Encoder Rate Switching for Wireless Broadcast Streaming
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems for viewing television broadcasting with multiple terminals simultaneously face delays in channel selection and reduced transmission efficiency due to streaming start processing, transcoding, and the need for unicast data transfer over wireless LAN.
Innovation Solution
A communication apparatus with an encoder that switches data rates in two stages, allowing immediate channel selection by switching from a low-rate to a high-rate stream, and a terminal that decodes and displays the selected stream, optimizing bandwidth use and reducing waiting times.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If streaming start processing is performed when a viewing channel is selected, then the channel can be tuned and transmitted, but it takes time to output image and audio on the terminal resulting in waiting time until viewing the program
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary encoding of the broadcast signal into multiple bitrate streams (first bitrate and second bitrate) before channel selection occurs. When a user selects a channel, the corresponding pre-encoded stream is immediately switched and transmitted without requiring real-time transcoding, thereby eliminating waiting time and achieving immediate channel viewing.
2Adaptability or versatility
If unicast data transfer is used for each viewer to view television, then each terminal can receive the stream, but data for each viewer is necessary reducing transmission efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The broadcast stream is segmented into multiple bitrate versions (first bitrate stream and second bitrate stream) during preliminary encoding. The system then selectively transmits the appropriate segmented stream based on terminal type and network conditions, allowing efficient multi-terminal viewing without redundant data transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes transmission parameters by selecting different bitrate streams based on terminal capabilities and network conditions. By switching between first bitrate and second bitrate streams, the system adapts to different viewing scenarios while maintaining transmission efficiency through selective rather than universal data transmission.
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is a communication apparatus including: an encoder with a plurality of channels configured to encode an input stream while switching a rate of output data in at least two stages; and a wireless communication apparatus that transfers output of the encoder to a terminal by way of a wireless communication network, in which, when a channel is selected at the terminal, output of the encoder is switched from a low-rate stream to a high-rate stream such that the high-rate stream is transmitted to the terminal at which the channel has been selected.