Media Stream Rate Control for Buffer Overflow Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traffic overload in networks causes data packet discarding, transmission delays, reduced throughput, and excessive resource consumption due to buffer overflow, particularly in media stream transmission between devices.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a flow control method where a first device monitors buffer usage thresholds to adjust the rate at which a second device sends a media stream, using PAUSE frames to instruct rate adjustments based on specified buffer thresholds to prevent and alleviate traffic overload.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a PAUSE frame is used to instruct the transmit end device to suspend sending the media stream, then the receive end device can prevent buffer overflow, but the transmit end device discards excessive data packets and loses preparedness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having the transmit end device send a NOTIFICATION frame before actually suspending transmission. This allows the transmit end device to prepare for suspension in advance, adjusting its buffering and transmission parameters before the PAUSE frame takes effect, thereby preventing data packet discarding while still achieving buffer overflow prevention at the receive end device.
2Reliability
If the transmit end device suspends sending the media stream based on PAUSE frame instruction, then the receive end device avoids traffic overload, but the transmit end device continues receiving media stream from upstream device causing buffer overflow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by introducing a NOTIFICATION frame that provides feedback information about the suspension state to the transmit end device. This feedback mechanism allows the transmit end device to understand when suspension is active and adjust its local buffering accordingly, preventing buffer overflow at the transmit end while maintaining traffic overload prevention at the receive end.
3Ease of operation
If the transmit end device is unprepared for suspension, then the receive end device can control traffic effectively, but the transmit end device discards data packets and wastes resources
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having the transmit end device send a NOTIFICATION frame before suspension takes effect. This preliminary notification allows the transmit end device to prepare its buffering and transmission parameters in advance, ensuring it is ready for suspension without discarding data packets or wasting resources on unnecessary retransmissions.
Data Source
Figure 1~3A
Figure 3B
Figure 4~5
AI summary
A flow control method and system, and an apparatus are provided to implement flow control in a process of transmitting a media stream between devices. The method includes: receiving, by a first device, a media stream that is sent by a second device at a first rate; when determining that a buffer usage rises from a first threshold to a second threshold, instructing, by the first device based on a rate that is of a media stream and that is detected in a first time period in which the buffer usage rises from the first threshold to the second threshold, the second device to send a media stream to the first device at a second rate, where the second rate is less than the first rate; sending, by the second device, the media stream to the first device at the second rate; when determining that the buffer usage rises from the second threshold to a third threshold, instructing, by the first device based on a rate that is of a media stream and that is detected in a second time period in which the buffer usage rises from the second threshold to the third threshold, the second device to send a media stream to the first device at a third rate, where the third rate is not greater than the second rate; and sending, by the second device, the media stream to the first device at the third rate.