Video Streaming Proxy Using Multipath Transport for Mobile Energy Savings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Energy consumption by mobile devices during video streaming is inefficient due to unnecessary activation of wireless network interfaces and delayed delivery caused by single-path data transfer, leading to disproportionate energy usage and poor user experience.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a proxy server that intercepts data traffic and uses a multipath transport protocol to aggregate bandwidth, minimizing energy consumption by maintaining high throughput connections and extending idle periods, thereby reducing transitions to low-power states.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If a single path is used from content server to mobile device, then network simplicity is maintained, but video delivery is delayed and energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the network path into multiple parallel paths (direct path from content server and indirect path through proxy server) to simultaneously achieve fast video delivery and energy efficiency. Different path segments serve different purposes: the direct path provides high-speed delivery while the proxy path enables energy-saving idle states.
Solution Approach 2:
The proxy server acts as an intermediary between the content server and mobile device. It receives video data from the content server and forwards it to the mobile device, enabling the mobile device to enter idle states while the proxy maintains the connection, thus reducing energy consumption without compromising delivery speed.
2Reliability
If network protocol interface remains in active state to ensure data transfer, then data transfer reliability is improved, but energy consumption increases disproportionately
Solution Approach 1:
The proxy server performs preliminary actions by pre-receiving and buffering video data from the content server before the mobile device needs it. This allows the mobile device's network interface to enter idle states while the proxy maintains the active connection and prepares data for subsequent efficient transfer.
Solution Approach 2:
The proxy server mediates between the content server and mobile device, absorbing the burden of maintaining active network connections. The proxy keeps the connection alive and manages data buffering, while the mobile device can transition to low-power idle states, thus ensuring reliable data transfer without continuous high energy consumption.
3Loss of time
If initial buffering time is reduced for faster video playback, then user experience is improved, but energy consumption during buffering increases
Solution Approach 1:
The proxy server performs preliminary data retrieval and buffering actions before the mobile device initiates video playback. By pre-fetching video data through the proxy, the mobile device experiences reduced initial buffering time while the proxy handles the energy-intensive data transfer operations, separating the timing of data preparation from data consumption.
Data Source
AI summary
Examples of systems and methods for network proxy server for energy efficient video streaming on mobile devices are generally described herein. A proxy server to deliver video content may include a communication module to intercept a request for video content from a mobile device, the request for video content intended for a content server and forward a modified request for the video content to the content server. The communication module may receive the video content from the content server and transfer a portion of the video content to the mobile device using a multipath transport protocol.