Manifest Server Bitrate Filtering for Streaming and Download Modes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing media content distribution technologies face challenges in providing optimal playback experiences across different modes (streaming and download) due to bandwidth constraints, file size issues, and compatibility with varying viewer devices, leading to degraded image quality and longer download times.
Innovation Solution
The system employs a manifest server that filters media content representations based on playback mode, selecting suitable bitrates and quality levels to provide filtered manifest data, ensuring compatibility with different viewer devices and industry standards, while reducing file sizes and improving download times.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If media content is encoded for streaming playback mode, then network bandwidth constraints are satisfied, but image quality is degraded and file sizes are larger
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments media content into multiple representations with different encodings (streaming-optimized and download-optimized) and selectively delivers appropriate segments based on playback mode. The manifest data is divided into playback mode-specific subsets, allowing the system to provide streaming content with bandwidth constraints and download content with higher quality without cross-contamination of encoding parameters.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different quality levels to different playback modes by providing playback mode-specific manifest data that contains representations optimized for each mode. Download playback receives representations with higher image quality and smaller file sizes, while streaming playback receives representations optimized for network bandwidth, allowing each mode to operate at its optimal quality level.
2Productivity
If media content is encoded for streaming playback mode, then network bandwidth constraints are satisfied, but download times are longer
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the manifest data into playback mode-specific subsets that contain different representation parameters. Download playback mode receives a subset optimized for file size and download speed, while streaming mode receives a subset optimized for network bandwidth utilization, eliminating the need to use streaming-optimized content for downloads.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes encoding parameters based on playback mode by providing different manifest data subsets with different representation characteristics. Download mode uses representations with lower bitrates and smaller file sizes, while streaming mode uses representations with higher bitrates optimized for network delivery, directly addressing download time concerns.
3Manufacturing precision
If playback mode specific manifest data is provided, then optimal quality and file size are achieved, but compatibility with deployed logic versions becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal manifest data structure that serves multiple playback modes by including playback mode indicators and providing different subsets of representations for different modes. This multi-functional manifest structure allows a single encoding to serve both streaming and download modes with appropriate filtering, maintaining compatibility across different deployed logic versions while providing mode-specific optimization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces playback mode-specific manifest data as an intermediary layer between the encoded media content and the playback logic. This intermediary contains filtering rules and representation selections tailored to each playback mode, allowing the system to provide optimal quality and file size for each mode while maintaining compatibility with various deployed logic versions through standardized manifest structures.
4Manufacturing precision
If constant bitrate encoding is used, then quality is maintained across all scenes, but file sizes are larger and download times are longer
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies variable bitrate encoding for download playback mode, where the bitrate is adjusted locally based on scene complexity. Simple scenes use lower bitrates while complex scenes use higher bitrates, optimizing the overall file size and download time while maintaining perceived quality. This contrasts with constant bitrate encoding used for streaming, where uniform quality across all scenes is prioritized over download efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques enabled by the present disclosure allow a media content service to support different playback modes in the presence of variations in media content asset types and viewer device capabilities. The techniques enabled by the present disclosure further allow encoding media content with playback bitrates targeted for streaming playback mode and playback bitrates targeted for download playback mode, and managing manifest data to allow viewer devices to select between different playback bitrates for a particular playback mode with greater precision.