Media Server Video QoE Estimation Using Synchronized Parameter Collection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional video communications systems face challenges in estimating video quality of experience (QoE) for human viewers, particularly due to network congestion, bandwidth issues, and processing effects within media servers, making it difficult to meet service level agreements for video-based services.
Innovation Solution
A media server system that collects operational parameters of ingress and egress networks, as well as coding parameters of video decoders and encoders, within synchronized time windows to determine QoE scores and estimate the resulting video QoE for human viewers, allowing for adjustments to components if the estimated QoE does not meet target levels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If video content is transmitted over public communications networks, then video-based services can be delivered to customers, but network congestion and packet loss occur which degrade video quality of experience
Solution Approach 1:
The media server performs preliminary actions by collecting network operational parameters and encoder/decoder coding parameters before video transmission, estimates video QoE in advance, and adjusts encoding parameters proactively to prevent QoE degradation rather than reacting after problems occur
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by continuously collecting network operational parameters (bandwidth, latency, packet loss) and coding parameters, estimating video QoE based on this data, and using the estimation results to adjust encoding parameters dynamically to maintain acceptable QoE levels
2Reliability
If service level agreements are made for video QoE, then customer commitments are established, but estimating video QoE becomes challenging due to network and processing variables
Solution Approach 1:
The QoE estimation process is segmented into distinct components: collecting network operational parameters (bandwidth, latency, packet loss), collecting coding parameters (quantization parameters, frame rates), estimating QoE for each component separately, and combining these estimates to determine overall video QoE. This modular approach makes the complex estimation process more manageable and implementable
Solution Approach 2:
The media server acts as an intermediary that collects parameters from multiple sources (network ingress/egress, video encoders, video decoders), processes this information through QoE estimation algorithms, and produces a comprehensive QoE assessment that can be used to ensure SLA compliance without requiring direct measurement at the customer endpoint
3Productivity
If video encoding and decoding processing is performed at the media server, then video content can be delivered, but processing effects impact the resulting video QoE
Solution Approach 1:
The media server collects coding parameters from encoders and decoders in advance and incorporates these into the QoE estimation process, allowing processing effects to be accounted for before video delivery occurs
Solution Approach 2:
The system collects feedback on coding parameters (quantization parameters, frame rates, resolution) from video encoders and decoders, uses this information to estimate the impact of processing on video QoE, and adjusts encoding parameters to compensate for processing effects and maintain acceptable QoE levels
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods of media servers for estimating the video quality of experience (QoE) of human viewers of video content or communications at video receivers. With these systems and methods, a media server can collect, within a plurality of predetermined time windows synchronized in time, operational parameters of ingress and egress networks over which such video content or communications can be transmitted, as well as coding parameters of a video decoder and a video encoder within the media server. Having collected the operational parameters of the ingress network and egress network and the coding parameters of the video decoder and video encoder, the media server can determine QoE scores associated with some or all the ingress network, the video decoder, the video encoder, and the egress network, and estimate a resulting video QoE for a human viewer at a video receiver as a predefined combination of the respective QoE scores.