Semi-Reliable Transport Protocol for Cloud Gaming Jitter
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing network transport protocols are ineffective for cloud gaming over cellular communication networks due to network jitter, which causes delayed packets to become useless, leading to unnecessary re-sending and waste of bandwidth and processing time.
Innovation Solution
A semi-reliable transport protocol that allows specification of data importance, enabling reliable transmission of important data while allowing less important data to be dropped if not sent within a specified deadline, and includes early detection of network jitter using regular acknowledgments and heartbeat transmissions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing network transport protocols (TCP, QUIC) are used for cloud gaming over cellular networks, then general network reliability is maintained, but network jitter causes delayed packets to become useless, leading to unnecessary re-sending and waste of bandwidth and processing time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by detecting network jitter early through regular acknowledgments and heartbeat transmissions before delayed packets become completely useless. The system proactively identifies jitter conditions and adjusts transmission strategies in advance, rather than waiting for packets to be fully delayed and then reacting. This allows the system to prevent waste of bandwidth and processing time on obviously useless re-sends while maintaining reliable delivery of potentially useful data.
2Reliability
If existing network transport protocols continue to re-send delayed packets, then data delivery reliability is attempted, but bandwidth and client device processing time are wasted on transmitting useless data
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating between important and less important data at the application layer. The system assigns different reliability requirements to different data packets based on their importance to the application (e.g., cloud gaming performance). Important data receives reliable transmission with re-sends, while less important data uses best-effort delivery without re-sending. This selective approach optimizes bandwidth usage by avoiding re-sends of data that would not significantly impact application performance.
3Reliability
If existing network transport protocols use congestion control for packet losses, then network congestion is addressed, but jitter that does not cause packet losses is not effectively mitigated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the transport protocol adaptive to different network conditions, specifically distinguishing between congestion and jitter. The system dynamically adjusts its behavior based on detected network conditions: using congestion control mechanisms when packet loss is detected, and using jitter mitigation techniques (early detection, selective re-sending, deadline-based dropping) when jitter is detected without packet loss. This dynamic adaptation allows the protocol to effectively handle both congestion and jitter scenarios.
Data Source
AI summary
The described technology is generally directed towards a transport protocol for latency sensitive applications. The disclosed transport protocol is “semi-reliable” in that it allows for specification of an importance of data being transmitted, thereby allowing important data to be sent reliably, while other data can be dropped if necessary, e.g., under bad network conditions. A deadline can be specified for such other data, and if the other data cannot be sent prior to the deadline, it can be dropped. Furthermore, the disclosed transport protocol can allow for early discovery of network jitter. A client device can send regular acknowledgments which identify most recently received data packets as well as a number of “heartbeat transmissions” received at the client device. A server device can use the acknowledgments to discover and respond to jitter.