Adaptive Streaming Media Transmission Rate Negotiation

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Solution Overview

Problem

In wireless communication environments, the transmission rate of streaming media cannot be guaranteed, leading to instability and poor user experience due to fluctuations in wireless channel conditions and shared spectrum resource management.

Innovation Solution

User equipment determines a transmission rate in real-time by monitoring cache usage and acquiring a media presentation description file, and negotiates with the base station to ensure a guaranteed transmission rate, requesting quality of service indicators such as packet loss rate and bit error rate to adaptively adjust the transmission rate.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If DASH protocol is used for streaming media transmission, then adaptability to different network conditions is improved, but transmission rate stability deteriorates due to wireless channel fluctuations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to network conditionsVSAvoidtransmission rate stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic rate adjustment by continuously monitoring channel conditions and adapting the transmission rate accordingly. The system transitions from static rate selection to dynamic rate adaptation, where the transmission rate is adjusted in real-time based on channel quality metrics, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent establishes a feedback mechanism where channel quality information is continuously measured and fed back to the transmission system. This feedback loop enables the system to detect channel fluctuations and adjust the transmission rate to maintain stability, directly addressing the reliability issue while preserving adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Manufacturing precision

If variable bit rate encoding is used for media content, then quality is improved, but transmission rate stability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemedia content qualityVSAvoidtransmission rate stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameter being controlled from the encoding rate to the transmission rate. While the media content is encoded with variable bit rate for quality, the transmission rate is independently controlled and adjusted to match channel conditions, decoupling the quality optimization from the stability issue.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary rate selection and adjustment before actual transmission based on predicted or current channel conditions. By pre-adapting the transmission rate to expected channel states, the system prepares for potential fluctuations, maintaining stability even when using VBR encoding.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If wireless spectrum sharing is implemented, then resource utilization is improved, but transmission rate reliability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespectrum resource utilizationVSAvoidtransmission rate guarantee
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent requests a guaranteed bit rate that is higher than the minimum required for acceptable quality. This excessive rate request provides a buffer against channel fluctuations caused by spectrum sharing, ensuring that even when other users occupy spectrum resources, the transmission rate remains sufficient for stable playback.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The system establishes a rate guarantee mechanism in advance that reserves sufficient bandwidth to compensate for potential interference from spectrum sharing. This cushioning effect ensures that transmission rate reliability is maintained despite the dynamic nature of shared spectrum resources.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Data Source

PatentEP2999258B1User equipment, base station, and streaming media adaptive transmission system and method
Publication Date: 2020.04.29 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP2999258B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2999258B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP2999258B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The present invention relates to the field of communications technologies, and discloses a streaming media adaptive transmission method, including: determining in real time, by user equipment, a transmission rate of to-be-transmitted data, or determining the transmission rate according to a negotiation request that includes an option of a transmission rate and is provided by a base station; sending, by the user equipment, a rate guarantee request to the base station, where the rate guarantee request includes the transmission rate; and after receiving a message that is for confirming that the transmission rate is available and that is returned by the base station, requesting, by the user equipment from a data sending end, to-be-transmitted data of which an encoding rate is corresponding to the transmission rate. User equipment, a base station, and a streaming media adaptive transmission system are further disclosed. In embodiments of the present invention, the user equipment negotiates in real time with the base station, the base station ensures a transmission rate indicator required by the user equipment, and the user equipment requests corresponding content according to a negotiated rate indicator. In this way, user experience of a streaming media service in a wireless environment is ensured.