Media Segment Chunk Addressing for Faster Streaming Playback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing media streaming technologies face challenges in efficiently managing and accessing segments of media data, particularly in HTTP streaming, where conventional segments lack random access points and require complex addressing schemes that are time-consuming or inefficient.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of shorter segments without random access points, combined with hierarchical addressing schemes and signaling accurate segment chunk durations, allows for faster playback initiation and more efficient segment management in media streaming.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional segments are used in HTTP streaming, then the segments can be independently retrieved, but the segments lack random access points and require complex addressing schemes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides media content into shorter segment chunks within each segment, where each chunk can be independently addressed and retrieved. This segmentation allows the system to maintain independent retrievability while simplifying the addressing scheme by providing more granular access points without requiring complex hierarchical addressing for entire segments.
2Loss of time
If shorter segments are used without random access points, then playback initiation is faster, but segment management becomes more challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-organizes shorter segment chunks into structured segments with predetermined chunk identifiers and addressing schemes. This preliminary organization enables faster playback initiation since the chunks are already prepared and addressable, while the structured framework simplifies subsequent segment management operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a hierarchical addressing structure that adds a chunk-level dimension within segments. Instead of managing entire segments as single units, the system addresses individual chunks within segments using extended URI schemes, thereby reducing playback initiation time while providing systematic management through the additional addressing dimension.
3Ease of operation
If complex addressing schemes are implemented for segment access, then random access is enabled, but the access process becomes time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing segments into smaller addressable chunks, the patent enables random access at the chunk level within segments. This granularity allows direct access to specific content portions without requiring complex addressing logic, as each chunk has a simplified identifier that can be directly resolved, thereby reducing access time while maintaining random access capability.
Data Source
AI summary
An example device for retrieving media data includes one or more processors implemented in circuitry and configured to receive a manifest file including data indicating a number of segment chunks available for a segment of a representation of media data, the segment comprising an independently retrievable media file having a unique uniform resource locator (URL), determine an identifier for one of the chunks using the data indicating the number of chunks available for the segment, and send a request specifying the identifier for the one of the chunks to a server device.