Uplink Network Assistance for Streaming Bit Rate Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing uplink media streaming technologies face challenges in reliably estimating the uplink data rate capacity of the network, leading to potential bit rate mismatches and buffer underflow issues, especially in shared spectrum networks.
Innovation Solution
The method involves establishing an uplink network assistance (UNA) session between the user equipment (UE) and a network assistance device, which provides a recommended highest bit rate estimate based on current network conditions, allowing the UE to adjust its streaming configuration accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the terminal device transmits data with the highest bit rate that the client can generate, then the streaming quality is improved, but the network capacity may be insufficient to carry the media stream causing data loss
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by having the ingestion point send bit rate recommendations back to the client device based on observed network conditions and buffer status. This closed-loop feedback mechanism allows the client to adjust its transmission bit rate dynamically, ensuring that streaming quality is maximized without exceeding network capacity, thus preventing data loss while maintaining high quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from static bit rate selection to dynamic bit rate adjustment. The client device dynamically adapts its transmission bit rate based on real-time network conditions and feedback from the ingestion point. This dynamic approach allows the system to optimize streaming quality while responding to changing network capacity, preventing both overloading the network and underutilizing available bandwidth.
2Manufacturing precision
If the terminal device transmits data at a high bit rate, then the streaming quality is improved, but buffer underflow occurs in the network ingestion point causing playback stalling
Solution Approach 1:
The ingestion point monitors its buffer status and provides feedback to the client device about the recommended bit rate. When the buffer is running low, the feedback indicates a lower bit rate to prevent underflow. This feedback loop stabilizes the buffer status by dynamically adjusting the incoming data rate to match the processing and retransmission capacity of the ingestion point, preventing playback stalling while maintaining the highest possible streaming quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary buffer management by having the ingestion point assess its buffer status before accepting new data and adjusting the client's transmission rate accordingly. This preliminary action prevents buffer underflow before it occurs, ensuring continuous playback without stalling.
3Reliability
If the terminal device transmits data at a low bit rate, then network capacity is preserved, but the streaming quality is lower than the uplink could actually handle
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the bit rate upward when network conditions improve and the ingestion point buffer is sufficiently filled. Instead of transmitting at a consistently low bit rate, the client device increases the bit rate to match the actual uplink capacity when available, thereby maximizing streaming quality without compromising network reliability. This dynamic adjustment ensures that network capacity is fully utilized when possible while maintaining stability.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the terminal device estimates uplink data rate capacity independently, then device autonomy is maintained, but the estimation is unreliable due to channel fading and network load variations
Solution Approach 1:
The ingestion point acts as an intermediary that provides authoritative bit rate recommendations to the client device. Rather than the client independently estimating capacity (which is unreliable due to channel fading and load variations), the ingestion point - which has direct observation of network conditions and buffer status - provides accurate capacity estimates through feedback messages. This intermediary approach maintains device autonomy while significantly improving measurement precision.
Data Source
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AI summary
Network assistance is provided for the streaming of data from a user equipment (UE) (14) to an ingestion point (12) in a network. The network assistance may include establishing an uplink network assistance (UNA) session with a network assistance service of the network; while streaming of the data and for each segment of the data or each UNA period of the data, receiving from the network assistance service an indication of a recommended highest bit rate estimate with which the data may be streamed under current network conditions. The UE may adjust content of the data stream in accordance with the indication of the recommended highest bit rate estimation.