Pacing Buffer Removal Rate Control for MMT Jitter
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) Media Transport (MMT) standards face inefficiencies in managing buffer pacing due to varying network conditions and jitter, which can result in inconsistent media delivery across different devices and networks, especially when the largest amount of jitter is unknown, leading to suboptimal buffer management and resource wastage.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method for MMT sending and receiving entities to manage a pacing buffer efficiently through signaling messages, such as Pacing Buffer Removal Rate (PRR) and Pacing Buffer Status Feedback (PSF) messages, to adjust bandwidth and buffer levels dynamically, ensuring consistent end-to-end delay and minimizing resource wastage by controlling the pacing buffer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the pacing buffer size is increased to handle network jitter, then media delivery consistency is improved, but buffer resource wastage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic buffer management where the pacing buffer size and removal rate are continuously adjusted based on real-time network conditions and receiver buffer status. The sending entity modifies the drain rate of the pacing buffer dynamically to match actual network jitter characteristics rather than using a fixed oversized buffer, thus maintaining delivery consistency while minimizing resource wastage.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs feedback mechanisms where the receiving entity sends buffer status feedback messages to the sending entity. Based on this feedback, the sending entity adjusts the pacing buffer removal rate to optimize buffer utilization. This closed-loop control ensures the buffer size is adapted to actual needs rather than being statically oversized, resolving the contradiction between reliability and resource efficiency.
2Loss of time
If the drain rate of the pacing buffer is increased to reduce buffering delay, then media consumption timeliness is improved, but buffer underflow risk increases under high jitter conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The drain rate of the pacing buffer is made dynamic rather than fixed. The sending entity continuously adjusts the removal rate based on current network jitter levels and receiver buffer status. When network conditions are good, the drain rate increases to reduce delay; when jitter increases, the drain rate decreases to prevent underflow, thus dynamically optimizing the trade-off between timeliness and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters of the pacing buffer (specifically the drain rate) based on varying network conditions. By modifying the removal rate parameter in response to measured jitter and buffer status, the system adapts to different operating scenarios, allowing fast drainage when safe and slower drainage when risk is high, thereby resolving the contradiction between delay reduction and underflow prevention.
3Loss of energy
If dynamic buffer management is implemented to optimize resource usage, then resource efficiency is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The buffer management system operates autonomously using self-service mechanisms. The sending entity automatically adjusts pacing parameters based on feedback from the receiving entity without requiring manual intervention or complex external control systems. This self-regulating approach improves resource efficiency while keeping the control logic relatively simple and localized to the communicating entities.
Solution Approach 2:
The pacing buffer mechanism serves multiple functions simultaneously: it smooths network jitter, controls transmission rate, manages buffer resources, and provides flow control. By integrating these functions into a single unified mechanism rather than separate systems, the patent achieves resource optimization without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method, decoder and server for managing buffers for rate pacing. The decoder includes a memory, a transceiver configured to transmit and receive a signal, and processing circuitry operably connected to the memory and the transceiver. The processing circuitry receives, from the server, a removal rate message indicating a drain rate of a pacing buffer of the decoder. The processing circuitry also provides packets from the pacing buffer to a decoding buffer of the decoder according to the drain rate.