HTTP Live Streaming Index Start Position Identifier
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current HTTP Live Streaming protocols do not efficiently allow clients to start playback from a specific point in a multimedia stream, requiring clients to download and analyze an entire index of segmented media files to determine the correct starting point.
Innovation Solution
Generating an index for HTTP Live media streams that includes a start position identifier, allowing clients to directly request and start playback from a specified segmented media file, thereby enabling seamless playback from any desired point in the stream.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If clients download and analyze the entire index of segmented media files to determine the starting point, then they can accurately locate the desired playback position, but this increases bandwidth usage and reduces playback efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the necessary information (start position identifier and corresponding segmented media file location) from the complete index, allowing clients to locate the desired playback position without downloading the entire index. This selective extraction reduces bandwidth consumption while maintaining accurate position identification.
Solution Approach 2:
The server pre-processes the index to identify and highlight the start position identifier and corresponding segmented media file before the client requests playback. This preliminary action enables the client to directly jump to the desired position without analyzing the entire index, improving both efficiency and accuracy.
2Measurement precision
If clients download and analyze the entire index of segmented media files to determine the starting point, then they can accurately locate the desired playback position, but this increases the time required to start playback
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the necessary information (start position identifier and corresponding segmented media file location) from the complete index, allowing clients to locate the desired playback position without downloading the entire index. This selective extraction reduces bandwidth consumption while maintaining accurate position identification.
Solution Approach 2:
The server pre-processes the index to identify and highlight the start position identifier and corresponding segmented media file before the client requests playback. This preliminary action enables the client to directly jump to the desired position without analyzing the entire index, improving both efficiency and accuracy.
3Device complexity
If the index includes only a list of segmented media files without start position identifiers, then the protocol remains simple, but clients cannot efficiently start playback from a specific point
Solution Approach 1:
The server pre-processes the index to identify and highlight the start position identifier and corresponding segmented media file before the client requests playback. This preliminary action enables the client to directly jump to the desired position without analyzing the entire index, improving both efficiency and accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enhances the index structure by adding start position identifiers at specific locations within the index rather than requiring a complete restructuring. This localized enhancement maintains the overall simplicity of the index format while providing the necessary functionality for efficient random access playback.
Data Source
AI summary
A device may generate an index for providing media files via a HTTP Live media stream. The index may include an ordered list of uniform resource identifiers for obtaining the media files. The device may determine a start position for content corresponding to the media files and may insert a start point identifier into the index. The start point identifier may identify one of the uniform resource identifiers included in the ordered list of uniform resource identifiers, for obtaining one of media files that corresponds to the start position for the content. The device may send the index to a client device. The device may receive a request the one of the media files and may provide the one of the media files to the client device via the HTTP Live media stream.