Individual Buffer Management for Scalable Video Transport
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Solution Overview
Problem
Scalable video coding poses challenges in buffer management due to the combination of base and enhancement layers, leading to complexity in transport processing systems and re-multiplexing, especially in transmission models like simulcast and streaming, where decoders with varying capabilities require efficient buffer parameter settings to prevent overflow and ensure correct data removal.
Innovation Solution
Individual buffer management is implemented by determining and applying respective transport stream buffer parameter settings for each layer, allowing for flexible and efficient buffering and combination of layers to form a combined bitstream, with each layer having its own buffer parameter settings for bitrate and size, simplifying the management of buffers and reducing the burden on transport processing systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If combined buffer management is used for scalable video coding, then decoders can process multiple layers, but buffer management complexity increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the buffer management into separate, independent buffers for each layer (base layer and enhancement layers). Each buffer is managed independently with its own parameters, allowing the system to handle multiple layers without creating a single complex combined buffer management system. This segmentation reduces the complexity by eliminating the need to manage combined bitstreams as a unified entity.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of managing buffers after combining layers (traditional approach), the patent inverts the approach by managing buffers before combination. Each layer is buffered separately with independent parameter control, and only after buffering does the system combine the layers. This inversion simplifies management by avoiding the complexity of tracking and removing combined layer data.
2Device complexity
If individual layer buffering is implemented, then buffer management is simplified, but system flexibility for combining layers is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic buffer management where each layer can be buffered independently with configurable parameters. The system dynamically adjusts which layers are buffered and how they are combined based on decoder capabilities and transmission requirements. This dynamic approach maintains simplicity in individual buffer management while preserving flexibility in layer combination through configurable parameters and adaptive processing.
3Reliability
If transport stream buffer parameters are applied per layer, then buffer overflow is prevented, but processing overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies buffer parameters to each layer before the buffering process begins. By pre-configuring the transport stream buffer parameters for each layer, the system ensures proper buffer size and rate control are established in advance, preventing overflow before it occurs. This preliminary action eliminates the need for complex real-time adjustments and reduces processing overhead during actual buffering operations.
Data Source
AI summary
A method is provided to determine buffer parameter settings for a plurality of layers in a transport stream. Each layer includes a respective transport stream buffer parameter setting. Then, the method provides respective transport stream buffer parameter settings to individual transport stream buffers for respective layers in the plurality of layers. Then, the method buffers the respective layers in the individual transport stream buffers according to the respective transport stream buffer parameter settings. After buffering, the method combines the respective layers to form a combined bit stream.