Seamless Multi-Bit-Rate Media Stream Insertion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing multi-bit-rate HTTP delivery systems disrupt the viewer's experience by requiring the primary media stream to be stopped and restarted for inserting secondary media streams like advertisements or emergency notifications, leading to disconcerting transitions and potential re-buffering.
Innovation Solution
A method that selects an optimal encoding bit-rate for the secondary media stream based on the primary stream's bit-rate and the communication channel's supportable bit-rate, allowing seamless integration and adaptive bit-rate selection to match the primary stream's quality, eliminating the need to stop or restart the primary stream.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the primary media stream is stopped to insert secondary media streams, then the secondary media can be played, but the viewer experiences disconcerting transitions and media breaks
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between primary and secondary media streams based on playback position and timing information, allowing seamless transitions without stopping the overall media playback. The client device adjusts the playback state of each stream independently to maintain continuity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses an intermediary mechanism where the client device coordinates between the primary media stream and secondary media stream, using timing information and playback position data to synchronize their playback states and eliminate discontinuities.
2Productivity
If the primary media stream is restarted after inserting secondary media, then playback continues, but re-buffering may occur causing interruptions
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-loading and buffering the primary media stream segments that will play after the secondary media insertion. This ensures that when the secondary media ends, the primary stream is already ready to continue playback without re-buffering interruptions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent maintains continuity of useful action by keeping the primary media stream in a buffered state during secondary media playback, ensuring that playback can resume immediately without interruption or re-buffering when the secondary media ends.
3Adaptability or versatility
If insertion-media and primary media are encoded at different bit-rates, then each can be optimized independently, but the viewer discerns quality differences between streams
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality by allowing different bit-rates for primary and secondary media streams based on their specific requirements, while using timing synchronization and seamless insertion techniques to mask the quality differences and maintain overall viewing experience consistency.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, based on multi-bit-rate streaming for inserting secondary streaming media into primary streaming media are described. In some implementations, the secondary streaming media, also referred to as insertion-media, may be advertisements. In other implementations, the secondary streaming media may be breaking news, emergency notifications or public service announcements. The systems and methods disclosed in this specification enable seamless integration of insertion-media streams with a primary media stream for providing a viewer a high-quality online video experience.