Media Player Parallel Source Download for Continuous Playback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing media delivery technologies face interruptions due to network congestion and insufficient buffer sizes, leading to non-continuous presentations in streaming and peer-to-peer media content delivery.
Innovation Solution
A media player system that utilizes parallel streamed and segmented media sources, where the media player receives streamed media packets from a primary server and segmented media packets from additional sources, allowing for simultaneous and out-of-order segment retrieval to ensure continuous playback.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single stream is used for media delivery, then the system complexity is low, but interruptions occur due to network congestion and insufficient buffer sizes
Solution Approach 1:
The media file is divided into multiple segments that can be downloaded from different sources simultaneously. Each segment is independently downloadable, allowing parallel retrieval from multiple sources to ensure continuous playback even if one source experiences congestion or failure.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple streamed and segmented media sources are merged into a single coherent media presentation. The system combines data from primary and additional sources, stitching segments together to form the complete media file for continuous playback.
2Loss of time
If parallel streamed and segmented sources are used, then playback continuity is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Media segments are downloaded and buffered in advance from multiple sources before playback is required. The system proactively retrieves segments from additional sources while playback is ongoing, preparing content ahead of time to minimize buffering delays and ensure smooth transitions.
3Adaptability or versatility
If peer-to-peer segment retrieval is used, then source availability increases, but segments are received out-of-order causing delays
Solution Approach 1:
The system monitors the reception status of media segments from multiple sources and dynamically adjusts download priorities. When segments are received out of order, the system identifies missing segments and requests them from appropriate sources, using feedback from buffer status and playback position to optimize retrieval timing and minimize delays.
Data Source
AI summary
A media player implements an integrated parallel source download technology to receive a media file from streamed and segmented media file sources. A first source streams delivery of streamed media packets of the media file in sequential packet number order to the media player, while a second source provides segmented delivery of segmented media packets of the media file in random order to the media player. The media player combines the streamed media packets and the segmented media packets to produce the media file.