Streaming Media Client Timeout-Based Bit Rate Switching

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Solution Overview

Problem

In conventional streaming media technologies, client devices cannot adjust bit rates in time when network conditions suddenly degrade, leading to prolonged content acquisition times and potential interruptions in media playback.

Innovation Solution

A client device and method that set a preset threshold time for segment acquisition, allowing it to request a lower bit rate segment if the initial segment is not received within this time, ensuring continuous playback and alleviating network congestion by abandoning the initial request.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If the client device requests a segment with high bit rate, then the media content quality is improved, but the network bandwidth consumption increases and may cause playback interruption when network condition degrades

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemedia content qualityVSAvoidplayback continuity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic bit rate adjustment by monitoring network conditions in real-time and switching between different bit rate segments. The client device dynamically selects segments based on current network status, transitioning from high bit rate when conditions are good to low bit rate when conditions degrade, thus maintaining playback continuity while optimizing quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the bit rate parameter of media segments based on network conditions. By selecting segments with different bit rates from the same adaptation set, the system adjusts the quality parameter dynamically to match network capacity, preventing playback interruptions while maintaining optimal quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Manufacturing precision

If the client device waits for the initial segment request to complete, then the media content quality is maintained, but the time duration for acquiring content increases when network condition degrades

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemedia content qualityVSAvoidcontent acquisition time
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action by setting a timeout threshold for segment requests. When the timeout is reached, the client proactively switches to requesting lower bit rate segments before the high bit rate segment can be fully received, preventing playback interruption and reducing overall content acquisition time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies the skipping principle by abandoning the pending high bit rate segment request when network conditions degrade and immediately switching to request lower bit rate segments. This allows the system to rush through the acquisition process with available network resources rather than waiting for the original request to complete.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #21Skipping (Rushing through)

3Manufacturing precision

If the client device continues to request high bit rate segments, then the media content quality is improved, but network congestion increases and may lead to playback interruption

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemedia content qualityVSAvoidnetwork congestion
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback by continuously monitoring network conditions and using this information to adjust segment selection. When network congestion is detected, the system feedback loops back to select lower bit rate segments, reducing network load and preventing further congestion while maintaining playback continuity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the bit rate parameter of requested segments based on network congestion levels. By dynamically adjusting this parameter downward when congestion is detected, the system reduces network load and harmful effects while maintaining acceptable playback quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3247124B1Client, streaming media data receiving method and streaming media data transmission system
Publication Date: 2024.10.09 BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO LTD
  • EP3247124B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3247124B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3B
  • EP3247124B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a streaming media technology, and in particular, to a client device, a method for receiving a streaming media data and a streaming media data transmission system, which may solve the problem that the client device takes too much time to acquire the media content when the network condition between the client device and the server suddenly degrades. In the client according to the embodiments of the present disclosure, a transceiver module transmits a request for a segment to a server and receives the segment transmitted from the server; and if it is determined by a processing module that the transceiver module does not receive a first segment transmitted from the server within the preset threshold time from transmitting the request for the first segment to the server, the processing module controls the transceiver module to transmit a request for a second segment having the same media content and a lower bit rate to the server, so as to ensure that the client device can adjust the bit rate in time and can acquire the media content as quickly as possible, thereby ensuring a continuity of playing of the media content.