Streaming Media Segmentation for Fast Playback Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing online streaming services do not effectively support fast-forward or fast-rewind playback during live broadcasting, which limits user interaction and convenience, especially for large multimedia files where downloading is time-consuming and inconvenient.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that enable fast playback by sending a media presentation description from a server to a client, including fast playback type identifiers and URLs for content segments, allowing clients to request and receive specific playback rates for fast-forward or fast-rewind playback, thereby enabling efficient retrieval and playback of media content segments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If HTTP file downloading is used to play multimedia content, then the user can play files locally with full control, but the user needs to wait a long time to download large files before playback
Solution Approach 1:
The server pre-processes the media file into multiple segments with different playback rates (normal, fast-forward, fast-rewind) and prepares them for delivery before the user requests playback. This preliminary segmentation and preparation eliminates the need for real-time processing during playback, allowing immediate access to fast playback functionality without waiting for file download or processing.
2Loss of time
If online streaming service is used for live broadcasting, then the user can play content without downloading, but fast-forward or fast-rewind playback operations cannot be implemented
Solution Approach 1:
The media file is segmented into multiple content segments, each with associated metadata indicating the playback rate (normal, fast-forward, fast-rewind). This segmentation allows the client to request specific segments at specific playback rates independently, enabling fast-forward and fast-rewind operations during online streaming without requiring full file download.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically switches between different playback rates by selecting appropriate content segments based on user input. The client can transition from normal playback to fast-forward playback by requesting segments with fast-forward playback rates, and vice versa, making the playback system adaptable and versatile during online streaming.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the media file is segmented for fast playback, then fast-forward and fast-rewind operations become possible, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The server acts as an intermediary that handles the complexity of media file segmentation and management. The server pre-segments the media file and stores segments with different playback rates, then delivers appropriate segments to the client based on playback requests. This transfers the segmentation complexity from the client device to the server, simplifying the client while maintaining fast playback capability.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method for implementing fast playout is provided, which comprises: receiving a fast playout request sent by a client, where the fast playout request comprises a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) corresponding to content of a media file with a specified multiple of regular playout rate by the client, and the specified multiple of regular playout rate is determined by the client according to obtained media presentation description; and obtaining a content segment corresponding to the media file with the specified multiple of regular playout rate according to the URL, and sending a fast playout response to the client, where the fast playout response comprises the content segment corresponding to the media file with the specified multiple of regular playout rate. Therefore, fast online playing is implemented, and user experience is improved at the same time.