Streaming Server FOV Adjustment via Client Commands

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Solution Overview

Problem

Media streaming services face limitations due to network resource constraints, leading to latencies and delays in streaming video content, particularly in adaptive streaming techniques that rely on degrading image resolution and frame rate, which do not effectively address user-controlled adjustments in field-of-view (FOV) during streaming sessions.

Innovation Solution

Implementing client-controlled adjustments in the FOV of streaming video content by allowing users to modify zoom factors, aspect ratios, and centering of the video stream through commands sent to the streaming media server, which can temporarily or permanently alter encoding parameters to optimize the viewing experience based on user input and network conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If adaptive streaming techniques degrade image resolution and frame rate to minimize bandwidth usage, then bandwidth consumption is reduced, but user control over field-of-view adjustments is lost and viewing experience is degraded

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebandwidth consumptionVSAvoiduser control over field-of-view

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The video stream is segmented into multiple resolutions and frame rates, with the server capable of dynamically switching between different stream variants based on network conditions and user FOV requests, allowing selective degradation rather than uniform degradation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts encoding parameters in real-time based on monitored network bandwidth and user FOV preferences, transitioning between different stream qualities and configurations without requiring full re-encoding or losing user control

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple sets of packetized streaming files are proactively encoded at varying image qualities and frame rates, then network bandwidth adaptability is improved, but device complexity and processing requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork bandwidth adaptabilityVSAvoidserver encoding complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple stream variants are proactively encoded and prepared in advance at different qualities and frame rates, allowing the server to quickly switch between them without real-time processing delays, though this requires significant pre-processing capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes encoding parameters (resolution, frame rate, bitrate) to create multiple stream variants, allowing adaptive selection based on network conditions while maintaining a manageable set of pre-encoded options

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If the client media receiver processes and adjusts FOV locally, then user control responsiveness is improved, but processing load and power consumption on the client device increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser control responsivenessVSAvoidclient device power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The streaming server acts as an intermediary that receives FOV adjustment requests from the client and responds by providing appropriately encoded video segments, transferring the processing burden from the resource-constrained client to the more powerful server

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Ease of operation

If FOV modification commands are transmitted frequently to achieve smooth zooming, then user experience is improved, but network latency and bandwidth usage increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvezooming smoothnessVSAvoidnetwork latency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

FOV modification commands are transmitted at periodic intervals rather than continuously, with the server generating intermediate frames to maintain visual smoothness between discrete command updates, reducing network traffic while preserving user experience

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentUS10405010B2Methods, systems, and devices for adjusting streaming video field-of-view in accordance with client device commands

Publication Date: 2019.09.03 DISH NETWORK TECHNOLOGIES INDIA PTE LTD

AI summary

Methods, systems, and devices are provided for enabling client-controlled adjustments in the Field-of-View (FOV) of streaming video content principally through changes in server encoding parameters. In various embodiments the method includes the step or process of receiving, at a client media receiver, an encoded video stream transmitted from a streaming media server over a communications network. The encoded video stream is processed, at the client media receiver, to generate a video output signal for presentation on a display device associated with the client media receiver. The client media receiver monitors for user input modifying a FOV of the video output signal. When receiving user input modifying the FOV of the video output signal, the client media receiver then transmits a FOV modification command to the streaming media server to modify a FOV of the encoded video stream in accordance with the user input.