Streaming Server Key Frame Detection for Media Synchronization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mechanisms for providing media streams to client devices often introduce notable delays due to the reliance on predictive frames, which cannot be accurately displayed without key frames, leading to a poor user experience.
Innovation Solution
A streaming server identifies key frames in media streams and provides them to client devices upon connection requests, allowing for immediate display without dropping or distorting predictive frames, thereby reducing delay and improving user experience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If predictive frames are transmitted first to save bandwidth, then bandwidth efficiency is improved, but display accuracy deteriorates because predictive frames cannot be accurately displayed without key frames
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by transmitting key frames before predictive frames. The system identifies key frames in the media stream and sends them first to establish a reference baseline, then transmits predictive frames that depend on this reference. This ordering ensures that when predictive frames arrive, the client device already has the necessary key frame information to accurately decode and display them, resolving the display accuracy issue while maintaining bandwidth efficiency.
2Manufacturing precision
If key frames are transmitted first to ensure display accuracy, then display accuracy is improved, but transmission time increases due to larger key frame size
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary identification of key frames within the media stream buffer before transmission begins. By pre-processing the stream to locate key frames and their positions, the system can immediately transmit the appropriate key frame when a client connects, without scanning or searching during the transmission phase. This reduces the overall transmission time while ensuring display accuracy through proper key frame sequencing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the transmission parameter ordering by prioritizing key frames over predictive frames based on frame type identification. The system analyzes frame types (I-frames vs. P-frames/B-frames) and adjusts transmission sequencing accordingly, sending key frames first regardless of their position in the original stream. This parameter change optimizes both transmission efficiency and display accuracy by ensuring dependent frames have their references available.
3Device complexity
If media streams are provided with traditional buffering mechanisms, then server buffer management is simplified, but client device wait time increases due to predictive frame delays
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary scanning and identification of key frames within server buffers before client connections are established. The system pre-processes buffered media streams to identify key frame locations and creates a transmission roadmap. When a client connects, the server can immediately begin transmitting from the identified key frame without real-time scanning delays, significantly reducing client wait time while maintaining simple buffer management through pre-computed transmission sequences.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary key frame identification and sequencing mechanism between the server buffer and client device. This intermediary layer analyzes the media stream, identifies key frames, and determines optimal transmission sequences. It acts as a mediator that translates complex buffer contents into an optimized transmission order, reducing client wait time without increasing overall system complexity by distributing the analytical workload.
Data Source
AI summary
Mechanisms are provided for allowing a streaming server to efficiently provide frames associated with a media stream to a client device. A streaming server receives multiple media streams and determines which frames in the multiple media streams are key frames. When a connection request is received from a client device, a key frame is selected and provided to the client device. A client device receiving a key frame does not have to drop any predictive frames prior to playing a media stream.