Video Packaging Service Reduces Storage Footprint via Segment References

Solution Overview

Problem

Current content delivery systems face inefficiencies due to the need to support multiple bitrate encoding versions, which increases storage and transportation costs and requires additional resources, while traditional fixed encoding rate approaches fail to adapt to variations in network bandwidth and client device utilization.

Innovation Solution

A video packaging and origination service generates multiple encoded bitrates by utilizing encoders that replace interchangeable segments with references to a baseline rendition or intervening renditions, resulting in processed encoded content streams that can be stored and transmitted more efficiently, and software components can reconstitute higher bitrate renditions by replacing pointers with corresponding segments from lower bitrate versions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple bitrate encoding versions are supported, then adaptability to varying network bandwidth and client device utilization is improved, but storage and transmission costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to network bandwidthVSAvoidstorage cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple bitrate renditions by replacing interchangeable segments with references to a baseline rendition, combining multiple versions into a single packaged content that shares common segments across different bitrates

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The packaged content structure serves multiple functions simultaneously - it can be transmitted at different bitrates, adapted to various network conditions, and delivered to diverse client devices, making a single content package universally applicable across multiple scenarios

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple bitrate encoding versions are supported, then adaptability to varying network bandwidth and client device utilization is improved, but transmission costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to network bandwidthVSAvoidtransmission cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple bitrate renditions by replacing interchangeable segments with references to a baseline rendition, combining multiple versions into a single packaged content that shares common segments across different bitrates

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The packaged content structure serves multiple functions simultaneously - it can be transmitted at different bitrates, adapted to various network conditions, and delivered to diverse client devices, making a single content package universally applicable across multiple scenarios

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Quantity of substance

If traditional fixed encoding rate approaches are used, then storage and transmission resources are reduced, but adaptability to network bandwidth variations deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage resourceVSAvoidadaptability to network bandwidth

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic bitrate adaptation within a single packaged content by allowing clients to selectively access different bitrate renditions based on current network conditions, making the content delivery dynamic rather than fixed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter structure by packaging multiple bitrate versions with shared segments, allowing the system to transition from fixed encoding to flexible bitrate selection without proportionally increasing storage resources

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS10904309B1Managing storage and transmission data size in video packaging systems

Publication Date: 2021.01.26 AMAZON TECH INC

AI summary

A content streaming system and methodology for facilitating the management of content streaming. A video packaging and origination service receives streaming content that is organized according to content segments. Individual content segments will be encoded according to a plurality of encoding bitrates including a reference bitrate and one or more additional renditions. The one or more additional renditions include pointers to the baseline rendition.