Adaptive HTTP Streaming BaseURL Mapping

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing adaptive streaming technologies face challenges in efficiently interpreting and generating Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) for media segments using multiple BaseURL elements during content playback, which affects the flexibility and reliability of media delivery.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus that receive metadata including one or more BaseURL elements, generate a URL for a media segment by mapping a BaseURL element to a sourceURL attribute, and decode and render media data, allowing for flexible URL resolution and segment access using HTTP GET requests.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple BaseURL elements are used for segment locations, then the adaptability and reliability of media delivery are improved, but the complexity of URL interpretation and generation increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability of media deliveryVSAvoidcomplexity of URL interpretation

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The URL generation process is segmented into distinct steps: resolving BaseURL elements against the MPD document, mapping resolved BaseURLs to sourceURL attributes, and constructing final segment URLs. This segmentation simplifies the overall complexity by breaking down the URL interpretation task into manageable, sequential operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary mapping mechanism where resolved BaseURL elements are mapped to sourceURL attributes of segments. This mapping acts as an intermediary layer that simplifies the relationship between multiple BaseURL elements and segment locations, making the system more adaptable without proportionally increasing complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If BaseURL elements are mapped to sourceURL attributes, then the flexibility of segment access is improved, but the processing time for URL generation increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflexibility of segment accessVSAvoidprocessing time for URL generation

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

BaseURL elements are resolved against the MPD document in advance, before segment requests are generated. This preliminary resolution caches the mapping between BaseURL elements and their resolved values, reducing the processing time required during actual segment access operations while maintaining flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If multiple BaseURL elements are supported, then the reliability of media delivery is improved, but the difficulty of detecting and measuring segment locations increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereliability of media deliveryVSAvoiddifficulty of detecting segment locations

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements a feedback mechanism where the resolver tracks the mapping between BaseURL elements and their resolved values, and where errors in URL generation can be detected and reported back. This feedback loop improves reliability by enabling error detection while managing the complexity of multiple BaseURL elements through systematic tracking.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS10277660B1Apparatus and method for providing streaming content

Publication Date: 2019.04.30 HELIOS STREAMING LLC

AI summary

A method and apparatus for an adaptive Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) streaming service using metadata of content are provided. The metadata may include one or more BaseURL elements. Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) of segments forming media may be generated based on the BaseURL elements. Additionally, a URL of a segment may be generated by mapping a BaseURL element among the BaseURL elements to a sourceURL attribute of the segment. Segments indicated by generated URLs may be identical to each other.