Key Frame Distribution for Video Conferencing
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Solution Overview
Problem
In multi-party video conferencing, switching video information resolution can cause delays and network congestion due to the need to transmit key frames to all endpoints, especially when active status changes, leading to interruptions and suboptimal viewing experiences.
Innovation Solution
A server extracts key frames from non-active video streams during times of excess bandwidth and stores them for later transmission to endpoints, allowing for faster resolution switching and reducing network congestion by anticipating which streams will become active.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If key frames are transmitted to all endpoints when active status changes, then video resolution switching is enabled, but network congestion and delays occur
Solution Approach 1:
The server performs preliminary action by extracting and buffering key frames from video streams of non-active participants before they are needed. When a participant transitions to active status, the pre-buffered key frames are immediately transmitted to endpoints, eliminating the delay that would otherwise occur while waiting for key frames to be generated and transmitted.
Solution Approach 2:
The video stream is segmented into key frames and non-key frames. The server selectively buffers only key frames for non-active participants while transmitting only non-key frames during their inactive period. This segmentation allows endpoints to quickly switch to a different participant's stream by retrieving pre-buffered key frames without receiving the entire video stream.
2Reliability
If key frames are transmitted to all endpoints, then video quality is maintained, but bandwidth consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Different quality levels are provided locally to different participants based on their active status. Active participants receive full-quality video streams, while non-active participants have only their key frames buffered at the server. This local differentiation of quality ensures that bandwidth is consumed only when necessary for maintaining video quality at the receiving end.
Solution Approach 2:
The server performs partial action by buffering only key frames rather than complete video streams for non-active participants. This partial buffering provides sufficient information for quick stream switching without the excessive bandwidth consumption of buffering entire video streams, achieving a balance between video quality and bandwidth usage.
3Stability of the object's composition
If complete video streams are transmitted for all participants, then video continuity is ensured, but network congestion occurs during active status changes
Solution Approach 1:
The video transmission system dynamically adapts its behavior based on participant active status. For non-active participants, the server transmits only periodic key frames and buffers them, rather than continuously transmitting complete video streams. When a participant becomes active, the system dynamically switches to transmitting their complete video stream. This dynamic approach maintains video continuity when needed while improving network efficiency during inactive periods.
Data Source
AI summary
A system, apparatus, and method for relaying video information that is part of a multi-party video communication session having multiple endpoints. The server can receive multiple video information streams from multiple endpoints and re-transmit some or all of the video information streams to the endpoints with one or more of the video information steams identified as having active status and being decoded at high resolution at the endpoints, while transmitting key frames from video information streams not having active status. Upon switching active speaker status to a new video information stream, the endpoints, already having a key frame from the switched-to video information, can switch to decoding the new video information stream having active status at high resolution without delay.