Media File System Dynamic Segment Padding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing media file systems require pre-generation of files in multiple qualities and segment lengths, leading to significant overhead and storage challenges, especially in scenarios with many files and limited resources, as they need to declare the exact locations and lengths of segments within media files before they can be accessed.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that calculate a maximum segment length for media files, allowing for dynamic generation and padding of file data on demand, eliminating the need for pre-generated files and enabling efficient provision of file data with desired properties, such as quality, without requiring the entire file to be generated and stored in advance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If files are pre-generated in multiple qualities with declared segment locations, then media applications can efficiently access specific time ranges, but storage requirements and system overhead increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-calculating and declaring the maximum segment length and potential segment locations in the file structure before actual media data is written. This allows the file system to reserve space and declare segment locations in advance, enabling efficient random access without pre-generating all possible quality versions of the media file.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the media file into fixed-length segments with declared locations, where each segment can independently store data for different quality levels. This segmentation allows the system to provide efficient access to specific time ranges by directly navigating to declared segment locations while maintaining flexibility to generate only the required quality versions on demand.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple quality versions of media files are pre-generated, then client applications can receive appropriate quality based on bandwidth, but the overhead of generating and storing all quality versions becomes excessive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by enabling the file system to dynamically generate media data in the required quality version only when a client requests it, rather than statically pre-generating all quality versions. The declared segment locations remain fixed, but the actual content is generated on-demand based on the client's bandwidth conditions and quality requirements, reducing system overhead while maintaining quality adaptability.
3Measurement precision
If segment locations are declared based on actual segment lengths, then precise access is enabled, but variable segment lengths require the entire file to be generated beforehand
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by fixing the segment length parameter to a maximum declared value rather than using variable actual lengths. This allows the file system to declare segment locations based on this fixed parameter in advance, enabling precise random access without requiring the entire file to be generated beforehand. The actual media data can then be written to these pre-declared locations with appropriate padding to match the declared segment length.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of providing file data for a media file from a file system, where the format of the file requires that the file comprise a plurality of segments of file data located at pre-declared locations within the file. The file data making up the file is based upon derived file data. After receiving a request to open the file, a maximum segment length for the file is determined based on the desired properties of the file. In response to a request for the location of a segment within the file, a location calculated by considering each segment of the file to have the maximum segment length is returned. In response to a request for file data from a segment of the file, generated file data for the segment is returned, where the generated file data comprises the derived file data and padding data to give the generated file data the maximum segment length.