Media Device Pre-buffering Logic for Battery and Bandwidth Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing media streaming technologies often experience disruptions due to poor network conditions, leading to lagging or delays in media content delivery, and existing pre-buffering solutions are inadequate in managing battery power and network costs effectively.
Innovation Solution
A method and media device that determine available network bandwidth and battery charging level to select a pre-buffering policy, allowing for optimized pre-buffering of media content, with policies that halt or reduce pre-buffering when battery levels are low or when network costs are high, and prevent pre-buffering if a usage threshold is exceeded.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If pre-buffering is performed continuously to avoid streaming disruptions, then streaming reliability is improved, but battery power is consumed excessively
Solution Approach 1:
The pre-buffering logic dynamically adjusts the pre-buffering rate and policy based on real-time conditions including battery charging status, available network bandwidth, and buffer fill level. When battery charging level is above a threshold, aggressive pre-buffering is enabled; when below threshold, pre-buffering is halted or reduced, thus adapting system behavior to current state to resolve the contradiction between reliability and energy consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters (pre-buffering rate, policy selection) based on battery charging status parameter. By monitoring battery charge level and network bandwidth as input parameters, the system selects appropriate pre-buffering policies that balance streaming reliability with energy conservation, avoiding excessive battery power consumption while maintaining acceptable streaming continuity
2Reliability
If pre-buffering utilizes full available bandwidth to ensure seamless streaming, then streaming continuity is improved, but network costs increase excessively
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of always utilizing full available bandwidth for pre-buffering, the system applies partial action by adjusting pre-buffering rate according to buffer fill level and network conditions. The pre-buffering logic monitors buffer status and reduces pre-buffering activity when buffer is sufficiently filled, thereby avoiding excessive network data consumption while maintaining streaming continuity through adequate buffering
Solution Approach 2:
The pre-buffering logic implements feedback mechanisms by continuously monitoring buffer fill level, network bandwidth availability, and charging status. Based on this feedback, the system adjusts pre-buffering policies dynamically - utilizing full bandwidth when buffer is low and conditions permit, but reducing or halting pre-buffering when buffer is sufficient or network costs are a concern, thus resolving the contradiction between continuity and cost
3Use of energy by moving object
If pre-buffering is halted when battery charging level is low to conserve power, then battery power consumption is reduced, but streaming disruptions may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-buffering media content in advance when battery charging level is above threshold and network conditions are favorable. This pre-buffered content serves as a buffer against future streaming disruptions, allowing the system to halt pre-buffering later when battery level drops without immediately risking streaming continuity, thus resolving the contradiction between power conservation and reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The pre-buffering mechanism provides beforehand cushioning by filling the media buffer with content before battery level becomes critical. This cushion of pre-buffered content protects against streaming disruptions that would otherwise occur when pre-buffering is halted due to low battery charge, allowing the system to conserve power without immediately sacrificing streaming reliability
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a method and a media device for pre-buffering media content streamed to the media device from a server system. The media device is connected to a network and has a rechargeable battery. The media device determines, by means of a bandwidth logic, an available network bandwidth and, by means of a charging logic, a charging level of the rechargeable battery. Based on these determinations, i.e. based on the determined available network bandwidth and the determined charging level of the rechargeable battery the media device selects a pre-buffering policy, by means of a pre-buffering logic, and pre-buffers media content, by means of the pre-buffering logic, from the server system in accordance with the selected pre-buffering policy.