Sliding Window Video Preloading for Seamless Playback
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for playing multiple videos, such as AVQueuePlayer and AVMutableComposition, suffer from poor flexibility and continuity issues, particularly in seamless playback and adaptability during video editing, leading to gaps and limitations in supporting diverse video formats and editing effects.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing a sliding window with a preset length to preload multiple videos, allowing seamless switching by using multiple AVPlayers to preload and play videos, decoupling play control logic from video list management, and supporting all iOS devices with efficient resource usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional methods like AVQueuePlayer or AVMutableComposition are used to play multiple videos, then video playback functionality is provided, but flexibility and continuity in seamless playback are poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the video list into multiple segments managed by different AVPlayer instances. Each AVPlayer handles a specific segment of videos, allowing independent control and playback of video segments. This segmentation enables flexible switching between players and videos while maintaining continuous playback through coordinated segment management.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preloading of video segments before they are actually played. By preparing video segments in advance and having them ready in memory or buffer, the system ensures seamless transitions between videos without interruption. This preliminary action eliminates gaps in playback and maintains continuity.
2Reliability
If multiple video players are used to preload and play videos, then seamless playback is achieved, but resource consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent dynamically manages the number and state of AVPlayer instances based on current playback needs. Players are created, activated, or deactivated according to the specific requirements of video segments being played. This dynamic adjustment optimizes resource usage by maintaining only the necessary number of active players while ensuring seamless playback transitions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a mechanism where video players that have completed their playback task are discarded or deactivated, and their resources are recovered for reuse. This allows the system to manage multiple players efficiently by recycling resources rather than continuously allocating new players, reducing overall resource consumption while maintaining playback continuity.
3Productivity
If a sliding window mechanism is implemented to manage video preloading, then playback efficiency is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sliding window mechanism segments the video list into a current playback window and a preloading window. This segmentation allows the system to focus processing resources on the current videos while simultaneously preparing the next set of videos, improving playback efficiency through organized resource management.
Solution Approach 2:
The sliding window implements preliminary loading of video segments that are about to be played. By preloading videos into the sliding window before they become the current playback segment, the system ensures smooth transitions and maintains high playback efficiency without requiring complex real-time processing during playback.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a method for playing a plurality of videos, including: creating a sliding window with a preset length according to a first to-be-played video in the plurality of videos, wherein the sliding window comprises the first to-be-played video and a preset number of second to-be-played videos; preloading each video in the sliding window by each of video players; preloading the first to-be-played video by one of the video players and playing the first to-be-played video as a currently playing video, wherein the second to-be-played videos are preloaded by other video players; and playing one of the second to-be-played videos by calling a video player interface corresponding to the second to-be-played video in the sliding window in response to the currently playing video being switched to the second to-be-played video.