Resilient Signal Encoding via Adaptive Reference Frames

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing digital signal encoding mechanisms, such as inter-frame encoding, are susceptible to frame loss or corruption during transmission, leading to undecodable frames and a trade-off between resilience and bandwidth utilization.

Innovation Solution

A system and method for resilient signal encoding where frames are encoded with an independently decodable frame as a reference, and subsequent frames are encoded as difference frames, with acknowledgments sent for successful decoding, allowing for adaptive reference frame selection and reduced bandwidth transmission.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If inter-frame encoding is used to reduce bandwidth, then bandwidth utilization is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to frame loss or corruption

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebandwidth utilizationVSAvoidframe decodability
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary encoding of frames as independently decodable units (i-frames) before transmission, so that even if subsequent difference frames (p-frames) are lost or corrupted, the receiver can still decode the video stream using the independently encoded frames. This preliminary action ensures resilience against transmission errors while maintaining compression efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically changes the encoding parameters by selectively designating certain frames as independently decodable (i-frames) versus difference frames (p-frames) based on transmission conditions and acknowledgment feedback. This parameter adjustment allows the system to adapt between compression efficiency and reliability depending on channel conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Loss of energy

If difference frames are used for compression, then bandwidth utilization is improved, but device complexity increases due to acknowledgment and reference frame management

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebandwidth utilizationVSAvoidencoding complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements a feedback mechanism where the receiver sends acknowledgments to the transmitter about successfully decoded frames. Based on this feedback, the transmitter adjusts its encoding strategy, designating frames as independently decodable or as difference frames relative to acknowledged frames. This feedback loop enables adaptive compression management without requiring overly complex predetermined encoding schemes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The encoding scheme is made dynamic rather than static. The system continuously adapts the reference frame selection and frame type designation based on real-time transmission outcomes and acknowledgment feedback. This dynamic approach allows the system to optimize the balance between compression and reliability adaptively, reducing the need for complex pre-planned encoding strategies.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3550838B1Resilient signal encoding
Publication Date: 2020.10.28 BLACKBERRY LTD
  • EP3550838B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3550838B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3550838B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A system and method for resilient signal encoding provide for encoding a data signal to reduce bandwidth required to transmit the encoded signal while mitigating the impact of frames lost or corrupted during transmission. A first frame of the data signal is encoded as an independently decodable frame and is assigned as a reference frame. Subsequent frames of the data signal are encoded as different frames relative to the reference frame. The independently decodable frame and the difference frames are transmitted to a receiver. The receiver decodes the frames and sends an acknowledgement for one or more successfully decoded difference frames. When an acknowledgment is received, a corresponding data signal frame is assigned as the reference frame. Subsequent difference frames are encoded relative to the newly assigned reference frame.