Multi-Source Multimedia Streaming via Manifest-Based Source Selection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current digital video technologies face limitations in efficiently streaming multimedia data across various sources beyond traditional HTTP servers, such as network streaming, over-the-air broadcasts, and local storage media, lacking redundancy and adaptability to changing network bandwidth.

Innovation Solution

Implementing dynamic adaptive streaming over HTTP (DASH) techniques that allow multimedia data to be retrieved from multiple sources, including HTTP servers, broadcast networks, and local storage, using a manifest file to select and switch between representations based on client device capabilities and available bandwidth, ensuring continuous and high-quality playback.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If traditional HTTP server streaming is used, then network streaming capability is provided, but redundancy and adaptability to changing network bandwidth are limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to network conditionsVSAvoidstreaming reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables a single streaming architecture to support multiple data sources (HTTP servers, broadcast networks, local storage media) through a unified manifest file format and common retrieval interface, allowing the client to universally access content from any source type based on current network conditions and source availability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple sources are used for multimedia data, then redundancy and adaptability are improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesource selection flexibilityVSAvoidstreaming system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The manifest file serves as an intermediary data structure that centralizes information about multiple content sources, their characteristics, and accessibility conditions. This mediator allows the client to make intelligent source selection decisions without requiring complex embedded logic for evaluating and managing multiple data pathways

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system segments the streaming system into independent functional components: the manifest file management layer, the multi-source retrieval layer, and the content delivery layer. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and simplifies the overall system architecture by separating concerns

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS9591361B2Streaming of multimedia data from multiple sources

Publication Date: 2017.03.07 QUALCOMM INC

AI summary

In one example, a device includes a plurality of interfaces, wherein each of the interfaces is communicatively coupled to a respective one of a plurality of sources, a stream management unit configured to select, using a manifest file for multimedia content, one of a plurality of representations from which to retrieve multimedia data of the multimedia content, wherein the manifest file includes information indicative of the plurality of representations of the multimedia content, wherein the plurality of representations includes the selected representation, wherein multimedia data for the representations is available from the plurality of sources, and wherein the stream management unit is configured to select one of the sources from which to retrieve multimedia data for the selected representation, and a source component configured to retrieve multimedia data for the selected representation from the selected source via the one of the interfaces that is communicatively coupled to the selected source.