Multimedia Stream Control Information for Protocol Version Compatibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional communication systems lack flexibility and efficiency in signaling and versioning, particularly in multimedia streaming, as they are limited by predefined formats and require significant overhead, which is not suitable for evolving technologies and unforeseen changes.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for generating and transmitting control information using a tree-based data structure that allows for extensibility, enabling audiovisual devices to configure multimedia streams dynamically based on protocol versions and service types, with the ability to ignore incompatible information and dynamically reconfigure communication layers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a tree-based data structure is used for control information, then extensibility and adaptability are improved, but bandwidth efficiency deteriorates due to increased overhead
Solution Approach 1:
The control information is divided into multiple groups, each corresponding to a specific protocol version. Each group contains only the control information relevant to that version, allowing receivers to selectively process only the groups they support. This segmentation reduces the effective overhead for each receiver while maintaining overall extensibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adapts to different protocol versions by organizing control information in version-specific groups. Receivers can dynamically select which groups to process based on their supported protocol versions, enabling the system to be both extensible and bandwidth-efficient for each individual receiver.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple protocol versions are supported, then forward compatibility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Control information for different protocol versions is segmented into separate groups, each clearly marked with its version identifier. This allows devices to implement support for multiple protocol versions without having to process all control information uniformly, reducing the complexity of multi-version support.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary data structure (the group of control information with version identifiers) that mediates between the transmitter and receiver. This intermediary allows the receiver to efficiently determine which control information groups are applicable to its protocol version without direct complex version-matching logic.
3Productivity
If control information is organized by protocol version groups, then processing efficiency is improved, but data structure complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Control information is segmented into version-specific groups with clear delimiters and version identifiers. This segmentation enables efficient processing by allowing receivers to quickly identify and process only the relevant groups for their protocol version, improving productivity despite the increased structural organization required.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the organizational parameter of control information from a flat structure to a hierarchical group structure with version identifiers. This parameter change enables more efficient processing through selective group evaluation while the structured nature of the change actually reduces overall complexity through systematic organization.
Data Source
AI summary
Control information for configuring an audiovisual device to present multimedia content according to a first service type may be generated. A method may include generating first control information for configuring an audiovisual device to decode a multimedia stream, generating first data that indicates a structure of the first control information, and transmitting the first data and the first control information. The first control information may be generated according to a first protocol version. Second data and second control information may be similarly generated and transmitted according to a second protocol version. Disclosed techniques may facilitate receiving devices to determine whether they support received wireless transmissions and decode the transmissions based on the control information.