P2P Streaming Node Selection for Playback Delay Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
P2P-based streaming systems experience significant delays when users fast forward, rewind, or drag the progress bar due to the need to search for and establish new TCP connections with different nodes, which is inefficient and increases the load on central servers.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that proactively identify and connect with the closest nodes providing desired media content for each time segment, storing these nodes in a local list and maintaining pre-established TCP connections to minimize delays during media playback.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If P2P-based streaming systems allow users to fast forward, rewind, or drag the progress bar, then the system provides flexible media playback control, but the user experiences significant delays due to needing to search for and establish new TCP connections with different nodes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-establishing TCP connections with multiple candidate nodes before the user needs to fast forward or rewind. The system proactively creates connections with nodes that may be needed for future playback positions, so when the user drags the progress bar, the connection is already in place and no new connection establishment is needed, eliminating the delay.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamics by making the node selection and connection establishment process adaptive and dynamic. The system dynamically selects the best node based on real-time conditions (distance, load, availability) and maintains a pool of active and standby connections that can be quickly switched between. This dynamic approach allows the system to respond rapidly to user playback control actions without fixed, static connections.
2Adaptability or versatility
If P2P-based streaming systems search for program sources when users fast forward or rewind, then the system can find the desired content, but the load on central servers increases due to continuous updates and coordination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by enabling user nodes to autonomously select and connect to appropriate content-providing nodes without requiring central server intervention for each playback control action. The distributed node list and peer-to-peer connection mechanism allow nodes to serve themselves, reducing the coordination burden on central servers while maintaining the ability to find and retrieve desired content segments.
3Reliability
If P2P-based streaming systems create new TCP connections for each playback position change, then the system can access the most appropriate node, but the playback delay becomes unacceptable (over 5 seconds)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple functions into a single pre-established connection pool. Instead of creating separate connections for each possible playback position, the system combines multiple candidate node connections into an active pool that can serve various playback positions. This merging allows the system to maintain connection reliability for accurate node selection while avoiding the time penalty of establishing multiple separate connections on demand.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention discloses a method and apparatus for reducing delay of media playing, and relates to the streaming field. In order to overcome the play delay caused by handover between nodes when the user drags the progress bar in the process of playing a P2P-based streaming program, the present invention discloses a method for reducing delay of playing media: a user node obtains information on a list of nodes that can provide a desired program content; selects a best node among all nodes that can provide the program content corresponding to each time segment, wherein the program content is played in more than one time segment and the best node is closest to the user node among all the nodes; creates a connection with the selected best node; receives media stream data of the program content from the best node; and plays the media stream data. An apparatus for reducing delay of media playing herein includes: a node information obtaining module, a best node selecting module, a connection creating module, and a playing module.