Segmented Audio-Video Stream Reception for OTT PVR Playback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional OTT streaming technologies do not satisfactorily support personal video recording (PVR) functions such as pausing and rewinding due to limitations in adaptive bit rate streaming techniques, particularly in linear OTT channels.
Innovation Solution
A terminal and method that allows clients to request and acquire both a rolling-type playlist for live content and a second playlist for the entire program, enabling local storage and playback of the entire program, including encrypted segments at maximum resolution, allowing PVR functions without affecting live streaming.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If adaptive bit rate streaming is used for OTT content delivery, then streaming quality adapts to network conditions, but personal video recording functions cannot be satisfied
Solution Approach 1:
The content is divided into segments organized in a tree structure with multiple manifests. Each manifest represents a different bit rate version of the content segments. This segmentation allows the system to provide both adaptive streaming (by selecting appropriate manifests based on network conditions) and PVR functionality (by enabling download of specific segments at desired quality levels for local storage and playback control).
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a temporal dimension to the streaming architecture by implementing a tree structure with multiple manifests representing different time points and quality levels. This allows clients to access content at various stages of delivery and at different quality levels, enabling both real-time adaptive streaming and on-demand PVR operations by navigating this additional dimensional space of content versions.
2Manufacturing precision
If the entire program is downloaded at maximum resolution for PVR functions, then playback quality is improved, but network bandwidth and storage resources are consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The system allows clients to select specific segments and specific quality levels (manifests) based on local needs. For PVR functionality, users can download entire programs at maximum quality. For live viewing, the system adapts quality to network conditions. This local quality approach means each client can optimize their content quality independently based on their specific requirements and available resources, rather than uniformly high quality for all content and all users.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements multiple manifests with different quality parameters (bit rates, resolutions) for the same content segments. This allows the system to change quality parameters dynamically - downloading at maximum quality when PVR is needed, or adapting quality to network bandwidth when streaming live content. The client can switch between different quality parameters of the same content based on current network conditions and user preferences without re-encoding.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple content streams are received simultaneously for live viewing and recording, then user flexibility is enhanced, but terminal processing capacity is exceeded
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting content into discrete units with multiple quality versions, the system allows the terminal to process only the necessary segments at the necessary quality levels. For live viewing, only current segments at adaptive quality are processed. For recording, segments can be downloaded and stored for later processing. This segmentation prevents the terminal from needing to simultaneously process all content at all quality levels.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables preliminary downloading of content segments at desired quality levels before they are needed for playback. This preliminary action allows content to be prepared in advance and stored locally, reducing the processing burden during actual playback. The terminal can download and cache segments during off-peak times or when network conditions are favorable, then play back from local storage without requiring simultaneous network streaming and processing.
Data Source
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AI summary
A terminal for enjoying at least an audio and/or video content provided by a providing entity through a network via a linear channel comprises: requesting means for sending a first request for a content item to said providing entity, receiving means for receiving from the providing entity, in response to the first request, a first list including a plurality of first information elements, each first information element of the first list relating to a first segment of content, wherein an assembly of the first segments constitutes a content portion corresponding to the current instant of the event represented by the content in the show schedule of the linear channel, and content acquisition and reproduction means suitable for acquiring from the providing entity said first segments of content by using said first information elements included in the first list. The requesting means are configured to send, in response to a command received from a terminal user, a second request to the providing entity in order to obtain a second list including a plurality of second information elements, each second information element relating to a second segment of content, wherein an assembly of the second segments constitutes the entire content corresponding to the current event in the show schedule of the linear channel; the receiving means being configured to receive said second list from the providing entity; the acquisition and reproduction means being configured to acquire from the providing entity the second segments of content by using said second information elements included in the second list.