Network Video Streaming with Separate Trick Play Streams for Limited Memory
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Solution Overview
Problem
Client devices, especially small handheld devices, face memory constraints in implementing trick play features like rewind and fast forward due to the need to store large amounts of already downloaded video, which is not feasible with their limited memory capacity.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves encoding multimedia content into multiple adaptive bitrate streams and a separate trick play stream at lower encoding bitrates, allowing client devices to switch between streams and download portions of the trick play stream for implementing trick play features without the need for extensive local storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the client device stores large amounts of already downloaded video to implement trick play features, then the trick play functionality is improved, but the memory capacity requirement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The video content is segmented into multiple bitrate streams (e.g., high bitrate, medium bitrate, low bitrate) that are separately encoded and stored. The client device can switch between these segments based on bandwidth availability and trick play requirements, rather than storing all possible video data locally.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism where the client device requests and downloads only the specific trick play stream portions needed from the server, rather than pre-storing all video data. This on-demand retrieval acts as an intermediary between the video content and the client device memory.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If the client device downloads and buffers successive encoded video segments for normal playback, then the playback continuity is improved, but the memory usage increases for trick play support
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the buffering strategy based on the current playback mode. During normal playback, segments are buffered in chronological order. When trick play is activated, the system dynamically switches to downloading trick play streams from the server, optimizing memory usage for the current operational state.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of video stream bitrate by switching between different encoded streams. Instead of buffering high-bitrate video for all operations, the system downloads lower-bitrate trick play streams on-demand, reducing memory requirements while maintaining acceptable playback quality.
Data Source
AI summary
Network services encode multimedia content, such as video, into multiple adaptive bitrate streams of encoded video and a separate trick play stream of encoded video to support trick play features. The trick play stream is encoded at a lower encoding bitrate and frame rate than each of the adaptive bitrate streams. The adaptive bitrate streams and the trick play stream are stored in the network services. During normal content streaming and playback, a client device downloads a selected one of the adaptive bitrate streams from network serviced for playback at the client device. To implement a trick play feature, the client device downloads the trick play stream from the network services for trick play playback.