Multimedia Stream Control Signaling With Versioned Service Descriptors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional communication systems lack flexibility and efficiency in signaling and versioning, particularly in broadcast systems like digital television, where unforeseen changes and new technologies require forward compatibility, and existing data protocols like XML are not bandwidth-efficient.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for generating and transmitting control information using a tree-based data structure with extensible service descriptors, allowing audiovisual devices to ignore unsupported protocol versions and configure themselves to present multimedia streams efficiently, while incorporating bit-efficient command sets for navigation and data storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a tree-based data structure like XML is used for control information, then extensibility and forward compatibility are improved, but bandwidth efficiency deteriorates due to excessive overhead
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of data representation from text-based XML to bit-efficient binary encoding. Control information is encoded using compact binary fields with explicit length indicators, transforming the physical state of data from human-readable text to machine-optimized bits, thereby reducing overhead while maintaining extensibility through version fields and optional elements
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments control information into distinct groups, each associated with a specific protocol version. The service descriptor table divides control information by version number, allowing receivers to selectively process only the version they support. This segmentation isolates different protocol versions into separate manageable units, reducing the overhead each receiver must handle
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple protocol versions are supported in the same system, then forward compatibility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments control information by protocol version using a service descriptor table that associates each group of control information with a specific version number. Receivers segment their processing by selecting only the version they support, avoiding the complexity of implementing all versions. This version-based segmentation allows forward compatibility while keeping individual device complexity manageable
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements self-service version matching where the receiver autonomously determines which protocol version it supports and selects the corresponding control information group from the service descriptor table. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for complex negotiation protocols or centralized version management, reducing system complexity while maintaining multi-version support
3Ease of operation
If control information is organized by protocol version groups, then ease of operation is improved for device configuration, but data structure complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments control information into version-grouped units in the service descriptor table, where each entry points to a specific protocol version's control information. This segmentation simplifies device configuration by allowing receivers to directly select their supported version group without parsing through unrelated version data, easing operation despite the structured complexity of the descriptor table
Data Source
AI summary
First control information, generated according to a first protocol version, for configuring an audiovisual device to present a multimedia stream, may be generated. A first data structure specifying that the first control information is of the first protocol version may be generated. A plurality of packets, including a multimedia stream, the first control information, and the first data structure, may be generated and transmitted. Second control information, generated according to a second protocol version, for configuring an audiovisual device to present a multimedia stream, may be generated. The first data structure may be modified to include information about the second control information. A second plurality of packets, including the modified first data structure, the first control information, a multimedia stream specified by the first control information, the second control information, and a multimedia stream specified by the second control information, may be generated.