Radio Frame Timing Alignment for Video Streaming

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Solution Overview

Problem

The mismatch between video frame and radio frame durations and starting times in wireless communication systems complicates the design and increases costs, particularly in real-time streaming video sessions, as it requires buffering and complex synchronization mechanisms.

Innovation Solution

A method where the video source communications device detects the duration and starting time of video frames and requests the coordinating communications device to adjust radio frame durations and beacon timing to match, ensuring alignment and simplifying the design and reducing costs by allowing seamless transmission.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If the coordinating communications device determines radio frame duration and timing independently from video frame parameters, then the communications system operates autonomously, but the design complexity of the video source device increases due to required buffering and synchronization mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautonomous operation of communications systemVSAvoiddesign complexity of video source device
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the radio frame duration adjustable rather than fixed. The coordinating communications device dynamically adapts the radio frame duration to match the video frame duration, allowing the system to flexibly accommodate different video streaming requirements while eliminating the need for complex buffering and synchronization mechanisms at the video source device.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Stability of the object's composition

If the radio frame duration is fixed by the coordinating communications device, then the communications system maintains stable timing, but buffering mechanisms are required to guarantee flow continuity of video frames

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetiming stability of radio framesVSAvoidbuffering mechanisms
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by adjusting the radio frame duration parameter to match the video frame duration. Instead of maintaining a fixed radio frame duration, the system changes this parameter dynamically based on the video streaming requirements, thereby eliminating the need for buffering mechanisms while preserving timing stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If the video source device comprises a buffer to buffer enough video frames, then flow continuity of video frames is guaranteed, but the cost of the video source device increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflow continuity of video framesVSAvoidcost of video source device
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by having the coordinating communications device pre-adjust the radio frame duration to match the video frame duration before video transmission begins. This preliminary synchronization eliminates the need for buffering video frames at the video source device, thereby reducing device cost while maintaining flow continuity through proper timing alignment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2207397B1Method for efficient utilization of radio resources for transmission of video streams in a wireless communications system
Publication Date: 2018.06.20 MEDIATEK INC
  • EP2207397B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2207397B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2207397B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention provides a wireless communications system. In one embodiment, the wireless communications system comprises a coordinating communications device, a source communications device, and a sink communications device. The coordinating communications device transmits a predetermined bits sequence at the beginning of a radio frame at a rate of a first fixed interval. The source communications device receives frames of a streaming session, detects a duration and first starting time of a frame, and wherein forwards information about the duration and the first starting time of one or more of the frames to the coordinating communications device. The coordinating communications device then determines the duration of a second fixed interval and second starting time in accordance with a predetermined rule based on the information received from the source communications device. The coordinating communications device then transmits the predetermined bits sequence at the second starting time of a radio frame at a rate of the second fixed interval, and the source communications device forwards the frames to a sink communications device.