Dynamic Bandwidth Re-Allocation for Video Streaming
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems for online video delivery fail to ensure equitable bandwidth distribution among clients with the same service level agreement, leading to inequitable quality of service due to temporary network conditions and incorrect client estimations.
Innovation Solution
A video flow monitoring and marking system adjusts parameters such as token bucket rates, downstream service flow headers, and latency levels to prioritize video streams, ensuring equal bandwidth allocation by influencing client perceptions of network conditions and adjusting bitrates accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If clients independently determine and request video streams based on their connection bitrate, then each client receives the highest possible quality stream they can sustain, but network conditions cause inequitable bandwidth distribution among clients with the same service level agreement
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the network monitors actual bandwidth usage and quality metrics, then adjusts bandwidth allocation dynamically. The network sends feedback signals to clients about their bandwidth usage and quality experience, enabling clients to adjust their stream requests accordingly, thus achieving equitable bandwidth distribution while maintaining high video quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes key parameters such as bandwidth allocation, quality thresholds, and stream selection criteria dynamically based on real-time network conditions. By adjusting these parameters centrally coordinated by the network, the system ensures that all clients with the same service level agreement receive equitable bandwidth distribution while maintaining optimal video quality.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the network provides adaptive bitrate adjustment to accommodate varying network conditions, then clients can maintain video playback, but temporary network conditions cause some clients to receive lower bitrates than others with identical service level agreements
Solution Approach 1:
The network performs preliminary actions by pre-establishing bandwidth allocation profiles and quality thresholds for different service levels. Before actual video streaming occurs, the network configures clients with their entitled bandwidth parameters based on their service level agreements, ensuring that temporary network conditions cannot cause inequitable treatment. This preliminary configuration ensures all clients start with equal opportunities.
Solution Approach 2:
The network acts as an intermediary between clients and the content delivery infrastructure. It mediates bandwidth allocation by centrally managing and distributing bandwidth resources according to service level agreements, preventing direct client-to-server negotiations that could lead to inequitable outcomes. The intermediary ensures fair distribution while maintaining adaptability to network conditions.
3Productivity
If clients switch to lower bitrate streams in response to network congestion, then video playback continues, but bandwidth allocation becomes inequitable and quality of service deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the network monitors actual bandwidth usage and quality metrics, then adjusts bandwidth allocation dynamically. The network sends feedback signals to clients about their bandwidth usage and quality experience, enabling clients to adjust their stream requests accordingly, thus achieving equitable bandwidth distribution while maintaining high video quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The network provides beforehand cushioning by establishing reserved bandwidth profiles and quality guarantees for each service level before congestion occurs. This cushioning ensures that during network congestion, clients with the same service level agreement maintain their entitled bandwidth allocation, preventing quality deterioration and ensuring equitable service continuity.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
A method and system for dynamic bandwidth re-allocation is provided. The method includes the steps of monitoring a video streams delivered by a server to a first client and a second client that have a same service level agreement and determining whether the first client is receiving a lower bitrate video stream compared to the second client. The method further includes the step of adjusting a parameter to allow the first client to receive a higher bitrate video stream. In an example, the monitoring, determining and adjusting steps are performed by a cable modem termination system (CMTS). In another example, the monitoring, determining and adjusting steps are performed by an optical line terminal (OLT).