Multi-Resolution Data Streams from Pixel Sampling Regions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Maintaining a large number of encoded streams for each piece of content is costly due to increased costs of encoders, rack space, and maintenance, and reducing the number of streams results in unacceptably low resolutions and bit rates.
Innovation Solution
A system that generates multiple data streams from a source stream using different sampling regions, allowing for the combination of these streams to create higher bit rate and/or resolution streams without additional encoding, and enables independent rendering by client devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple data streams are maintained for different resolutions and bit rates, then content delivery quality is improved, but encoder costs and rack space increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments a single high-resolution data stream into multiple lower-resolution streams by sampling different pixel regions. Instead of encoding multiple complete streams, the system divides the source stream into selectable portions (e.g., first set of pixels, second set of pixels) that can be independently transmitted at different resolutions and bit rates, reducing encoder requirements while maintaining delivery quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts specific pixel subsets from a complete high-resolution frame to create lower-resolution streams. By taking out only the necessary pixel portions (e.g., every other pixel, or specific regional subsets), the system generates multiple delivery streams from a single source without requiring multiple encoders, thus reducing rack space and encoder costs.
2Device complexity
If the number of data streams is reduced to lower costs, then encoder costs decrease, but resolution and bit rate options become unacceptably low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic stream generation where a single encoded stream can be dynamically sampled at different resolutions and bit rates based on client device capabilities. The system maintains one primary encoded stream but can dynamically extract and transmit different pixel subsets at varying quality levels, providing adaptive delivery without requiring multiple pre-encoded streams.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the sampling parameters (pixel subset selection, sampling rate, regional coverage) of a single encoded stream to generate multiple effective delivery streams. By varying these parameters, the system provides different resolution and bit rate options from the same source encoding, maintaining versatility while reducing encoder requirements.
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple encoding processes are used to create different resolution streams, then stream quality is improved, but processing time and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary encoding of a single high-resolution source stream, then subsequently extracts and transmits different pixel subsets without requiring additional encoding processes. The main encoding work is done once in advance, and later stream variations are generated through simple pixel sampling and reassembly, significantly reducing processing time while maintaining stream quality.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems related to processing multiple data streams are disclosed. For example, a computing device may receive a data stream corresponding to a content item, and generate additional data streams by sampling the data stream, for example, using different sampling regions. Another data stream at a higher resolution than each of the additional data streams may then be generated by combining elements (e.g., pixels) of the additional data streams.