Streaming Media Block Length Adaptation for Bandwidth Fluctuations
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) protocol struggles with smooth video playback when network bandwidth changes significantly or fluctuates frequently, leading to frequent switching of streaming media resources due to inaccuracies in network bandwidth detection.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that determine the length of data blocks in streaming media files based on network bandwidth reduction times during the downloading process, adapting to reduced bandwidth and reducing resource switching times by adjusting block lengths according to detected bandwidth changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the terminal device frequently matches and switches streaming media resources according to detected network bandwidth, then the system adapts to network bandwidth changes, but video playing becomes unsmooth due to excessive switching
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-dividing media files into data blocks before downloading. When network bandwidth changes are detected, the system can quickly switch between pre-prepared data blocks of different sizes without needing to reprocess or resegment the media content, enabling rapid adaptation while maintaining playback continuity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamics by making the data block size adjustable based on detected network bandwidth changes. The system dynamically selects between large and small data blocks according to current network conditions, allowing the downloading strategy to adapt flexibly to varying bandwidth while preventing excessive resource switching through intelligent block selection
2Device complexity
If the terminal device uses fixed-size data blocks for downloading, then the downloading process is simple, but the system cannot adapt to network bandwidth reduction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making data block size variable rather than fixed. The system dynamically adjusts block size based on detected network bandwidth conditions, selecting smaller blocks when bandwidth reduces and larger blocks when bandwidth is sufficient, enabling adaptation without excessive complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements parameter changes by modifying the data block size parameter according to network bandwidth conditions. The system changes this critical parameter dynamically during the downloading process, allowing the same downloading mechanism to adapt to different network scenarios without requiring fundamentally different approaches
3Productivity
If the terminal device switches streaming media resources frequently, then the system responds to network bandwidth changes, but network bandwidth detection accuracy decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-segmenting media files into multiple data blocks with different sizes before the downloading process begins. This preparation allows the system to quickly switch between pre-defined block sizes in response to bandwidth changes without needing to perform complex real-time analysis, maintaining both responsiveness and detection accuracy
Data Source
AI summary
A streaming media resource downloading method includes: determining that a first media file is a to-be-downloaded media file according to first network bandwidth, where the first media file is included in a streaming media resource corresponding to the first network bandwidth, and the first media file includes N data blocks; and after an (n−1)th data block in the first media file is downloaded, and before an nth data block in the first media file is downloaded, determining a length of the to-be-downloaded nth data block according to network bandwidth reduction times in an executed first media file downloading process, where 1≤n≤N. Therefore, a length of a to-be-downloaded data block is adjusted according to the network bandwidth reduction times in the first media file downloading process so that video playing can better adapt to a bandwidth change, and streaming media resource switching times are reduced.