Server-Driven Representation Adaptation in Multimedia Streaming

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current multimedia content streaming methods either leave network bandwidth control to clients, leading to potential saturation, or require clients to re-render segments with poor quality due to delayed adaptation to representation changes.

Innovation Solution

The server requests retransmission of segments in a desired representation, sending a separate modification request message to avoid impacting segment quality and reduce reaction time for adaptation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the client terminal selects the representation for each segment according to its own parameters (bandwidth, capacities), then the client can adapt to its local conditions, but the server loses control over network bandwidth and may experience saturation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveclient adaptation capabilityVSAvoidnetwork bandwidth control
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the representation selection process into two segmented parts: the server defines available representations and sends modification requests, while the client executes the selection based on server instructions. This segmentation allows both server control and client adaptability to coexist without conflict.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If the server inserts representation modification requests in broadcast segments, then the server maintains control over content distribution, but the client experiences delayed adaptation and must re-render segments with poor quality

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveserver controlVSAvoidadaptation reaction time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The server sends representation modification requests in advance, before the client needs to adapt to bandwidth changes. This preliminary action allows the client to prepare for representation changes without delaying segment rendering, thus avoiding quality degradation and re-rendering operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism where the server communicates representation modification requests through a dedicated protocol layer, separate from the content segments themselves. This intermediary channel enables real-time adaptation instructions without interfering with segment quality or requiring re-rendering.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If the client analyzes the entire segment before becoming aware of representation changes, then the server can broadcast updates, but the adaptation process is delayed and segment quality deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontent distribution efficiencyVSAvoidsegment quality
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the representation modification request from the content segment itself, placing it in a separate communication channel. This allows the client to receive adaptation instructions without having to analyze or re-render the entire segment, thus maintaining segment quality while enabling timely adaptation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP2957104B1Method for selecting the representation of the segments of a multimedia content transmitted over a communication network
Publication Date: 2020.02.26 ORANGE SA
  • EP2957104B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP2957104B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5
  • EP2957104B1 patent drawing

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for managing the representation of the data segments (0.mp4v, 180180.mp4v) of a content received by a terminal from a server. Said method comprises a step (ET2) of producing a document from which universal addresses are generated, a representation of the segment in question selected by the terminal from a plurality of representations described in the document being associated with an address, the segment being able to be received from the server according to the selected representation. The method comprises the following steps on the terminal: a first step of transmitting an access inquiry to a first segment according to a first selected representation; a first step of receiving a response to the inquiry including a request for the modification of the first representation; a second step of transmitting an access inquiry to the first segment according to a second representation; and a second step of receiving the first segment from the server according to the second representation.