HTTP Streaming MPD Update Frequency Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

In HTTP streaming, clients face service interruptions during server migrations due to the need to frequently fetch updated Media Presentation Descriptions (MPDs), which can be burdensome and lead to missed updates, especially when network latency occurs, causing disruptions in live content streaming.

Innovation Solution

Implementing parameters such as maximumMPDFetchInterval, minimumUpdatePeriodMPD, and timeShiftBufferDepth in the MPD to manage the frequency of MPD updates and ensure seamless service migration by maintaining segment locations on both old and new servers for a specified duration, along with a guard interval to account for network latency, and using OMA DM Management Objects for push-based updates.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If clients frequently fetch updated MPDs to detect server migrations, then service continuity is improved, but network bandwidth is wasted and client processing overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice continuityVSAvoidnetwork bandwidth
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The server performs preliminary action by proactively pushing MPD update notifications to clients before clients would naturally need to fetch updates. This is achieved through the OMA DM push mechanism where the server sends notifications containing version information, allowing clients to stay synchronized without frequent active fetching, thus conserving bandwidth while maintaining service continuity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback through the notification mechanism where the server informs clients about MPD updates. The client receives push notifications with version information and can selectively fetch updated MPDs only when necessary, creating an efficient feedback loop that balances service continuity with resource conservation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Loss of energy

If clients wait for MPD updates between fetches to reduce bandwidth usage, then network bandwidth is conserved, but service interruptions occur during server migrations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork bandwidthVSAvoidservice continuity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The server performs preliminary action by proactively pushing MPD update notifications to clients before clients would naturally need to fetch updates. This is achieved through the OMA DM push mechanism where the server sends notifications containing version information, allowing clients to stay synchronized without frequent active fetching, thus conserving bandwidth while maintaining service continuity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback through the notification mechanism where the server informs clients about MPD updates. The client receives push notifications with version information and can selectively fetch updated MPDs only when necessary, creating an efficient feedback loop that balances service continuity with resource conservation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Ease of operation

If clients fetch MPDs at fixed intervals, then client implementation is simplified, but updates may be missed during network latency or server migrations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveclient implementationVSAvoidupdate detection
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback through the notification mechanism where the server informs clients about MPD updates. The client receives push notifications with version information and can selectively fetch updated MPDs only when necessary, creating an efficient feedback loop that balances service continuity with resource conservation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The server performs preliminary action by proactively pushing MPD update notifications to clients before clients would naturally need to fetch updates. This is achieved through the OMA DM push mechanism where the server sends notifications containing version information, allowing clients to stay synchronized without frequent active fetching, thus conserving bandwidth while maintaining service continuity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2636202B1Methods and apparatuses for updating HTTP content descriptions
Publication Date: 2019.10.09 BLACKBERRY LTD
  • EP2636202B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2636202B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2636202B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A client device and a server receive and send a presentation streamed via HTTP. The client device sends a content request and the server receives the content request. The client device receives and the server sends a first presentation description based on the content request, wherein the presentation description comprises a fetch interval. The client device requests or otherwise receives a second presentation description before a duration associated with the fetch interval is exceeded.