Level-Based P2P Media Streaming Architecture for Bandwidth and Latency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current peer-to-peer media streaming architectures face challenges such as high bandwidth requirements in browser/server and client/server models, low resilience to node failures in tree-based networks, and high latency in mesh-based networks, necessitating a solution that balances bandwidth efficiency, latency, and scalability.
Innovation Solution
A peer-to-peer network architecture that organizes peers into logical levels, allowing each viewer peer to connect to one up-peer and multiple down-peers, using a combination of push and pull data flows, with dynamic adjustment of logical levels based on connection status and statistical information, and employing Reliable User Datagram Protocol (RUDP) or Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) for communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If tree-based/push-based architecture is used, then start-up delay is reduced, but resilience to node failures deteriorates and bandwidth bottleneck issues occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the peer-to-peer network into multiple logical levels (source peer at highest level, viewer peers at lower levels) with directed connections from higher to lower levels. This segmentation allows the system to maintain structured data flow while enabling flexible connection patterns that improve resilience without increasing start-up delay.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a hierarchical dimensional structure with logical levels, transforming the traditional flat mesh or tree structure into a multi-level architecture. This dimensional approach allows viewers to connect to multiple peers at different levels, improving failure resilience while maintaining efficient data distribution.
2Loss of time
If tree-based/push-based architecture is used, then start-up delay is reduced, but bandwidth efficiency deteriorates due to bottleneck issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the network into hierarchical levels where source peers at higher levels distribute data to multiple viewer peers at lower levels. This segmentation enables parallel data transmission paths, reducing bandwidth bottlenecks while maintaining fast start-up through the structured push-based mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent allows viewer peers to connect to multiple up-peers (more than the minimum required), creating redundant data paths that prevent bandwidth bottlenecks. This excessive connection approach ensures bandwidth efficiency without significantly increasing start-up delay.
3Adaptability or versatility
If mesh-based/pull-based architecture is used, then flexibility and large-scale ability are improved, but latency increases due to data pull requests
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the mesh network into hierarchical levels, allowing pull-based connections within levels while enabling push-based data flow across levels. This segmentation maintains the flexibility and large-scale ability of mesh architectures while reducing latency through optimized data distribution paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a hierarchical dimension to the mesh network, creating multiple logical levels that enable more efficient data retrieval. This dimensional approach allows peers to access data through multiple paths, reducing latency while preserving the adaptability of mesh-based connections.
4Productivity
If browser/server or client/server architecture is used, then media delivery streaming is achieved, but bandwidth requirements become very high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the roles of server and clients into a peer-to-peer architecture where all peers can both receive and forward data. This combining of functions eliminates the high bandwidth requirements of traditional B/S or C/S models by distributing the media delivery load across all participants in the network.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a self-service architecture where peer modules autonomously manage their own connections and data forwarding without requiring a centralized server. Each peer can independently forward media data to other peers, reducing the overall bandwidth requirements compared to server-based models.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and method for media streaming in a peer-to-peer (P2P) network having a plurality of peer modules connected on the network include a source peer module connected on the network, the source peer module being associated with a highest logical level of the network. A plurality of viewer peer modules is also connected on the network, each viewer peer module being associated with a logical network level. The logical network level associated with each viewer peer module is a quantity of logical network levels that the viewer peer module is logically below the source peer module. The P2P network is configured such that each viewer peer module can be connected to no more than one up-peer module logically above the viewer peer module, and each viewer peer module can be connected to any integer number of down-peer modules logically below the viewer peer module.