Edge Node Control for Live Video Streaming Bandwidth
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for live TV distribution over IP networks face challenges in maintaining live video streaming due to network congestion, bandwidth variations, and delays, as they either cause avalanche effects or oscillations by independent client decisions, leading to suboptimal video quality and experience.
Innovation Solution
A method that analyzes data stream characteristics and system characteristics to adaptively adjust bandwidth usage and recovery schemes like FEC and retransmissions, coordinating strategies across multiple client devices to prevent congestion and optimize video quality, by grouping devices based on shared network resources and applying intelligent retransmission strategies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If TCP congestion control mechanisms are used to adjust retransmission rate, then network congestion is avoided, but video streaming delay increases and live experience is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the network traffic into different priority levels, separating video streaming traffic from other data traffic. By assigning different QoS parameters and handling mechanisms to different traffic types, the system can apply aggressive retransmission to video packets without causing congestion in other network flows, thus maintaining live streaming experience while ensuring reliable video delivery
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism (QoS manager/edge node) that mediates between the application layer and the network layer. This intermediary monitors network conditions, manages retransmission requests, and controls bandwidth allocation, thereby preventing the avalanche effect while ensuring video packets receive priority treatment to minimize delay
2Reliability
If retransmission requests are sent for lost packets, then video quality is maintained, but network congestion worsens due to increased bandwidth consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial retransmission by selectively requesting retransmission of only critical video packets (e.g., I-frames, key P-frames) rather than all lost packets. This selective approach maintains acceptable video quality while significantly reducing the bandwidth overhead of retransmission requests, preventing network congestion
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically changes retransmission parameters (such as retransmission probability, timeout values, and priority levels) based on current network conditions. When network congestion is detected, the system adjusts parameters to reduce retransmission volume while maintaining quality for critical packets, thus balancing video quality and bandwidth consumption
3Stability of the object's composition
If buffering is increased to compensate for unpredictable data arrival, then video continuity is ensured, but delay increases and live experience is removed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic buffer management where buffer size and timing parameters are continuously adjusted based on real-time network conditions and video packet arrival patterns. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to maintain video continuity during normal conditions while minimizing buffer delay, and only increases buffering when absolutely necessary, preserving the live streaming experience
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs feedback mechanisms where the receiver monitors packet arrival timing and network conditions, then sends feedback to the sender to adjust transmission timing and retransmission strategies. This closed-loop control enables the system to maintain video continuity with minimal buffering by proactively addressing potential delays before they accumulate
4Productivity
If ABR adjusts video quality to match available bandwidth, then bandwidth utilization is optimized, but video quality fluctuates and viewer experience degrades
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality adjustment by allowing different video streams or different portions of the video stream to have different quality levels based on local network conditions. Critical video data maintains high quality while less critical portions may be adjusted, thereby maintaining overall video quality consistency while optimizing bandwidth utilization
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a method for providing edge node (110) fault management and bandwidth, (BW), control for transmission of a data stream in a packet-based network. The method comprises adaptively transmitting a data stream (DS) by controlling an outgoing data stream being transmitted to one or more client devices (151, 152, 153) by analyzing at least one data stream characteristics of a corresponding received data stream (DS1, DS2, DS3) of the one or more receiving client devices (151, 152, 153), and providing a transmission strategy for the outgoing data stream based on said analyzed data stream characteristics. Thereby accurate adjustment of consumed (BW) and an associated recovery scheme, i.e. FEC and/or retransmission, to maintain highest achievable performance when it comes to video quality and also affect on other services, are provided.