IPTV Server Preview Buffering for Seamless Channel Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
IPTV channel surfing is hindered by significant delays due to the need for users to reestablish audio-video sessions with new content servers during channel changes, resulting in blank screens and inefficient setup processes, as existing systems struggle to manage differing content settings and handshake operations across channels.
Innovation Solution
An Internet-based television program delivery server that converts and buffers Internet protocol television programs into preview versions with reduced video frame data size, allowing seamless channel changes by providing JPEG preview still images and synchronized audio, reducing bandwidth requirements and adapting frame rates, pixel resolution, and aspect ratios, until full-scale programs become available.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the user computer reestablishes audio-video session with new content server during channel change, then the channel change operation can be completed, but significant delay and blank screen occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by buffering video frames before channel change occurs. The controlling server maintains a buffer of video frames from the current channel and prepares preview frames for the next channel in advance, so that when channel change is requested, the video stream can continue without interruption or blank screen.
Solution Approach 2:
The controlling server acts as an intermediary between the user computer and multiple content servers. It manages the video stream by buffering frames and coordinating handovers between different content servers, eliminating the need for the user computer to reestablish sessions directly with each new content server.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the controlling server redirects user to different content server for channel change, then channel surfing is enabled, but significant setup delay and blank screen occur
Solution Approach 1:
The controlling server performs preliminary buffering of video frames from the current channel and preparation of preview frames for the next channel before the actual channel switch. This advance preparation ensures that when channel surfing is executed, the transition is seamless without blank screens or setup delays.
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuous video stream delivery by buffering frames during channel change operations. The controlling server ensures that video playback continues without interruption by maintaining the buffer and coordinating frame delivery between different content servers, making channel surfing a continuous experience.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the user computer reestablishes audio-video session with new content server, then the new channel can be accessed, but picture quality and bandwidth requirements are not optimized
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes parameters by adapting video frame properties during channel changes. The controlling server modifies frame rate, resolution, and other video parameters to match the requirements of the target channel while maintaining picture quality. This parameter adaptation occurs during the buffering and handover process, ensuring seamless transitions without quality loss.
Data Source
AI summary
An Internet based television program delivery server, communicatively coupled to a plurality of television source devices and a plurality of recipient devices, that receives a plurality of Internet protocol television programs, buffers them, converts recipient device selected Internet protocol television programs to preview Internet television programs (having reduced per video frame data size) and transmits the preview Internet protocol television programs to the recipient device, for a short duration, until full scale Internet protocol television programs become available for viewing on the recipient device. A video conversion circuitry built into the Internet based television program delivery server performs the conversion of some of these television video contents to preview television video contents, to compensate for delay in full scale television program delivery during. The conversion itself includes reductions in frame rate, color and pixel resolutions, screen size and aspect ratios such that it produces lower bandwidth Internet protocol television program packets, during channel changing.