Dynamic Bandwidth Allocation for Multiscreen Video Streaming
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems for multi-screen viewing fail to efficiently manage network bandwidth while transmitting video programs and related information to handheld and standalone devices, leading to suboptimal content quality and increased bandwidth usage.
Innovation Solution
A method and server system that allocates bandwidth dynamically between devices based on available bandwidth and user viewing status, prioritizing content quality for the device in use by transmitting video programs to one device and information to another, and adjusting qualities by reducing resolution or transforming content when bandwidth is insufficient.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If video programs and related information are transmitted to multiple devices simultaneously, then content availability is improved, but network bandwidth consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system transmits different quality versions of content to different devices based on their specific characteristics and usage scenarios. The primary device receives full-quality video programs while secondary devices receive lower-quality related information, optimizing bandwidth usage while maintaining content availability across multiple devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The content transmission is segmented into different types: video programs are transmitted to the primary device while related information is transmitted to secondary devices. This segmentation allows the system to manage bandwidth consumption by distributing different content types to different devices rather than transmitting all content to all devices.
2Adaptability or versatility
If bandwidth is allocated to multiple devices, then content distribution capability is improved, but content quality on primary device deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different quality levels to different devices based on their role in the multi-device setup. The primary device receives high-quality video programs while secondary devices receive lower-quality related information, ensuring that content quality on the primary device is maintained while still enabling distribution to multiple devices.
3Reliability
If content quality is maintained at initial level, then user experience is improved, but bandwidth requirement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system maintains initial content quality for the primary device where users have the best viewing experience, while transmitting reduced-quality related information to secondary devices. This approach preserves user experience on the primary device while reducing overall bandwidth requirements through quality adaptation on secondary devices.
4Loss of information
If bandwidth is allocated to secondary device, then information availability is improved, but video quality on primary device deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments content transmission by device type: video programs are transmitted to the primary device while related information is transmitted to secondary devices. This segmentation ensures that information availability is improved on secondary devices without compromising video quality on the primary device, as each device receives the content type best suited to its capabilities and usage context.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method transmitting a video program having an initial video quality and information related to the video program to multiple devices having an initial information quality is disclosed. The method comprises receiving a request for the video program from one of the first and second devices, both registered in an account; allocating first and second amounts of bandwidth, respectively, to one of the two devices and the other of the two devices according to first available bandwidth; transmitting to the one device the video program having a first quality satisfying the first allocated amount of bandwidth, but not the information related to the video program; transmitting to the other device the information related to the video program having a second quality satisfying the second allocated amount of bandwidth, but not the video program; and responsive to first view change information of a user, adjusting the first and second allocated amounts to maximize quality of content received by the device having a view of the user according to the first view change information.