I-Frame Playlist Streaming via Byte Range Requests
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current streaming services require specialized servers and skills, leading to high costs and a limited content library, especially in large-scale deployments, as they typically use dedicated streaming protocols.
Innovation Solution
The method employs byte range requests within HTTP live streaming protocols to retrieve and stream media content from a single large file, enabling 'trick play' modes like fast forward or rewind using I-frame playlists and variant playlists that adapt to different bit rates and qualities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If specialized streaming servers and protocols are used, then streaming reliability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes standard HTTP servers perform specialized streaming functions by implementing byte range request handling and playlist generation capabilities. This allows existing web servers to provide streaming services without requiring dedicated streaming server hardware, reducing complexity while maintaining reliability through protocol extensions rather than infrastructure changes
2Productivity
If specialized streaming servers are deployed at large scale, then streaming capability is improved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses playlist files that reference media content, allowing the same media file to be streamed through multiple HTTP servers simultaneously. Each server serves as a copy of the streaming capability without duplicating the actual media content, enabling scalable deployment using standard web server software that is already widely available and cost-effective
3Adaptability or versatility
If content is stored as multiple smaller files, then retrieval flexibility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments media content into chunks of 10-30 seconds and stores them as sequentially numbered files (e.g., 00001.ts, 00002.ts). Byte range requests allow clients to retrieve specific segments by specifying byte offsets, providing random access capability while maintaining a simple sequential file naming scheme that reduces management complexity compared to hierarchical folder structures
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems and machine readable storage medium for allowing playback of streaming media at playback rates of other than 1× are described. In one embodiment, a method can determine different sets of I-frames that are available before a display deadline, where each set can have a different cadence, and one of the sets can be selected for download and display to achieve playback at other than 1×. Byte range requests from a client device can be used to retrieve each of the I-frames. Other methods, system and media are also described.