Adaptive Media Streaming Segment Replacement for Local Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current media delivery methods, such as download and streaming, are vulnerable to network conditions, leading to inconsistent playback quality, and adaptive streaming does not facilitate local storage of high-quality media files for later playback.
Innovation Solution
A system that uses adaptive streaming to replace lower quality media file segments with higher quality ones for local storage, allowing for consistent playback and extended viewing experiences across different scenarios, including real-time streaming and delayed playback.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If adaptive streaming is used to deliver media files, then playback reliability under variable network conditions is improved, but the quality consistency of the stored media file deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the media file into multiple segments, each delivered at different quality levels based on network conditions. The receiving device then reassembles these segments into a complete media file, ensuring both playback reliability during streaming and consistent quality in the stored version.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by delivering different quality levels to different segments based on local network conditions at the time of delivery, while ultimately ensuring the stored file maintains consistent high quality through segment replacement or re-encoding.
2Speed
If streaming protocols are used to deliver media files, then real-time viewing capability is improved, but the ability to provide local storage for further playback deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the streaming system universal by enabling it to serve dual purposes: real-time playback and local storage for offline viewing. The receiving device can store the media file segments received through streaming and play them back later without requiring continuous network connectivity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If download is used to deliver media files, then local storage capability is improved, but playback performance under variable network conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by downloading media file segments in advance during periods of good network conditions, storing them locally, and making them available for playback during periods of poor or no network connectivity, ensuring reliable playback performance.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and arrangements for replacing segments or portions of a media file that was received via adaptive streaming or other transfer mechanism, to obtain a media file for local storage and further playback as if it came from a download. This maximizes the experience of both instant viewing and delayed viewing, and additionally provides a capability to extend the viewing experience to in-home streaming and copying to other devices. Accordingly, there is provided herein a capability to take advantage of adaptive streaming to provide a highly reliable mechanism for consumers to view media in real-time transmission, and also to obtain a resultant, locally stored media file of high quality. There is further provided herein a capability to obtain complete copies of media at different quality levels. Moreover, embodiments of the present invention facilitate adaptive streaming and copying within the home environment.