Media Stream Builder with Adaptive Coding and Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing streaming media technologies face challenges in efficiently transmitting real-time media data over networks with varying bandwidth and packet loss rates, particularly in ensuring reliable decoding and minimizing interruptions.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a stream builder that encodes media data at multiple coding rates and generates streams with associated protection levels, transmitted over multiple networks, with an adapter controlling coding rates and protection levels based on feedback signals from receivers to optimize packet reconstruction and bandwidth usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If media data is transmitted over networks with varying bandwidth and packet loss rates, then the system can handle diverse network conditions, but packet loss and transmission reliability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The media data is divided into multiple streams with different protection levels. Each stream is segmented into packets that can be independently transmitted over different networks. This segmentation allows the system to adapt to varying network conditions while maintaining overall transmission reliability through diversified paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts coding rates and protection levels of different streams based on feedback signals about network conditions. By changing parameters such as coding rate and protection level adaptively, the system maintains reliability across diverse network conditions without requiring a fixed transmission mode.
2Reliability
If multiple streams with different protection levels are generated, then packet reconstruction capability improves, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs dynamic control where the adapter adjusts coding rates and protection levels based on real-time feedback signals. This dynamic approach allows the system to optimize packet reconstruction capability while avoiding the need for complex static configurations of multiple streams, as the adaptation happens automatically based on network conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
Feedback signals from the content receiver about packet loss rates are used by the adapter to control the coding rate and protection level of each stream. This feedback mechanism enables the system to achieve reliable packet reconstruction without manually configuring complex stream parameters, as the system self-adjusts based on actual network performance.
3Productivity
If coding rate is increased to improve transmission speed, then bandwidth efficiency improves, but packet loss rate increases
Solution Approach 1:
The media data is segmented into multiple streams with different protection levels. High-coding-rate streams provide fast transmission when network conditions are good, while lower-coding-rate streams with higher protection ensure reliability when packet loss occurs. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by providing both speed and reliability through diversified streams.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes coding rates based on network conditions and feedback signals. When network conditions are favorable, higher coding rates are used for fast transmission. When packet loss increases, the system adjusts to lower coding rates with higher protection levels, thus maintaining productivity while adapting to reliability requirements.
4Reliability
If protection level is increased to reduce packet loss, then transmission reliability improves, but bandwidth consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments media data into multiple streams with different protection levels. Instead of applying high protection to all data, critical packets receive higher protection while less critical data uses lower protection levels. This segmentation reduces overall bandwidth consumption while maintaining essential transmission reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The adapter dynamically adjusts protection levels based on feedback signals about packet loss rates. When network conditions are good, lower protection levels are used to conserve bandwidth. When packet loss increases, protection levels are increased only for affected streams, thus improving reliability without consistently consuming excessive bandwidth.
Data Source
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AI summary
A device can include a stream builder configured to encode media data at a plurality of different coding rates and to generate a plurality of streams encapsulating the encoded media data. Each of the plurality of streams can have an associated protection level that corresponds to an ability of packet reconstruction and a bandwidth cost. The system can also include a stream replicator configured to transmit each of the plurality of streams to a content receiver via N number of networks. The system can further include an adapter configured to control the coding rate and the protection level of each of the plurality of streams based on a feedback signal transmitted from the content receiver. The feedback signal can characterize a packet loss rate of each of the plurality of streams.