Video Streaming State Retention During Network Impairment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for real-time interactive streaming video struggle with maintaining system state and quality when network connections become impaired, leading to disruptions and undesirable application behavior, such as paused or terminated games due to unreliable network conditions.
Innovation Solution
A method that dynamically adjusts video stream parameters like resolution and frame rate based on network bandwidth and latency, pauses application execution when the connection is impaired, and resumes from the previous state when the connection becomes usable, ensuring seamless user experience by maintaining the application in a paused state until the user resumes play.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the video stream parameters are maintained at high quality (resolution and frame rate), then video quality is improved, but network bandwidth consumption increases and system reliability deteriorates under impaired network conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts video stream parameters (resolution, frame rate, bitrate) based on real-time network conditions. When network impairment is detected, the system transitions from high-quality streaming to adaptive quality streaming, and eventually to pause/resume operation, ensuring system reliability while maintaining acceptable video quality under varying network conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes video stream parameters (resolution, frame rate, bitrate) based on network conditions. High-quality parameters are used when network is good, while parameters are reduced or streaming is paused when network is impaired, resolving the contradiction between video quality and reliability
2Reliability
If the application execution is paused when network connection is impaired, then system reliability is improved, but loss of time occurs during network recovery
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pausing application execution and capturing the current state before network recovery occurs. This allows the application to resume from the exact pause point without data loss or inconsistency, minimizing effective time loss while maintaining reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The system prepares for potential network recovery by maintaining application state in memory and avoiding termination. This cushioning approach ensures that when network connectivity is restored, the application can quickly resume without significant time penalty, balancing reliability with time efficiency
3Loss of time
If the application is terminated when network connection is impaired, then loss of time is reduced, but loss of information occurs and user experience deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of terminating, the system performs preliminary pausing and state capture. This preserves all application state information (game state, video buffer, audio buffer, input queue) while still addressing the network impairment, preventing information loss while managing time efficiently
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a copy of the application state in memory at the pause point. This copied state can be restored when network recovers, preventing information loss while allowing the system to handle network impairment without termination
4Productivity
If the video stream is continuously transmitted regardless of network conditions, then productivity is maintained, but harmful factors increase due to network impairment and undesirable application behavior
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts streaming behavior based on network conditions. Instead of continuous transmission regardless of state, the system transitions between active streaming, adaptive quality streaming, and paused states, eliminating harmful effects of transmitting during severe network impairment while maintaining productivity when conditions allow
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from network condition monitoring to control streaming behavior. When network impairment is detected, the system responds by adjusting or pausing transmission, preventing harmful effects while maintaining productivity during good network conditions
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and method are described for retaining system state of an online application such as a video game. For example, a method according to one embodiment comprises: executing a application on a server in response to user input from a client; transmitting video generated by the application over a network connection from the server to the client; detecting that the network connection has become unusable or impaired; responsively pausing the execution of the application from a current point of execution; and resuming the execution of the application from the current point of execution upon detecting that the network connection has become usable or unimpaired.