Intelligent Media Stream Buffering for Adaptive Trick-Play
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current video content delivery systems face challenges in providing seamless trick-play and random access experiences due to bandwidth fluctuations, as they often rely on single bitrate streams that are not adaptable to changing network conditions.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for intelligent pre-buffering of multimedia content in video content client devices, which selects and buffers segments based on access likelihood, network conditions, and user behavior patterns to optimize trick-play support in adaptive and scalable streaming environments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single bitrate stream is used for video delivery, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to changing network conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between a single bitrate stream mode and a multi-bitrate adaptive streaming mode based on network conditions. When network conditions are stable, it uses a simple single bitrate stream. When network conditions fluctuate, it transitions to adaptive streaming with multiple bitrate versions, allowing the system to adapt its complexity to the situation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the bitrate parameter of the video stream based on network conditions. It monitors network bandwidth and adjusts the selected bitrate version from multiple available versions, transforming a static single-bitrate system into a dynamic multi-bitrate system that adapts to changing network parameters.
2Ease of operation
If pre-buffering is increased to support trick-play operations, then trick-play performance is improved, but buffer usage efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the pre-buffering process by identifying and buffering only the necessary portions of the video stream required for trick-play operations (such as keyframes and seek points) rather than buffering entire segments. This selective segmentation allows trick-play functionality with reduced buffer consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary identification of trick-play access points and pre-buffers only those specific portions that will be needed for future trick-play operations. This advance preparation of only necessary data reduces overall buffer requirements while maintaining trick-play performance.
3Adaptability or versatility
If adaptive streaming with multiple bitrate versions is implemented, then network condition adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The client device autonomously monitors its own network conditions and automatically selects the appropriate bitrate version without requiring complex server-side intervention or control logic. This self-service approach simplifies the overall system architecture while maintaining adaptive streaming capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where the client continuously monitors network bandwidth and adjusts its bitrate selection accordingly. This closed-loop feedback control enables adaptive streaming with relatively simple device logic, as the system automatically responds to changing conditions based on real-time network measurements.
4Reliability
If bandwidth is increased to maintain video quality during network fluctuations, then video quality stability is improved, but bandwidth expense increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts video quality (bitrate) in response to changing network conditions rather than maintaining a fixed high bitrate. When network bandwidth is sufficient, it delivers higher quality video. When bandwidth decreases, it automatically switches to lower bitrate versions, maintaining acceptable quality while reducing bandwidth consumption during constrained periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the bitrate parameter of the delivered video stream based on real-time network conditions. By transforming from a static high-bitrate delivery to a dynamic parameter-adjusted delivery, the system maintains video quality stability within the constraints of available bandwidth, avoiding the need to consistently allocate high bandwidth regardless of actual network capacity.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~5
AI summary
A method comprises receiving a multimedia content stream comprising a series of segments, each segment corresponding to a respective predicted seek position of a plurality of predicted seek positions in the multimedia content stream, determining a likelihood of receiving a seek request from a user to move from a current playout position in the multimedia content stream to one of the predicted seek positions in the multimedia content stream, and determining, by a processor, a size of a buffer for each segment in the multimedia content stream based on the likelihood of receiving the seek request. A system and a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium are also disclosed and claimed.