Partial Video Pre-Fetching for Mobile Streaming Efficiency
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing video pre-fetching methods consume large amounts of network data, making them prohibitively expensive over mobile networks and limiting their use to WiFi connections, as they require downloading entire video files for instant playback, which is not feasible with user tolerance for long start times.
Innovation Solution
Implementing partial video pre-fetching, where only the initial portion of a video file is retrieved, with the remaining data fetched in segments as needed, using adaptive bitrate (ABR) to optimize playback quality and network efficiency, and caching transcoded versions of video files to reduce re-transcoding and data usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If entire video pre-fetching is implemented, then instant playback is achieved, but network data consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the video file into multiple parts, where only the initial portion (e.g., first 10-30 seconds) is pre-fetched and cached, while the remaining portions are fetched on-demand as needed during playback. This segmentation allows instant playback for the pre-fetched portion without consuming the entire video data in advance.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of pre-fetching the entire video (excessive action), the system performs partial pre-fetching of only the initial portion needed for immediate playback. This partial action is sufficient to achieve instant playback for the most critical viewing period while avoiding unnecessary data consumption for portions the user may not watch.
2Productivity
If entire video pre-fetching is used, then playback availability is improved, but network cost increases prohibitively
Solution Approach 1:
The video is divided into segments where only the initial segment is pre-fetched and cached locally, enabling immediate playback availability. Subsequent segments are fetched on-demand as needed, maintaining playback availability while minimizing the total data transferred and thus reducing network data costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies partial pre-fetching by downloading only the initial portion of the video (e.g., first 10-30 seconds) rather than the entire video. This partial action provides sufficient playback availability for the critical initial viewing period while avoiding the prohibitively high network costs associated with downloading complete videos.
3Loss of substance
If partial video pre-fetching is implemented, then data consumption is reduced, but playback quality may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-fetching and caching the initial portion of the video before the user actually needs to watch it. This preliminary action ensures that when playback starts, the necessary data is already available locally, maintaining playback quality and avoiding initial buffering delays while using minimal data.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic video loading where the system adapts its behavior based on user interaction. The pre-fetched initial portion provides immediate playback, and subsequent portions are dynamically fetched on-demand as the user watches, allowing the system to optimize between data usage and playback quality based on actual viewing needs rather than assuming complete video consumption.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosed configuration includes a partial pre-fetching of source files from an origin server for playback. After pre-fetch, the remaining portions of a source file may be optimized for retrieval. By providing partial pre-fetch of source files, in conjunction with optimization, automatic video preview may be supported and source file presentation may begin in a timely fashion in response to user requested playback without inordinate bandwidth consumption.