Bandwidth Measurement Using Multimedia Packet Timestamps

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods for measuring transmission bandwidth in multimedia streaming require transmitting proving packets, which occupy additional bandwidth and are not suitable for dynamically varying communication conditions, especially in video communication where ensuring quality of service (QoS) is crucial.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that calculate transmission bandwidth by using the packets actually transmitted to the receiving side, where the server transmits multimedia data and calculates bandwidth based on timestamps of received packets, allowing for real-time streaming without additional proving packets.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If proving packets are transmitted to measure bandwidth, then bandwidth measurement is achieved, but additional bandwidth is occupied and QoS deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebandwidth measurementVSAvoidbandwidth consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the bandwidth measurement function with the existing multimedia data transmission. Instead of sending separate proving packets, the system uses the timestamps embedded in the actual multimedia packets being transmitted for both content delivery and bandwidth measurement purposes. This eliminates the need for additional proving packets and their associated bandwidth consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The multimedia packets themselves serve dual purposes: delivering content and providing measurement data. The timestamps included in the multimedia packets are used by the receiver to calculate bandwidth metrics, making the transmission packets self-sufficient for both content delivery and performance measurement without requiring external probing packets.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Measurement precision

If proving packets are transmitted to measure bandwidth, then bandwidth measurement is achieved, but transmission complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebandwidth measurementVSAvoidtransmission process
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the measurement function from the separate proving packet transmission process and integrates it into the existing multimedia transmission flow. By using the timestamps already present in the multimedia packets, the system eliminates the need for separate measurement packet handling, reducing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Ease of operation

If fixed transmission bandwidth is set beforehand, then video communication can be established, but dynamic bandwidth variations cannot be handled

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevideo communication setupVSAvoiddynamic bandwidth adaptation
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the receiver continuously measures bandwidth using timestamps from incoming multimedia packets and reports these measurements back to the sender. The sender uses this feedback information to dynamically adjust transmission parameters, enabling adaptation to changing network conditions while maintaining ease of initial setup.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system transitions from static bandwidth configuration to dynamic bandwidth adaptation. By continuously measuring bandwidth using packet timestamps and adjusting transmission parameters based on current network conditions, the system becomes adaptable to dynamic bandwidth variations while maintaining simple initial configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2323281B1System for measuring the transmission bandwidth for multimedia streaming and method for same
Publication Date: 2014.08.13 SK PLANET CO LTD
  • EP2323281B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2323281B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2323281B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The present invention relates to a system for measuring a transmission bandwidth that calculates a transmission bandwidth not by transmitting a proving packet to the receiving side, but rather by using a transmission packet to be transmitted to a receiving side, and streams multimedia data to the receiving side by using the transmission bandwidth, in a service for streaming multimedia data on a real-time basis, and to a method for same. The system for measuring a transmission bandwidth according to the present invention, includes: a server for transmitting packets of multimedia data to a receiving apparatus, receiving received time stamp on the reception of packets from the receiving apparatus, calculating a transmission bandwidth from the received time stamp, and streaming the multimedia data to the receiving apparatus in accordance with the calculated transmission bandwidth; and a receiving apparatus for receiving packets of the multimedia data from the server, recording received time stamp for each of received packets, and transmitting the received time stamp to the server by a predetermined cycle. According to the present invention, transmission bandwidth can be measured not by using a proving packet, but rather by using data to be actually transmitted. Moreover, additional occupation of the transmission bandwidth due to a proving packet can be prevented, and multimedia data streaming suited to a transmission bandwidth can be efficiently performed. Further, streaming of media suiting to a transmission bandwidth meets QoS (Quality of Service) requirements.