Dynamic Bitrate Algorithm Control for Streaming Media
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Solution Overview
Problem
Multiple bitrate streaming algorithms often inaccurately assess available bandwidth during advertisement breaks, leading to unnecessary switching to lower bitrate versions of media programs, which can degrade the viewing experience by reducing video quality and causing playback jitter.
Innovation Solution
A method to dynamically disable and enable the multiple bitrate algorithm based on whether advertisements are being received, ensuring that bandwidth readings are not affected by advertisement downloads, thereby preventing unnecessary bitrate adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the multiple bitrate algorithm continuously monitors bandwidth to adaptively switch between bitrate versions, then the system can compensate for reduced bandwidth availability, but the algorithm inaccurately assesses bandwidth during advertisement breaks causing unnecessary bitrate downgrades and degraded video quality
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of advertisement breaks using metadata or pattern recognition before bandwidth assessment becomes inaccurate. By identifying ad break timing in advance, the system can temporarily suspend bitrate switching operations during these periods, preventing unnecessary bitrate downgrades while maintaining automatic adaptation during normal playback
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms that monitor playback quality metrics and bandwidth assessment data to detect when bitrate switching causes degradation. This feedback loop allows the system to learn from past performance and adjust its bitrate switching behavior, disabling automatic adaptation when it negatively impacts video quality while restoring it when conditions are favorable
2Productivity
If the client switches to lower bitrate version during advertisement breaks to compensate for reduced bandwidth, then more media program content can be downloaded, but video quality deteriorates and playback becomes jittery
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the bitrate switching behavior based on playback phase detection. During advertisement breaks, the system temporarily disables bitrate switching to maintain video quality, while during normal playback it enables adaptive bitrate switching to optimize download speed. This dynamic control allows the system to achieve both high productivity and quality at different appropriate times
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters of the multiple bitrate algorithm based on detected advertisement break conditions. By modifying the algorithm's switching threshold or disabling it temporarily during ad breaks, the system prevents quality degradation while maintaining the capability for fast downloads during normal playback periods
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, a method determines first information from a component of a computing device to determine when receiving of one or more advertisements will affect an available bandwidth reading that is based on receiving of a media program. Then, the method dynamically disables a multiple bitrate algorithm based upon the first information such that a new bitrate version of the media program cannot be requested by the multiple bitrate algorithm for the media player. Second information is determined from the component of the computing device to determine when the available bandwidth reading will not be affected by receiving of the one or more advertisements. The method then dynamically enables the multiple bitrate algorithm based on the second information. The multiple bitrate algorithm is then allowed to request the different bitrate version of the media program based on the available bandwidth reading.