HLS Access Device Trickplay Support for DLNA Streams
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems fail to maintain continuity of media playback during trickplay operations, such as pause/resume and seek, when transitioning between HLS and DLNA streams, due to lack of support for bit rate variants and recognition of pause/resume commands in DLNA streaming protocols.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that receive a trickplay request, identify a seek target, terminate the current multimedia stream, initiate a new stream from the content source with the seek target, and modify the new stream by integrating cached content to ensure seamless playback, using a media converter application that converts and outputs the new stream to a media player.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a DLNA stream is used for media delivery, then the device can receive continuous media data, but the device cannot perform trickplay operations (pause/resume, seek) because DLNA does not support these commands
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary layer (the HLS access device) between the DLNA content source and the media player. This intermediary translates DLNA stream data into HLS format, enabling trickplay operations. The HLS access device acts as a mediator that understands both DLNA protocols and HLS protocols, converting between them to enable pause/resume and seek operations that would otherwise be impossible on raw DLNA streams.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental parameters of media delivery by converting from continuous DLNA stream format to segmented HLS format. This parameter change enables the system to support trickplay operations, as HLS segments can be selectively retrieved and played at different positions, while DLNA's continuous stream format does not support such operations.
2Measurement precision
If the existing DLNA stream is stopped and a new stream is established for seek operations, then the desired playback position can be reached, but media continuity is lost due to transition gaps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-loading and buffering HLS segments before the actual seek operation. The system maintains a buffer of segments and uses this buffer to ensure smooth transitions during seek operations. By having segments ready in advance and using them to bridge the transition between old and new streams, the system avoids playback gaps while achieving precise position changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent ensures continuity of useful action by maintaining an overlapping buffer of HLS segments that bridges the transition between the old stream and the new stream during seek operations. Instead of completely stopping and starting the stream, the system uses buffered segments to maintain continuous playback, ensuring that the useful action of media delivery continues without interruption during the transition.
3Adaptability or versatility
If HLS variant playlists are used for bit rate switching, then the device can adapt to network bandwidth changes, but the device cannot perform trickplay operations because variant playlists do not support seeking to specific positions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the media content into discrete HLS segments that can be individually managed. This segmentation enables the system to track which segments have been downloaded and play them in the correct order, allowing seek operations to specific positions while maintaining the ability to switch between different bit rate variants through the playlist mechanism.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and computer readable media can be operable to facilitate the generation of a continuous multimedia stream during trickplay operations. When a trickplay request is received by a device that is processing a video stream for delivery to a media player, the device may modify the video stream to create a seamless delivery and playback of the underlying content at the media player. In response to a trickplay request such as a pause request or seek request, the device may identify a seek target based on the request and may initiate a new video stream that begins at the identified seek target. The device may further modify the new stream by trimming from the stream any content that is already stored or cached at the media player, thereby creating a video stream without any discontinuities.