Video Streaming Quantizer for Adaptive Bit Rate Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current video transcoding methods are computationally expensive and require large storage for variable bit rate streaming, making real-time transcoding and efficient bandwidth utilization challenging.

Innovation Solution

A video streaming apparatus and method that uses adjustable video quantization to provide variable bit rate streaming without the need for extensive storage, employing a transcoder and quantizer to adjust bit rates based on link conditions, utilizing feedback from mobile devices to optimize streaming quality and efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If constant bit rate video streaming is used, then video quality is maintained, but bandwidth consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevideo qualityVSAvoidbandwidth consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements variable bit rate streaming by dynamically adjusting the bit rate based on network conditions and device capabilities. Instead of using a fixed constant bit rate, the system modifies encoding parameters in real-time to match available bandwidth, thereby reducing overall bandwidth consumption while maintaining acceptable video quality through adaptive rate control mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Quantity of substance

If multiple versions of video are stored for variable bit rate streaming, then bandwidth efficiency improves, but storage requirements increase massively

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebandwidth efficiencyVSAvoidstorage requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary encoding of video content into a single master version with high quality. Instead of pre-storing multiple bit rate versions, the encoding parameters are adjusted during the streaming process based on real-time network conditions and device capabilities, eliminating the need for massive storage of multiple video versions while maintaining bandwidth efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes encoding parameters dynamically during the streaming process. By modifying bit rate, resolution, and other encoding parameters in real-time based on network conditions and device capabilities, the system achieves variable bit rate streaming from a single encoded source, avoiding the need to store multiple pre-encoded versions of the video.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If cascaded pixel domain transcoding is used, then video format conversion is achieved, but computational time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevideo format conversionVSAvoidcomputational time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and utilizes the quantization information already present in the compressed video stream. Instead of fully decompressing the video to pixel domain for transcoding, the system works directly with the compressed representation by manipulating quantization parameters, thereby achieving format conversion with significantly reduced computational time and complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS8565302B2Video streaming apparatus with quantization and method thereof

Publication Date: 2013.10.22 SMITH MICRO SOFTWARE INC

AI summary

A streaming appliance having an internal quantizer is disclosed so that the bit rate of a streamed video can be adjusted based on the current conditions of a link between the streaming appliance and one or more target devices.