Peer-to-Peer Video Streaming for Flight Simulators

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current solutions for transmitting large amounts of video data in real-time to multiple viewers are either costly due to physical cabling and hardware limitations or fail to provide multiplatform support and real-time desktop capture when using IP networks.

Innovation Solution

A signaling server registers nodes on a peer-to-peer network, facilitating direct connections between flight simulators and monitoring entities for efficient video data transfer, allowing video feeds to be streamed directly between peer devices without traversing the signaling server.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If a physical switching matrix is used to distribute video data, then real-time video transmission is achieved, but the cost of physical cabling and switching hardware becomes prohibitive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereal-time video transmissionVSAvoidcost of physical cabling and switching hardware

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical physical switching matrix system with a software-based peer-to-peer networking system. Video data is transmitted through virtual connections established over IP networks, eliminating the need for physical HDMI cabling and switching hardware while maintaining real-time transmission capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a signaling server as an intermediary that facilitates connection establishment between peer devices. The signaling server coordinates the peer-to-peer connection setup, allowing video data to flow directly between sources and destinations without requiring expensive physical switching infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If hardware capture capacity is increased to support more inputs and outputs, then more video sources can be distributed, but the cost increases exponentially

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of input/output portsVSAvoidcost of specialized hardware

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal peer-to-peer networking solution that can handle any number of video inputs and outputs through software. Each peer device can act as both a video source and a destination, allowing the system to scale to support numerous connections without requiring additional specialized hardware for each port.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the video distribution function across multiple independent peer devices rather than concentrating it in a single physical switching matrix. Each peer device maintains its own video capture and transmission capabilities, allowing the system to scale horizontally by adding more peer devices rather than vertically by upgrading expensive hardware.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Adaptability or versatility

If video data is routed over an IP network, then multiplatform support is enabled, but real-time desktop capture for sharing fails

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemultiplatform supportVSAvoidreal-time desktop capture capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary actions by establishing peer-to-peer connections and configuring video capture parameters before actual video transmission begins. The signaling server coordinates the setup phase where connection parameters, codecs, and capture settings are negotiated and configured in advance, ensuring real-time capture capability is properly established before streaming starts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Length of stationary object

If long video cables are used to extend reach, then remote locations can be connected, but video signal quality degrades making transmission functionally impossible

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecable lengthVSAvoidvideo signal quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of stationary objectVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces long physical video cables with digital video transmission over IP networks. Video data is captured as digital signals at the source peer device, packaged into data packets, and transmitted through the network to destination peer devices, eliminating signal degradation issues associated with long analog video cable runs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP2991307B1Peer to peer provisioning of data across networks

Publication Date: 2020.12.16 THE BOEING CO

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AI summary

Systems and methods are provided for flight simulators that share video via peering networks. One embodiment includes a flight tracking controller and connection controller. The flight tracking controller receives static images that represent video feeds from a plurality of flight simulators, transmits the static images to a monitoring entity, and receives a response from the monitoring entity selecting a video feed represented by a static image from a flight simulator. The response identifies multiple candidate paths for streaming the selected video feed from the flight simulator to the monitoring entity across a packet switched network. The connection controller forwards the response to the flight simulator, receives a confirmation from the flight simulator that confirms one of the candidate paths, and forwards the confirmation to the monitoring entity in order to establish a peer-to-peer connection for streaming the selected video feed directly between the flight simulator and the monitoring entity.