Single-File Multi-Bit-Rate Streaming via HTTP Byte-Range Requests

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current single-bit-rate streaming technologies fail to adapt to varying bandwidth conditions, leading to suboptimal playback experiences as clients may receive either insufficient or excessive data, resulting in poor video quality and delayed playback.

Innovation Solution

Implementing single-file multi-bit-rate streaming that allows clients to dynamically select and request media segments based on available bandwidth, using HTTP-byte-range requests and embedded index information to manage bit-rate adaptation without requiring server modifications, enabling seamless playback across different bit-rates.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a single bit-rate stream is used for media delivery, then the server and network infrastructure can be simplified, but the playback quality deteriorates when bandwidth conditions vary

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveserver infrastructure complexityVSAvoidplayback quality consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The media document is divided into multiple segments, each encoded at different bit-rates. The client can selectively request segments at appropriate bit-rates based on available bandwidth, while the server maintains a unified segment-based structure that simplifies delivery infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables dynamic bit-rate selection where clients can adaptively choose segments at different bit-rates based on real-time bandwidth conditions. The index structure allows dynamic navigation to segments encoded at various bit-rates without requiring complex server-side stream switching.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Device complexity

If a single bit-rate stream is delivered, then data transmission is simplified, but either data insufficiency or data excess occurs leading to poor playback experience

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata transmission complexityVSAvoidplayback smoothness

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Different segments of the media document are encoded at different bit-rates appropriate for different bandwidth conditions. The index contains information about segments at various bit-rates, allowing clients to select locally appropriate segments based on their specific network conditions rather than receiving uniformly encoded data.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the bit-rate parameter of media segments based on client bandwidth conditions. The index structure enables clients to identify and request segments encoded at bit-rates matching their available bandwidth, transforming a static single-bit-rate delivery into a dynamic multi-bit-rate system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If multiple bit-rate streams are delivered separately, then adaptive playback quality is improved, but server complexity and infrastructure requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptive playback qualityVSAvoidserver infrastructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple bit-rate versions of media segments are merged into a single unified media document structure. The index contains references to segments at different bit-rates within the same document, allowing clients to access multiple bit-rates from a single file rather than requiring separate stream files, thereby simplifying server infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The single media document serves multiple functions by containing segments at different bit-rates. This universal structure allows the same file to serve clients with different bandwidth conditions without requiring separate delivery mechanisms, making the server infrastructure more versatile and less complex.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Loss of information

If the entire index is transmitted to the client, then complete segment information is available, but initial data transmission time and bandwidth are increased

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesegment information completenessVSAvoidinitial transmission time

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of transmitting the complete index to the client, only partial index information necessary for initial playback is provided. The client can request additional index portions as needed, reducing initial data transmission time and bandwidth consumption while still providing sufficient information for immediate playback startup.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS8205004B1Multi-bit-rate streaming delivery

Publication Date: 2012.06.19 ADOBE INC

AI summary

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, relating to single-file multi-bit-rate streaming delivery are described. Media data can be encoded into a single file (or very small number of files), which can then be placed on an unmodified Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) server. Further, the techniques disclosed here can use HTTP for distribution of the encoded media file and may support multi-bit-rate playback at a client without requiring a modification or plug-in to the server software. Furthermore, these techniques use properties of HTTP and Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) to minimize playback startup time.