Stream Manager Service for Live Video Data Usage Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Live video streaming over cellular or satellite data connections is costly and inefficient due to high data consumption, especially when multiple users view the same camera feed, leading to increased data charges and network saturation.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a live video streaming system that uses a Video Relay Server (VRS) and a Stream Manager Service to manage connections, allowing the camera to stream only when users are actively viewing, and terminating streams when inactivity is detected, thereby reducing unnecessary data transmission and costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If live video streams are transmitted continuously to multiple users, then all users can access the camera feed, but data usage increases linearly with the number of viewers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a single master stream from the camera and generates multiple copy streams from this master stream. Instead of the camera transmitting separate data to each user, the system creates copies of the same video data and distributes them to multiple users simultaneously. This allows unlimited users to access the feed without increasing the actual data transmission from the camera, as all users receive identical copied data rather than duplicate original transmissions.
2Ease of operation
If the camera streams continuously to ensure availability, then users can connect at any time, but unnecessary data is transmitted when no users are viewing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic stream management where the system continuously monitors the number of active users and adjusts the master stream state accordingly. When users are present, the master stream is active and copying begins. When no users are viewing, the system terminates the master stream to stop data transmission entirely. This dynamic on-demand approach ensures stream availability when needed while eliminating wasteful continuous transmission during idle periods.
3Manufacturing precision
If video quality is maintained at high resolution, then users get clear video feeds, but data consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the video streaming process into distinct functional components: a single master stream generation stage and multiple copy stream distribution stages. This segmentation allows the system to maintain high video quality in the master stream while efficiently distributing copies to multiple users. The segmentation also enables independent optimization of each stage, where quality parameters can be set once for the master stream and then replicated without re-encoding, reducing overall data processing and transmission requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are related to minimize data usage over a costly or slow communication link, this method allows a camera to stream only when a user or a plurality of users are actively watching the video. When the user(s) are not watching the video stream the stream is terminated preventing any further data usage on the metered data connection. The system may also include a user device and a back-end network with a stream manager service. The stream manager service terminates streaming over a wireless channel by an application of the user device when the user device determines one of inactivity of a user of the user device with the application or navigation on the user device away from the application.