Ring Buffer UDP Mechanism for Client Input Loss
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing remote content delivery mechanisms using TCP protocols suffer from undesirable latency and bursty graphics display due to user input loss during transmission from client devices to remote servers, which is intolerable in gaming applications.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a mechanism that uses ring buffer messages in conjunction with UDP to handle user input loss, where each ring buffer message contains the last N input commands, allowing for recovery of lost inputs and minimizing latency by enabling subsequent messages to be sent even if previous ones are lost.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If TCP protocol is used to ensure user input delivery, then user input loss is eliminated, but latency increases and subsequent inputs are blocked during retransmission
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments user inputs into fixed-size ring buffer messages containing N inputs each. This segmentation allows the system to transmit multiple inputs in parallel batches rather than sequentially, reducing the impact of any single lost input on overall latency while maintaining reliability through UDP's best-effort delivery mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary actions by sending ring buffer messages containing multiple user inputs in advance before any loss occurs. By pre-grouping and transmitting N inputs together, the system reduces waiting time for retransmission requests and allows subsequent messages to be sent without blocking, even if previous messages are lost.
2Reliability
If TCP retransmission mechanism is used, then user input loss is recovered, but graphics display becomes bursty and undesirable behaviors occur
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting inputs into fixed-size ring buffer messages, the patent ensures that even if one message is lost, only N inputs are affected rather than blocking all subsequent inputs. This segmentation prevents the bursty graphics display by maintaining a steady flow of transmitted messages without long interruptions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent maintains continuity of useful action by allowing subsequent ring buffer messages to be sent without waiting for lost previous messages to be retransmitted. This continuous transmission approach prevents gaps in input delivery that would cause bursty graphics display, ensuring smooth and consistent game response.
3Device complexity
If individual user inputs are sent sequentially, then transmission simplicity is maintained, but latency increases due to blocking on lost inputs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple individual user inputs into single ring buffer messages containing N inputs each. This merging reduces the total number of transmission operations needed while maintaining simplicity, as the ring buffer structure automatically manages the grouping and sequential sending of merged inputs without complex retransmission logic.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for handling user input loss from a client device to a remote server using user datagram protocol (UDP), includes receiving a newly generated user input command at the client device, removing a previously generated user input command located at a front of the ring buffer from the ring buffer, shifting one or more other previously generated user input commands towards the front of the ring buffer, placing the newly generated user input command at an end of a ring buffer, and sending a first ring buffer message containing the one or more other previously generated input commands and the newly generated user input command to the remote server.