Media Streaming Random Access via Pre-computed Location Indexing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional media data streaming methods do not support random access, especially when users request trick play or specific sections, as they require starting from an I-frame, which involves sequential detection of packets, limiting user interaction and efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving media data that provides location information indicating randomly accessible points within segments, allowing for efficient random access by indexing frames and access units within packets, and transmitting this information to enable direct access to specific points in the media data.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If sequential packet detection is used to find I-frames for random access, then the system can maintain simple structure, but the access speed and user interaction efficiency deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverandom access speedVSAvoidsystem structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-calculating and storing location information (offset values) of random access points in the media data before transmission. This allows the client to directly jump to specified sections without sequential detection, significantly improving random access speed while maintaining relatively simple system structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces location information as an intermediary between the user's random access request and the actual data retrieval. This intermediary contains pre-computed offset values that guide the client directly to the desired sections, eliminating the need for sequential packet detection and I-frame searching.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If location information is transmitted to enable random access, then user interaction efficiency improves, but the data transmission complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser interaction efficiencyVSAvoiddata transmission complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the location information into different types (first type for current segment, second type for subsequent segments) and transmits them separately. This segmentation allows the system to provide random access functionality while managing transmission complexity by dividing the information into manageable parts that can be processed independently.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Productivity

If sequential reproduction method is used, then the system maintains simplicity, but the productivity and response time to user requests deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata reproduction efficiencyVSAvoidreproduction system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-identifying and marking random access points (I-frames and other key frames) with location information before transmission. This allows the client to immediately jump to the desired section without sequential reproduction, significantly improving productivity and response time while keeping the reproduction system relatively simple.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2540034B1Method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving data
Publication Date: 2017.11.01 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP2540034B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2a
  • EP2540034B1 patent drawingFigure 2b~4a
  • EP2540034B1 patent drawingFigure 4b~5b

AI summary

A method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving data are provided. In the method of receiving data, at least one of a plurality of media data generated by encoding content to have different qualities is received, the plurality of media data each including at least one segment; location information indicating a randomly accessible point of each of the at least one segment is obtained; and random accessing is provided on the received media data, based on the location information.