Media File Segmentation for Low-Latency Live Recording
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing media file formats, such as ISOBMFF, face challenges in live recording scenarios where the file length is unknown, leading to incomplete file structures and difficulties in reading with low latency.
Innovation Solution
The use of a descriptor file alongside the media file to enable continuous writing and reading of media elements, allowing for the location of media elements to be determined even before the file is fully written, with frequent updates to the descriptor file to minimize latency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the entire file structure is required to be complete before reading, then reading reliability is improved, but reading latency increases and real-time access becomes impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the media file into two independent parts: a descriptor file containing metadata and indexing information, and a media body file containing the actual media data. This segmentation allows the descriptor file to be read and processed independently, enabling low-latency access to media element locations without requiring the entire media file to be complete.
Solution Approach 2:
The descriptor file is written and made available before the media body is fully written. The descriptor file contains preliminary information about media elements including their locations, timestamps, and metadata, allowing readers to access and process this information in advance without waiting for the complete media file.
2Reliability
If the file structure is written completely before reading, then data integrity is improved, but real-time processing capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the descriptor file from the media body, the patent enables independent processing of the descriptor portion. This allows systems to read and process descriptor information in real-time while the media body continues to be written, improving real-time processing capability without compromising data integrity of the descriptor information.
Solution Approach 2:
The descriptor file acts as an intermediary between the writing process and the reading process. It provides a stable, readable interface that mediates access to the media body, allowing readers to access media element locations and metadata without needing to wait for the complete media file structure.
3Speed
If a descriptor file is written frequently to enable low-latency reading, then reading speed is improved, but writing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the file writing process into two independent streams: writing the descriptor file and writing the media body. This segmentation allows the descriptor file to be written and updated independently with different frequency and complexity requirements, simplifying the overall writing process while enabling fast reading through frequent descriptor updates.
Data Source
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AI summary
There is disclosed a method of writing a media file. The method comprises writing a media file which include, a file header, a file body for containing media elements, a descriptor portion enabling reading of the media elements in the body portion. Further, the file header includes data enabling the location of the file's descriptor portion to be determined. Also disclosed herein is a method of reading a media file stored on a data storage media. There is also disclosed a method of live recording of media.