Transport Stream Timestamp Discontinuity Detection by Chunk Boundary Analysis

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems fail to efficiently detect and manage timestamp and video resolution discontinuities in packet streams, leading to improper decoding and display of video frames, and result in excessive processor utilization and reduced throughput.

Innovation Solution

A method for detecting timestamp discontinuities by identifying the earliest and latest timestamps in a packet chunk, calculating the time difference, and comparing it against a maximum chunk time difference to identify and mark discontinuities, thereby reducing processor utilization and increasing throughput.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If every packet within the sequence is examined to identify timestamp information, then measurement precision of discontinuities is improved, but device complexity and processor utilization increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvediscontinuity detection accuracyVSAvoidprocessor utilization
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The packet sequence is divided into chunks of a predetermined size. The discontinuity detection process operates on each chunk independently by examining only the first and last packets, rather than every packet in the entire sequence. This segmentation reduces the number of packets that need to be processed while maintaining detection capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of examining every packet in the sequence, the system performs partial action by only inspecting the boundary packets (first and last) of each chunk. This partial examination is sufficient to detect discontinuities when combined with the chunking approach, significantly reducing processor utilization while maintaining adequate detection precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

2Reliability

If comprehensive discontinuity detection is performed on all packets, then reliability of video frame decoding is improved, but productivity of the streaming system is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevideo frame decoding reliabilityVSAvoidstreaming throughput
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the packet stream into manageable chunks and processing only boundary packets, the system maintains reliable discontinuity detection while improving processing throughput. The segmentation allows parallel processing and reduces the computational burden per unit time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary action by examining the first and last packets of each chunk to identify potential discontinuities before full decoding proceeds. This early detection allows the system to handle discontinuities efficiently without blocking the overall streaming pipeline, thus maintaining productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Measurement precision

If sampling rate is increased to improve discontinuity detection, then measurement precision is improved, but use of energy and processor utilization increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvediscontinuity detection precisionVSAvoidprocessor energy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The chunking approach segments the packet stream into fixed-size blocks, establishing a natural sampling rate that balances detection precision with energy efficiency. This predetermined segmentation provides consistent detection capability without requiring excessive processing of individual packets.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs partial action by examining only essential boundary packets rather than increasing the sampling rate to examine more packets. This partial examination approach achieves adequate detection precision while minimizing processor energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

4Manufacturing precision

If detailed timestamp analysis is performed on every packet, then manufacturing precision of video output is improved, but loss of time in processing increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevideo output precisionVSAvoidprocessing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Segmenting the packet stream into chunks with boundary analysis reduces the total number of timestamp comparisons required. This segmentation maintains video output precision by ensuring discontinuities are detected at chunk boundaries while significantly reducing overall processing time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary timestamp analysis on boundary packets to identify discontinuities before full video processing proceeds. This preliminary action prevents unnecessary processing of packets containing discontinuities, reducing total processing time while maintaining output precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4470216B1Discontinuity detection in transport streams
Publication Date: 2026.03.11 DISH NETWORK TECHNOLOGIES INDIA PTE LTD
  • EP4470216B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4470216B1 patent drawingFigure 2A
  • EP4470216B1 patent drawingFigure 2B

AI summary

Methods and apparatuses for detecting timestamp discontinuities and video resolution discontinuities within a packet stream and marking locations of the detected discontinuities within the packet stream are described. Prior to transmission of the packet stream, an electronic device may perform timestamp discontinuity detection by acquiring a sequence of packets to be transmitted, identifying a first timestamp associated with an earliest packet within the sequence of packets, identifying a second timestamp associated with a latest packet within the sequence of packets, determining a timestamp time difference between the first timestamp and the second timestamp, determining a maximum chunk time difference based on a data rate at which the sequence of packets were encoded and a data size of the encoded packets, and detecting that a timestamp discontinuity exists within the sequence of packets if the timestamp time difference is greater than the maximum chunk time difference.