Segmented Media Encoding for Bandwidth Adaptation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Streaming media content faces challenges in maintaining consistent playback quality due to unpredictable bandwidth fluctuations in shared Ethernet connections, as encoding at a single fixed bit rate fails to optimize for varying network conditions.
Innovation Solution
Encoding media content into multiple bit rate segments, allowing the content provider to adjust the bit rate of transmitted segments based on the receiving device's current bandwidth, with the playback device monitoring its bandwidth to request appropriate segments and manage a playback buffer to ensure continuous playback.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If media content is encoded at a high bit rate, then sound and picture quality is improved, but playback interruptions occur when bandwidth is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the bit rate adjustable rather than fixed. The system dynamically switches between multiple pre-encoded bit rates based on real-time bandwidth conditions, allowing the media player to maintain high quality when bandwidth permits while preventing interruptions when bandwidth drops, thus resolving the contradiction between quality and reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of bit rate from a single fixed value to multiple selectable values. By pre-encoding content at different bit rates and selecting the appropriate one based on bandwidth conditions, the system achieves both high quality (when using higher bit rates) and reliable continuous playback (when switching to lower bit rates during bandwidth constraints)
2Reliability
If media content is encoded at a low bit rate, then playback continuity is maintained even with low bandwidth, but sound and picture quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts bit rate selection based on actual bandwidth conditions rather than using a static low bit rate. This allows the player to maintain continuity (by having lower bit rate options available) while improving quality (by switching to higher bit rates when bandwidth allows)
3Device complexity
If a single fixed bit rate is used, then encoding complexity is reduced, but the system cannot adapt to bandwidth fluctuations in shared Ethernet connections
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-encoding the media content multiple times at different bit rates before distribution. This preparation work is done in advance during encoding, so that when the media is played back over networks with fluctuating bandwidth, the appropriate bit rate version is already available for immediate selection without requiring complex real-time transcoding
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the media content into multiple versions with different bit rates. This segmentation allows the system to adapt to bandwidth fluctuations by selecting the appropriate segment (bit rate version) without requiring complex real-time processing, thus maintaining low encoding complexity while achieving adaptability
Data Source
AI summary
A method performed by one or more processors for segmenting and encoding media content over a network. The media content is first partitioned into an ordered sequence of media segments. Each of the media segments is then encoded (i) at a first bit rate to generate a respective one of a first set of data segments, and (ii) at a second bit rate to generate a respective one of a second set of data segments, wherein data segments of the first set may be used interchangeably with data segments of the second set to facilitate continuous playback of the media content. A request for the media content is then received from another device in the network. In response, a respective one of the first set of data segments or the second set of data segments is selectively transmitted, for each of the media segments, based at least in part on a network bandwidth of the first device.