Video Decoder Assignment for Mobile Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing content delivery platforms face challenges in efficiently presenting multiple videos simultaneously on user devices, particularly on mobile devices with hardware and power constraints, as software decoders consume more resources and power than hardware decoders, and hardware decoders are limited in number and mode compatibility.
Innovation Solution
A method for assigning videos to hardware decoders in single-stream or multi-stream mode based on ranking and type, optimizing decoder configuration to maximize the number of videos presented without sacrificing user experience, by determining video rankings based on user interest and estimating penalties for configuration changes to minimize delays.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If software decoders are used to decode multiple videos, then video decoding capability is improved, but power consumption and resource usage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces hardware decoders as intermediary components between the video content and the software decoder. These hardware decoders offload the intensive video decoding task from the CPU/GPU, enabling efficient decoding of multiple video streams while consuming minimal power. The hardware decoder acts as a dedicated intermediary device that bridges the gap between compressed video data and playable video streams without burdening the main processor.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the software-based decoding mechanism with a hardware-based decoding mechanism. Instead of using general-purpose processors (software decoders) to perform video decoding, the system utilizes dedicated hardware decoder circuits that are specifically designed for this purpose. This substitution of mechanical/software system with a hardware system achieves superior power efficiency and performance for video decoding tasks.
2Use of energy by moving object
If hardware decoders are used to decode multiple videos, then power consumption is reduced, but the number of videos that can be decoded simultaneously is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functionality of multiple hardware decoders into a unified decoding system. By combining multiple decoder units, the system can handle multiple video streams simultaneously while maintaining the power efficiency of hardware decoding. The merged decoder architecture allows parallel processing of multiple videos, overcoming the limitation of individual decoder capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs the hardware decoder to be universal and multi-functional, capable of decoding various video formats and stream types (single-stream and multi-stream). This universal decoder can adapt to different video configurations and can be dynamically allocated to decode different numbers of videos based on system resources and power availability, maximizing its utility across different scenarios.
3Productivity
If multiple hardware decoders are allocated to decode more videos, then the number of videos presented simultaneously increases, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic decoder allocation and configuration management. The system can dynamically adjust the number of active hardware decoders, their operational modes, and video assignments based on real-time conditions such as power availability, video priorities, and user preferences. This dynamic approach allows the system to optimize the balance between video playback capacity and device complexity without requiring fixed, over-provisioned hardware configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates feedback mechanisms that monitor system state (power levels, decoder utilization, video stream characteristics) and use this information to automatically adjust decoder configurations. The feedback loop enables the system to respond to changing conditions by reallocating decoder resources, switching between single-stream and multi-stream modes, and managing video assignments optimally, thereby reducing the need for complex manual configuration.
4Ease of operation
If video rankings are dynamically adjusted based on user interest, then user experience is improved, but computational overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements partial ranking updates rather than complete re-rankings. Instead of recalculating video rankings for all videos in the playlist based on user interactions, the system selectively updates only those rankings that are likely to impact decoder assignment decisions. This partial action approach maintains user experience quality while significantly reducing the computational overhead associated with continuous ranking adjustments.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system disclosed assigns first videos to hardware decoders having a first configuration. The hardware decoders in the first configuration are to decode the first videos for concurrent presentation on a display of a user device. The method and system receives an indication that second videos are to be presented on the display of the user device. The method and system determine a second configuration of the hardware decoders based on an estimated penalty for the second configuration. The method and system assigns the second videos to the hardware decoders for decoding according to the second configuration.