Media Streaming MPD Byte Range Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current HTTP streaming technologies face challenges such as high startup delays, inability to signal time ranges, lack of support for multiple encoding configurations, inefficient resource usage for live streaming notifications, and limited support for fast forward and rewind functionalities.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a media presentation description (MPD) that includes byte and time ranges, additional codec information, and a special URL for the latest segment, allowing clients to efficiently request media segments using byte ranges and enabling low startup delays, seamless live streaming, and advanced playback controls like fast forward and rewind.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If HTTP streaming is used to transmit video content from server to client, then web-based streaming becomes pervasive and simple to access, but considerable startup delay occurs before content starts playing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-segmenting media content into multiple segments and preparing them for efficient retrieval. The media player requests segments progressively rather than waiting for complete content download, enabling faster startup. The system pre-processes content into manageable units that can be delivered and played back without significant delay.
2Reliability
If traditional HTTP streaming is used, then video content can be transmitted over IP networks, but streaming video content is interrupted or stalled due to heavy network traffic and poor link conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing media content into multiple discrete segments that can be independently requested and delivered. This allows the system to retrieve and play segments in order without requiring the entire content to be available, reducing interruptions. Network errors affect only individual segments rather than the entire stream, improving resilience to network conditions.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple encoding configurations are not supported, then system complexity is reduced, but the viewing experience is degraded due to inability to adapt to changing network conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by enabling the media player to dynamically select among multiple encoding configurations based on current network conditions. The system can switch between different segment encodings (e.g., different resolutions or bitrates) to adapt to changing bandwidth availability, ensuring optimal playback quality without requiring complex manual configuration.
4Productivity
If byte ranges are not utilized in media segment requests, then request processing is simpler, but resource usage efficiency for live streaming notifications is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by enabling selective retrieval of specific byte ranges within media segments rather than requiring complete segment downloads. This allows the system to efficiently request only the necessary portions of content, optimizing resource usage for live streaming scenarios where not all segments need to be fully retrieved or processed.
Data Source
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AI summary
In accordance with an embodiment, a method includes electronically receiving a media presentation description (MPD) from a network. The MPD describes multimedia content that includes alternative representations of a plurality of media types, and the MPD includes information indicative of how the alternative representations are encoded. The method also includes selecting one of the plurality of alternative representations for at least one of the plurality of media types based on information included in the MPD, requesting the selected one of the plurality of alternative representations piece-by-piece, and electronically receiving a piece of media data.