Multimedia Synchronization via Network Delay Compensation

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Solution Overview

Problem

In heterogeneous media networks, the asynchronous presentation of multimedia resources due to varying broadband network conditions causes synchronization issues between broadcast and broadband media content, leading to delays and bandwidth discrepancies.

Innovation Solution

A method where a server obtains end-to-end broadband network delay or delay and bandwidth information to calculate a synchronized presentation time for multimedia resources, ensuring that content is played simultaneously across different users by adjusting the start time based on calculated parameters such as network delays and available bandwidths.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the server pushes media content through broadcast channel, then the content transmission has large bandwidth and high stability, but the content received by different users becomes asynchronous due to varying broadband network delays

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebroadcast channel stabilityVSAvoidsynchronization delay

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The server performs preliminary actions by calculating the broadband network delay for each user before pushing media content, and pre-determines the push timing for each user based on their specific delay characteristics. This allows the server to compensate for network variations in advance, ensuring that content arrives at different users' terminals simultaneously despite different broadband network conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The server changes the transmission parameter (push timing) based on each user's broadband network delay characteristics. By dynamically adjusting when to push content to different users according to their specific network conditions, the system maintains synchronization across the heterogeneous network while leveraging the high stability of the broadcast channel.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If the server pushes media content through broadband channel, then the content can be delivered to users, but the varying network delays and bandwidths cause asynchronous presentation across different users

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebroadband channel flexibilityVSAvoidsynchronization accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The server dynamically changes the push timing parameter for each user based on their measured broadband network delay. By adjusting this temporal parameter according to individual user conditions, the system maintains high adaptability to different network environments while achieving precise synchronization across all users.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by measuring the broadband network delay for each user and using this information to adjust the content push timing. This closed-loop approach allows the server to adapt to varying network conditions while maintaining synchronization accuracy, combining the flexibility of broadband with precise timing control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If the broadband network condition deteriorates for a user, then the user experiences playback interruptions, but resyncing causes asynchronization with other users who have stable connections

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveplayback smoothnessVSAvoidresynchronization delay

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The server performs preliminary timing calculations for each user based on their network characteristics, determining the optimal push schedule in advance. When a user experiences playback interruptions due to network deterioration, the server can resync by pushing content at the pre-calculated timing for that user, minimizing disruption and maintaining synchronization with other users without requiring global resynchronization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS11265587B2Multimedia resource synchronous pushing method based on heterogeneous network

Publication Date: 2022.03.01 SHANGHAI JIAOTONG UNIV

AI summary

The present disclosure discloses a method for synchronously pushing a multimedia resource based on a heterogeneous network. The method includes: step 1: obtaining, by a server, end-to-end broadband network delay information or broadband network delay and available bandwidth information of different users; step 2: after receiving a client request, calculating, by the server according to the end-to-end broadband network delay information or the broadband network delay and available bandwidth information of the different users, a moment at which the multimedia resource can be synchronously presented; and step 3: sending, by the server, the multimedia resource after the moment at which the multimedia resource can be synchronously presented, and synchronously playing, by a client, content according to a start presentation time of the multimedia resource, so that broadband content of the different users can be synchronously presented.