Game Console Streaming via Prefetch Encoding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current technologies do not allow gamers to live stream their game sessions directly from game consoles to streaming service sites without the use of an intermediary device, due to the lower memory and processing capabilities of game consoles compared to traditional servers and desktop computers.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that enables game consoles to stream media streams, including augmented game sessions, by prefetching data to the cache and encoding primary views to produce lower-quality secondary views, thereby overcoming processing limitations and enabling real-time streaming.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If game consoles use traditional encoding methods to stream game sessions, then streaming quality would be high, but the processing capabilities and memory of game consoles are insufficient to support real-time encoding
Solution Approach 1:
The encoding process is divided into two stages: first, video data is captured and stored in local memory during gameplay; second, the captured video data is encoded and streamed in real-time. This segmentation allows the console to handle encoding demands in manageable portions rather than requiring full real-time encoding capability during active gameplay.
Solution Approach 2:
Video data from the game session is captured and stored in local memory before being encoded for streaming. This preliminary capture action allows the encoding process to operate on pre-captured data rather than requiring simultaneous capture and encoding, reducing the real-time processing burden on the console.
2Manufacturing precision
If game consoles stream high-quality video directly, then viewers receive better quality content, but the memory and processing limitations of consoles prevent direct high-quality streaming
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates a copy of the game session video data and stores it in local memory. This copied data can then be encoded and streamed without consuming additional memory during the streaming process, as the encoding operates on the stored copy rather than requiring continuous high-quality video buffer space.
3Ease of operation
If commentators only see captured video views, then they can provide commentary based on recorded footage, but they are limited to seeing only the views that were captured by the game session video
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides multiple view options to commentators, including both the captured game session video views and additional uncaptured views. This multi-functionality allows commentators to select from various perspectives depending on their needs, enhancing their ability to provide comprehensive commentary while maintaining access to the original captured footage.
Data Source
AI summary
An approach is provided for streaming of media streams (e.g., from a game console). In one implementation, a media stream that includes a secondary view of the game world may be generated at the game console. The secondary view may be of a lower-quality version of a primary view of the game world. The generation of the media stream may include: prefetching, to a cache of the game console, portions of the primary view and/or instructions for encoding the portions; and encoding, based on the prefetching, the portions to produce the secondary view. In another implementation, game play information may be executed to reproduce previous game play of a previous game session during a reproduction of the previous game session. Augmentation content may be added to the reproduced game session during the reproduction of the previous game session, creating an augmented game session having one or more views for streaming.