the communication system into two distinct paths: a first communication path for data transmission and a second communication path for network assistance signaling. This segmentation allows the media streaming data and control signaling to be handled separately, improving reliability by preventing interference between data flow and assistance requests while maintaining manageable complexity through clear functional separation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary network element that facilitates communication between the terminal device and the network infrastructure. This intermediary handles the coordination of network assistance requests and responses, reducing the complexity burden on the terminal device while ensuring reliable media streaming through coordinated network control.
2Adaptability or versatility
If DNS-based network element identification is used, then adaptability to network conditions is improved, but information loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the terminal device monitors network conditions and sends DNS-based queries to identify appropriate network elements. The network elements respond with information about their capabilities and current status, allowing the terminal to adapt its media streaming parameters dynamically while receiving accurate, real-time network element information through the feedback loop.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary DNS-based network element identification before media streaming begins. This preliminary action allows the terminal device to pre-establish the appropriate communication paths and network element associations, improving adaptability to network conditions while minimizing information loss by ensuring accurate element identification before data transmission starts.
Data Source
AI summary
A terminal device for use with a telecommunications network, the terminal device comprising receiver circuitry, transmitter circuitry and processing circuitry, wherein the processing circuitry is configured: to control the receiver circuitry to receive data from infrastructure equipment of the network via a first communication path through the network; to control the transmitter circuitry to transmit, via a second, different, communication path through the network, a request to infrastructure equipment of the network requesting information identifying an element of the network configured to perform a predetermined process associated with the transmission of the data to the receiver circuitry; to control the receiver circuitry to receive, from infrastructure equipment of the network via the second communication path, a signal identifying the element of the network configured to perform the predetermined process associated with the transmission of the data to the receiver circuitry; and to monitor whether a predetermined condition associated with the reception of the data by the receiver circuitry is met and, when it is determined that the predetermined condition is met, to control the transmitter circuitry to transmit a request to infrastructure equipment of the network requesting the identified element of the network to perform the predetermined process associated with the transmission of the data to the receiver circuitry.