Scalable Video Coding with Client-Generated Base Layers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing video coding technologies struggle to efficiently adapt to varying network conditions and client hardware capabilities, leading to potential interruptions and reduced video quality in streaming applications.

Innovation Solution

Implementing scalable video coding (SVC) that divides video data into base-layer and auxiliary-layer bitstreams, allowing for selective transmission and decoding based on network bandwidth and client capabilities, using techniques like motion compensation, DCT, quantization, and variable length coding to enhance encoding and decoding efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If traditional single-layer video coding is used, then the video data can be transmitted and decoded, but the system cannot efficiently adapt to varying network conditions and client hardware capabilities, leading to interruptions and reduced video quality

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to network conditions and client hardwareVSAvoidvideo streaming continuity and quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the video bitstream into multiple layers (base layer and enhancement layers) with different quality levels and bandwidth requirements. This segmentation allows the system to transmit only the necessary layers based on network conditions and client capabilities, enabling adaptive streaming while maintaining reliable playback across varying conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Manufacturing precision

If video data is transmitted with high quality and resolution, then the video quality is improved, but the bandwidth consumption and decoding complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevideo quality and resolutionVSAvoiddecoding complexity and bandwidth consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic layer selection where the encoder and decoder can adaptively choose which video layers to transmit and process based on real-time network bandwidth and client hardware capabilities. This allows the system to optimize the balance between video quality and decoding complexity/bandwidth consumption for each specific operating condition.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Manufacturing precision

If all video layers are transmitted to ensure quality, then the video quality is maintained, but the network bandwidth consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevideo qualityVSAvoidnetwork bandwidth consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and transmits only the essential base layer video data that provides acceptable quality at lower bandwidth consumption. Enhancement layers are selectively transmitted only when additional bandwidth is available and the client hardware supports decoding, thereby reducing overall bandwidth consumption while maintaining quality where possible.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Adaptability or versatility

If the system supports multiple client hardware capabilities, then the versatility is improved, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesupport for diverse client hardwareVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a universal video coding system where a single encoded bitstream containing multiple layers can be decoded by clients with varying hardware capabilities. Each client decodes only the layers it supports, making the system universally compatible across diverse hardware while maintaining relatively simple encoder and decoder implementations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS12401810B2Methods and apparatus to implement scalable video coding for distributed source and client applications

Publication Date: 2025.08.26 INTEL CORP

AI summary

Methods, apparatus, systems, and articles of manufacture are disclosed that distribute video data encoded with scalable video coding. A remote data source analyzes the graphics system of one or more client device(s), generates a full video frame data and a base-layer video frame, encodes an auxiliary-layer bitstream, and transmits the bitstream to the client device(s). The remote data source does not need to encode or transmit a base-layer bitstream. The client device(s) generates a base-layer frame data, decodes the auxiliary-layer bitstream into an auxiliary-layer frame data, and reconstructs a full video frame based on the second base-layer frame data and the auxiliary-layer frame data. The methods, apparatus, systems, and articles of manufacture disclosed herein save bandwidth by transmitting only the auxiliary-layer bitstream to one or more of the client device(s) without a base-layer bitstream. The client device(s) graphics system is utilized to generate its own base-layer frame data.