RTSP Gateway and Proxy for Low Bandwidth Media Streaming
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for delivering Interactive Voice Response (IVR) applications over low bandwidth connections are inefficient, particularly in handling static media transmission, which can lead to high costs and user experience issues due to reliance on hosted environments and complex data exchanges.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a Real-Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP) gateway and proxy system that supports the transmission of static media from an HTTP source as an RTSP stream to a caching proxy, allowing for efficient streaming and caching of requested portions of files, thereby reducing bandwidth usage and eliminating the need for re-requesting media segments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If static media is transmitted over HTTP from hosted environments, then application functionality is provided, but bandwidth consumption increases and hosting costs rise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an RTSP gateway and RTSP proxy as intermediary components between the HTTP source and the mobile device. The RTSP gateway converts HTTP media streams into RTSP format, and the RTSP proxy caches and manages these streams on the network side. This intermediary architecture enables efficient media delivery over low-bandwidth connections by allowing incremental loading and caching of media segments without requiring the mobile device to download entire files, thus reducing bandwidth consumption while maintaining application functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-loading and caching media segments on the RTSP proxy before they are actually needed by the mobile device. The gateway can start streaming media segments in advance, and the proxy caches these segments for future playback. This preliminary action allows the media to be ready for immediate playback when needed, reducing the need for repeated downloads and lowering overall bandwidth consumption.
2Adaptability or versatility
If hosted environments are used for IVR applications, then service capability is provided, but system complexity and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The RTSP gateway and proxy act as intermediaries that simplify the system architecture by handling complex media stream management, conversion, and caching functions on the network side. This eliminates the need for complex hosted environment infrastructure to manage media delivery, as the gateway/proxy handles these functions centrally. The mobile device only needs to interact with the simplified RTSP interface, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining service capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The RTSP proxy provides self-service capabilities by automatically caching and managing media segments without requiring manual intervention or complex hosted environment management. The system can autonomously handle media stream conversion, caching, and delivery, reducing the operational complexity and costs associated with hosted environments while maintaining adaptability and service capability.
3Productivity
If media segments are re-requested from HTTP source, then complete media is delivered, but transmission time and bandwidth usage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The RTSP proxy performs preliminary actions by caching media segments on the network side before they are needed by the mobile device. When media playback is requested, the proxy can immediately serve cached segments without requiring re-requests to the HTTP source. This preliminary caching action significantly reduces transmission time and eliminates repeated bandwidth usage for the same media segments.
Solution Approach 2:
The system ensures continuity of useful action by maintaining cached media segments in the RTSP proxy for ongoing playback. Instead of interrupting playback to re-request segments from the HTTP source, the proxy continuously serves media from its cache, ensuring uninterrupted playback and reducing overall transmission time. This continuous service from cache eliminates the need for repeated requests and maintains efficient bandwidth utilization.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method to support the transmission of static media, originating from an HTTP source, as a Real-Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP) stream to a caching proxy. A server-side gateway accepts RTSP requests, loads a requested resource from the HTTP source, and streams requested portions of a file via RTSP. A RTSP proxy caches received portions of media to avoid re-requesting those portions. The RTSP proxy may receive a RTSP TEARDOWN command to trigger removal of cached media and passes the RTSP TEARDOWN command to the server-side gateway. Further, the server-side gateway may receive a RTSP TEARDOWN command to trigger the server-side gateway to remove media loaded from the HTTP source.