Time-Shared Video Encoding for Adaptive Multi-Resolution Streaming
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing video streaming technologies struggle to adaptively adjust video quality in real-time based on network conditions and device capabilities, leading to suboptimal viewing experiences.
Innovation Solution
A video diversification device that captures and encodes video content into multiple resolutions using a time-sharing hardware encoder, allowing adaptive streaming tailored to the network environment and device performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If video is streamed in real-time with downloading from server, then streaming service can be provided efficiently, but video quality cannot be adaptively adjusted according to network conditions and device capabilities
Solution Approach 1:
The video stream is segmented into multiple encoding sources with different resolutions (e.g., 4K, 1080p, 720p). The encoder generates multiple resolution versions simultaneously, allowing the system to segment the video data according to different quality requirements and select the appropriate segment based on network conditions and device capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically switches between different encoding sources based on real-time network conditions and device capabilities. The video player can adaptively change the resolution being streamed without requiring a complete rebuffer, enabling dynamic adjustment of video quality to match changing environmental conditions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple encoding sources with different resolutions are generated, then adaptive streaming can be provided according to network environment and device characteristics, but encoding complexity and resource consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple encoding operations are merged into a single encoder through time-sharing. Instead of using separate encoders for each resolution, the system combines multiple encoding tasks into one encoder that switches between different resolution encodings, reducing hardware complexity while maintaining the capability to provide multiple encoding sources.
Solution Approach 2:
The encoder operates in a periodic time-sharing manner, alternating between different resolution encodings in regular intervals. This periodic switching allows a single encoder to generate multiple resolution versions of the video stream systematically, reducing the need for multiple simultaneous encoding operations.
3Device complexity
If a single encoder is used for multiple resolutions through time-sharing, then device complexity is reduced, but encoding speed and real-time performance may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The time-sharing encoder maintains continuous useful action by ensuring that encoding operations for different resolutions overlap in time. While one resolution is being encoded, the system prepares or buffers data for the next resolution, ensuring that the encoding process never fully stops and real-time performance is maintained despite using a single encoder.
Data Source
AI summary
A video diversification device includes a capture unit configured to capture each image of a video being played; a scaler configured to scale each captured image into an image with a first resolution; and an encoder configured to convert the scaled image into a plurality of encoding sources with different resolutions in a time-sharing manner.