Dynamic Media Streaming Parameter Adaptation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional systems lack an effective mechanism for dynamically adjusting media content streaming and playback parameters, relying heavily on user speculation and offering limited configuration options, which can lead to unsatisfactory playback performance due to inadequate adaptation to changing streaming and playback conditions.

Innovation Solution

A system that probes network and device conditions to dynamically adjust streaming and playback parameters, including aggressiveness of the network transmitter, transmit rate ramp-up slope, maximum transmit rate, and buffer size, to optimize media content streaming and playback performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If higher bit rate transmission is used to provide highest quality signal, then signal quality is improved, but playback performance becomes unsatisfactory when receiver or network cannot handle the data load

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal qualityVSAvoidplayback performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts bit rate and other streaming parameters based on real-time feedback about network conditions and receiver capabilities. The bit rate is not fixed but adapts during transmission to match actual system capacity, resolving the contradiction between high signal quality and reliable playback.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates feedback mechanisms that monitor network throughput, receiver buffer status, and playback performance, then use this information to adjust streaming parameters. This closed-loop control enables the system to maintain optimal balance between quality and reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If larger sized buffers are used to accommodate more data, then resilience to transmission disturbances is improved, but memory availability for other system components is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresilience to transmission disturbancesVSAvoidmemory availability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes buffer size parameters dynamically based on actual network conditions and playback requirements. Rather than using a fixed large buffer, the system adjusts buffer dimensions to match real-time needs, achieving adequate resilience while preserving memory for other functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If larger preroll of data is used to provide greater resiliency to transmission disturbances, then playback reliability is improved, but playback initiation speed is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresiliency to transmission disturbancesVSAvoidplayback initiation speed

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts preroll amount based on network conditions and playback context. The preroll is not a fixed large value but adapts to provide sufficient buffer for resilience while minimizing delay to playback initiation, resolving the contradiction between reliability and speed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Reliability

If manual parameter configuration is provided to users, then playback performance can be optimized, but system complexity and user burden increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveplayback performanceVSAvoidparameter configuration complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-configuration by automatically probing network conditions, receiver capabilities, and optimizing parameters without user intervention. This eliminates the complexity burden on users while maintaining optimal playback performance through autonomous adaptation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces manual mechanical parameter configuration with automated electronic probing and analysis. Instead of requiring users to manually adjust parameters, the system uses electronic detection and computational algorithms to automatically determine optimal settings.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS8914529B2Dynamically adapting media content streaming and playback parameters for existing streaming and playback conditions

Publication Date: 2014.12.16 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC

AI summary

Adjusting media streaming parameters of a media streaming device and media playback parameters of a media playback device is disclosed. In one embodiment, the system probes a network infrastructure to determine a network type, a playback device type, a streaming device type, a media content type, a preroll duration, and a playback device buffer size. Based upon these streaming and playback conditions, values of streaming parameters of a streaming device and values of playback parameters of a playback device are determined. Streaming parameters include the aggressiveness of the network transmitter, the slope of the transmit rate ramp-up, and the maximum transmit rate. Playback parameters include the amount of data prerolled by the playback device. The aforementioned values are sent to streaming and playback device control systems to control the streaming and the playback of the media, during and/or before playback.