Glitchless Failover for IP Video Streams via Synchronization Buffers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current internet protocol (IP) based video distribution systems experience brief interruptions when switching from a primary to a redundant video stream due to differences induced by network failures, such as dropped or corrupted packets.
Innovation Solution
The method involves receiving identical video streams through multiple paths, synchronizing them using synchronization buffers, and generating a composite stream through a packet selection process that ensures seamless failover without glitches by continuously selecting packets from either source, maintaining synchronization, and using time base recovery to manage network-induced jitter.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If failover switching is implemented between primary and redundant video streams, then system reliability is improved, but video signal continuity deteriorates due to brief interruptions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-synchronizing multiple video streams before failover is needed. Synchronization buffers are used to align packets from different paths in advance, so when failover occurs, the transition is seamless without interruptions. This pre-alignment of streams resolves the contradiction by ensuring continuity is maintained during the reliability-improving failover switch.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses synchronization buffers as an intermediary mechanism between the primary and redundant video streams. These buffers act as mediators that hold and align packets from multiple paths, enabling smooth transitions during failover. The intermediary buffers absorb timing differences and packet variations, preventing interruptions while maintaining system reliability through seamless failover.
2Reliability
If multiple identical streams are received through multiple paths, then redundancy is improved, but device complexity increases due to synchronization requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the video stream processing into separate synchronization buffers for each path. Each buffer independently handles packets from its specific path, and the system selectively combines packets from these segmented buffers based on synchronization status. This segmentation manages complexity by organizing the redundant stream handling into discrete, manageable units while maintaining reliability through multiple independent paths.
3Manufacturing precision
If packet selection process is used to generate composite stream, then video quality is improved by avoiding corrupted packets, but processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses feedback mechanisms in the packet selection process where the system continuously monitors packet synchronization status and quality from multiple streams. Based on this feedback, the system dynamically selects packets from the best-synchronized stream. This feedback-driven approach improves video quality by avoiding corrupted or desynchronized packets while managing processing complexity through intelligent, adaptive selection rather than exhaustive processing.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method and apparatus for providing seamless failover to a redundant stream at an edge device is disclosed. A plurality of identical streams are received via a plurality of paths at a plurality of synchronization buffers. Each synchronization buffer receives one of the plurality of identical streams from a corresponding path of the plurality of paths. The plurality of streams are synchronized. A composite stream is generated from the plurality of identical streams according to a packet selection process.