Live Stream Encoder Buffering for Fast Channel Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional systems experience significant delays in initializing encoders for live media content streams due to the need to wait for key-frames or initial segment portions, leading to noticeable delays in channel access and increased resource utilization when channels are not being viewed.
Innovation Solution
Disabling encoders for non-viewed live media content streams and maintaining a buffer with pre-encoded content allows for immediate encoder activation upon request, reducing initialization delays and optimizing resource usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If encoders are enabled for all live media content streams, then channel access is available, but resource utilization increases when channels are not being viewed
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary encoding of media content segments and stores them in buffers before actual viewing occurs. When a channel is requested, the pre-encoded content is immediately available without needing to wait for encoder initialization or key-frame generation, thus enabling rapid channel access while avoiding continuous resource consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The encoder availability state is made dynamic rather than static. Encoders are disabled when channels are not being viewed to save resources, and can be quickly re-enabled when needed. The buffer stores pre-encoded content that allows immediate playback upon re-enablement, creating a dynamic system that adapts resource allocation to actual demand.
2Loss of energy
If encoders are disabled for non-viewed streams, then resource utilization is optimized, but initialization delays occur when channels are requested
Solution Approach 1:
Media content is pre-encoded and stored in buffers before channel request. When a user requests a channel, the system can immediately retrieve and play the pre-encoded content from the buffer without waiting for the encoder to initialize or generate key-frames, thus eliminating initialization delays while maintaining resource efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The buffer acts as an intermediary between the disabled encoder and the requesting client. It stores pre-encoded content that can be immediately served to clients without requiring the encoder to be active or initializing, thus mediating between resource savings and access speed requirements.
3Reliability
If key-frames or initial segment portions are waited for during encoder initialization, then encoding accuracy is ensured, but channel access delay increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs the time-consuming encoding operation in advance, creating complete media segments including key-frames and storing them in buffers. When a channel is requested, the pre-encoded segments with proper key-frames are immediately available for playback, eliminating the need to wait for encoder initialization or key-frame generation while maintaining encoding accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques and mechanisms described herein facilitate the management of virtual encoding format converters for live media content streams. A media content system may employ potentially many converters to encode potentially many live video streams. When supporting many live video streams, there may be some streams that are not being viewed by anyone at a particular time. In some such situations, a virtual encoding format converter encoding a live media content stream that is not being viewed may be disabled. Then, live video content associated with the live video stream may be stored in a buffer and updated as new live video content is received. When a user transmits a request to view a stream for which the encoder has been disabled, an format converters for the requested video stream may be enabled. The buffered data may be used to quickly initialize the encoder.