Streaming Communication Device One-Way Delay Packet Loss Prediction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing streaming communication technologies face challenges in accurately predicting and recovering from packet losses in real-time content distribution over best-effort networks, particularly due to insufficient redundancy and inefficient bandwidth usage, leading to noticeable noise and quality degradation in high-quality content.
Innovation Solution
A streaming communication device that calculates and accumulates one-way delays to detect signs of packet loss, estimates the time and sequence number of lost packets, and adjusts redundancy to prevent losses by increasing redundant data transmission during predicted packet loss times.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If FEC redundancy is increased to recover from packet loss, then content quality is maintained, but network bandwidth consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the FEC redundancy adaptive rather than static. The system dynamically adjusts the redundancy level based on real-time network conditions, specifically the measured one-way delay. When delay increases indicating congestion, redundancy is increased to prevent packet loss. When delay is low, redundancy is reduced to save bandwidth. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction between maintaining reliability and conserving bandwidth.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of FEC redundancy level based on network condition parameters (one-way delay). By monitoring the one-way delay parameter and using it to adjust the redundancy parameter, the system optimizes the trade-off between packet loss recovery capability and bandwidth consumption. This parameter-based control allows the system to maintain reliability only when necessary, reducing unnecessary bandwidth waste.
2Reliability
If retransmission control is used to recover lost packets, then packet loss recovery is achieved, but real-time content distribution is compromised due to RTT delay
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by proactively adding FEC redundancy to packets before transmission, based on predicted network conditions. Instead of waiting for packet loss to occur and then initiating retransmission (which causes RTT delay), the system prepares recovery data in advance. When congestion is detected through one-way delay measurement, redundant packets are generated and transmitted beforehand, enabling immediate recovery without waiting for RTT.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes the mechanical retransmission mechanism with an FEC-based recovery mechanism. Rather than using the traditional send-loss-wait-ack-retransmit cycle that inherently requires RTT, the system uses pre-generated redundant packets that can be immediately utilized for recovery. This substitution eliminates the time penalty associated with retransmission control while maintaining reliability.
3Reliability
If constant high FEC redundancy is used, then packet loss recovery is ensured, but network bandwidth is wasted when no packet loss occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes FEC redundancy dynamic by continuously monitoring network conditions (one-way delay) and adjusting the redundancy level accordingly. When the network is congested and packet loss is likely, high redundancy is applied to ensure recovery. When the network is clear and delay is low, redundancy is reduced or eliminated. This dynamic approach ensures reliability only when needed, maximizing bandwidth efficiency and avoiding waste during good network conditions.
4Measurement precision
If one-way delay is monitored to predict packet loss, then accurate prediction is achieved, but additional processing complexity is introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by continuously measuring the one-way delay and using this measurement to predict future packet loss and adjust FEC redundancy. The system establishes a feedback loop where network condition measurements inform redundancy decisions, which in turn affect transmission quality. This feedback mechanism achieves accurate prediction without requiring complex algorithms, as the one-way delay is a simple, readily available metric that correlates well with congestion and packet loss risk.
Data Source
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AI summary
A streaming communication device which accurately estimates a packet which will be lost in the future. A streaming communication device which transmits or receives a stream via a router over a packet-switched network, the streaming communication device including: an accumulating unit (204) configured to accumulate a one-way delay that is a time period between transmission and reception of a packet which includes a small segment of the stream; a detecting unit (202) configured to detect a sign of a packet loss by identifying a tendency toward an increase in the one-way delay accumulated in the accumulating unit (204); and an estimating unit (203) configured to estimate, when the sign is detected, a loss packet from a degree of the increase in the one-way delay accumulated in the accumulating unit (204), the loss packet being a packet which will be lost.