Network Performance Assessment for Video Transmission Quality

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Solution Overview

Problem

Home networks often face capacity constraints, leading to decreased information transfer rates and potential loss of data, particularly when multiple devices attempt to communicate simultaneously, resulting in undesirable image distortion or loss for users.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that assess network performance to dynamically select alternative communication paths, such as wireless transmitters or cable ports, and modify program formats from high-definition to standard-definition or change from MPEG-4 to MPEG-2, to reduce network utilization below peak capacity, ensuring stable video transmission.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple devices communicate simultaneously over the network, then network connectivity and device functionality are improved, but network capacity is exceeded causing data loss and image distortion

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork connectivityVSAvoiddata transmission reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts video quality parameters (resolution, frame rate, bitrate) based on real-time network capacity assessment. When network capacity is sufficient, high-definition formats are used; when capacity is exceeded, the system automatically reduces quality to standard-definition formats to maintain reliable transmission

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes physical parameters of the video signal (resolution, frame rate, bitrate) to adapt to network conditions. By modifying these parameters, the system ensures transmission reliability while maintaining acceptable video quality across varying network capacities

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Manufacturing precision

If high-definition video formats are transmitted, then video quality is improved, but network capacity utilization increases causing congestion

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevideo qualityVSAvoidnetwork capacity utilization
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts video quality parameters (resolution, frame rate, bitrate) based on real-time network capacity assessment. When network capacity is sufficient, high-definition formats are used; when capacity is exceeded, the system automatically reduces quality to standard-definition formats to maintain reliable transmission

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes physical parameters of the video signal (resolution, frame rate, bitrate) to adapt to network conditions. By modifying these parameters, the system ensures transmission reliability while maintaining acceptable video quality across varying network capacities

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If network capacity is reduced to prevent congestion, then transmission reliability is improved, but video quality deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission reliabilityVSAvoidvideo quality
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts video quality parameters (resolution, frame rate, bitrate) based on real-time network capacity assessment. When network capacity is sufficient, high-definition formats are used; when capacity is exceeded, the system automatically reduces quality to standard-definition formats to maintain reliable transmission

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes physical parameters of the video signal (resolution, frame rate, bitrate) to adapt to network conditions. By modifying these parameters, the system ensures transmission reliability while maintaining acceptable video quality across varying network capacities

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP2075932B1Apparatus and method for communicating programs over networks
Publication Date: 2016.03.30 ECHOSTAR TECH LLC
  • EP2075932B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2075932B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2075932B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A consumer network (136) includes a computer (132) which may be connected to the internet, and a number of television receivers (120i) connectible to receive broadcast programming by way of the network. The network (136) has a limited capacity to handle a maximum amount of communications traffic. A network performance assessor (200) is provided to monitor performance information of the network (136). If the network performance assessor (200) identifies that the network is at, or is approaching, maximum capacity it modifies the performance of the network. For example, the format of video being received by the network, and/or the rate of communication, and/or the communication path, may be changed to avoid degradation of viewed programming.