HTTP Media Streaming With Instant Start and Seamless Bitrate Switching

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing media streaming protocols suffer from high start-up times, seeking delays, and latency issues, particularly in live streaming and adaptive bitrate switching, while also requiring significant bandwidth and storage resources.

Innovation Solution

A method for streamed playback that utilizes a first media package containing a decoder configuration, an independent frame, and a pointer to subsequent media portions, enabling immediate playback initiation and seamless switching between representations without the need for segmented downloads.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional streaming protocols (RTSP, RTP, RTMP) are used, then real-time streaming capability is provided, but firewall traversal and CDN caching difficulties arise

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereal-time streaming capabilityVSAvoidfirewall traversal and CDN caching

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces traditional streaming protocols (RTSP, RTP, RTMP) with HTTP-based protocols (HTTP-FLV, HTTP-DASH, HLS). This substitution leverages the widespread adoption of HTTP in web browsers and servers, enabling seamless firewall traversal and CDN caching without requiring special protocol support or configuration at network infrastructure level.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent makes the streaming system universally compatible by using HTTP protocols that are already deeply integrated into web infrastructure. The same HTTP protocol stack handles both web browsing and video streaming, eliminating the need for separate protocol implementations and enabling automatic support from firewalls, proxies, and CDNs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If segmented streaming protocols (HAS, MPEG-DASH, HLS) are used, then live streaming and adaptive bitrate switching are enabled, but start-up time and latency increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelive streaming and adaptive bitrate switchingVSAvoidstart-up time and latency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the media stream into small chunks (typically 2-4 seconds) that can be independently requested and played. This segmentation enables adaptive bitrate switching while minimizing latency by allowing the player to request only the necessary segments rather than waiting for complete media files or complex manifest downloads.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs preliminary buffering of media segments in the player before playback is needed. By pre-loading segments into a buffer, the system can start playback immediately without waiting for additional data requests, significantly reducing start-up time and latency while maintaining the ability to switch between different bit rates.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Loss of time

If progressive download is used, then playback can start before download completion, but it does not support live streaming and quality switching

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveplayback start timeVSAvoidlive streaming and quality switching support

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a dynamic streaming architecture where the player can adaptively switch between different media representations (bit rates, resolutions, codecs) during playback. The system dynamically requests different segments based on network conditions and user preferences, enabling both immediate playback and flexible quality switching in a single unified approach.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3761654B1Media streaming

Publication Date: 2025.11.05 DOLBY INTERNATIONAL AB

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AI summary

Example embodiments describe a method for streamed playback of media in a media client (150) from a remote media service (101) comprising by the client: a) determining (151) address information for locating the service and for a starting time (121); b) by the address information, requesting and receiving (152, 153) a first media package (190) from the service; the package comprising decoder configuration information, one or more frames (173), associated timing information for playback frames, and a pointer to a subsequent part of the media stream; c) configuring (181) a decoder (180) of the client by the decoder information; d) starting playback (182) of the stream in the client at the starting time by providing (182) the frames to the configured decoder; e) by the pointer, requesting (154) a remaining portion (164-166) of the media comprising subsequent frames of the media stream and associated timing information; f) receiving (155) the subsequent frames as a stream and continuing playback by providing (155) the subsequent frames and associated timing information to the configured decoder (180).