Scalable Video Enhancement via Base Layer and Bit Stream Segmentation

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing scalable video systems face high data transfer rates and resource consumption when streaming improved video quality, as they typically require entire new videos to be streamed and received, rather than utilizing existing base layer videos with additional enhancement layers.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that allow a terminal apparatus to request and receive only the necessary enhancement layer bit streams from a content providing server, based on a previously stored base layer SVC video, to enhance the video quality, thereby aligning and displaying the full SVC video efficiently.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If the entire improved quality video is streamed and received, then the video quality is improved, but the data transfer rate becomes very high and network resources are consumed a lot

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevideo qualityVSAvoiddata transfer rate

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The video stream is segmented into a base layer and multiple enhancement layers. The base layer contains essential video information, while enhancement layers add quality improvements. The system transmits only the enhancement layers on top of the previously stored base layer, rather than streaming the entire video again, thus reducing data transfer rate while maintaining quality improvement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system extracts and transmits only the necessary enhancement layer bit streams from the improved video, separating them from the base layer. This extraction allows the terminal to combine the extracted enhancement layers with the stored base layer, achieving quality improvement without transferring the entire video stream.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Manufacturing precision

If the entire improved quality video is streamed and received, then the video quality is improved, but network resources are consumed a lot

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevideo qualityVSAvoidnetwork resources

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The video stream is segmented into a base layer and multiple enhancement layers. The base layer contains essential video information, while enhancement layers add quality improvements. The system transmits only the enhancement layers on top of the previously stored base layer, rather than streaming the entire video again, thus reducing data transfer rate while maintaining quality improvement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system extracts and transmits only the necessary enhancement layer bit streams from the improved video, separating them from the base layer. This extraction allows the terminal to combine the extracted enhancement layers with the stored base layer, achieving quality improvement without transferring the entire video stream.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Adaptability or versatility

If new metadata information is employed to search for SVC sub-bit streams, then the ability to search and select specific video layers is improved, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevideo layer selection capabilityVSAvoidmetadata structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The existing metadata structure is extended to serve multiple functions: it not only identifies base layer videos but also describes enhancement layers and their relationships. This universal metadata format enables the system to search, select, and manage scalable video streams without requiring entirely new metadata structures, thus reducing implementation complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS8681856B2Scalable video providing and reproducing system and methods thereof

Publication Date: 2014.03.25 SK PLANET CO LTD

AI summary

Disclosed hereinafter is a scalable video providing system and method. The scalable video providing system of the present invention includes a terminal apparatus for, in the case in which a full SVC video, having a higher scalability than that of a base layer SVC video previously stored in the terminal apparatus, is to be displayed, transmitting a request query to request a enhancement layer svc bit stream, which is further required, to the outside based on the base layer SVC video; and a content providing server for, when the request query is received, searching for required pertinent content based on the request query and providing the enhancement layer svc bit stream, corresponding to the remaining scalable video other than the base layer SVC video of the searched content, to the terminal apparatus.