Video Quality Estimation for Adaptive Bit-Rate Streaming
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current video streaming technologies face challenges with progressive downloading, including insufficient or fluctuating bandwidth, leading to intermittent playback, inconsistent video quality, and delayed start/seek times due to unequal bandwidth allocation among client devices with different capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for analyzing and controlling video quality of experience (VQoE) by selecting appropriate content versions based on client device parameters and available bandwidth, using video quality estimation to aggregate and display VQoE information, and adjusting bandwidth allocation to ensure consistent video quality across devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If progressive download method is used to facilitate quicker initiation of content playback, then startup delay is reduced, but bandwidth fluctuations and insufficient bandwidth cause intermittent playback interruptions
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-calculating and storing quality estimation data for multiple content versions before delivery. When a client requests content, the system has already prepared the quality metrics and can immediately make informed version selection decisions, avoiding playback interruptions while maintaining quick startup.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically selects content versions based on real-time bandwidth conditions and pre-computed quality estimations. The version selection is not static but adapts to changing network conditions, allowing the system to maintain playback continuity while responding to bandwidth fluctuations.
2Adaptability or versatility
If video is encoded with variable bit-rate to adapt to different network conditions, then bandwidth utilization is improved, but video quality becomes inconsistent across different playback scenarios
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the parameter of quality estimation by computing and comparing quality metrics across multiple encoded versions. Instead of relying solely on bit-rate variations, the system uses quality estimation data to select the version that will provide the most consistent and highest quality playback under current conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback through quality estimation measurements that guide version selection. By measuring and comparing the quality characteristics of different encoded versions, the system can select the optimal version to maintain consistent video quality across varying bandwidth conditions.
3Reliability
If video playback buffer accumulation delay is implemented to ensure sufficient data for playback, then playback stability is improved, but user experience degrades due to several seconds of delay during start and seek operations
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary quality assessment and version selection before playback begins. By pre-calculating quality metrics and pre-selecting the optimal content version based on available bandwidth and quality estimates, the system eliminates the need for extended buffer accumulation delays, enabling immediate playback with sufficient quality assurance.
4Adaptability or versatility
If TCP probing functionality is used to dynamically estimate link parameters and share bandwidth evenly, then bandwidth fairness is improved, but transmission efficiency decreases due to probing overhead
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary quality estimation and version selection before actual content delivery. By pre-determining the optimal content version based on quality metrics and bandwidth conditions, the system eliminates the need for continuous TCP probing during playback, thereby improving transmission efficiency while maintaining bandwidth fairness through informed initial selection.
Data Source
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AI summary
Methods, systems, and computer readable media can be operable to facilitate an analysis and control of video quality of experience (VQoE) of services delivered to one or more client devices. A content version segment may be selected for delivery to a client device based upon an estimation of the video quality experienced by the client device and the bandwidth available for delivering content to the client device. Video quality estimation may be based upon information associated with the encoding of a media stream coupled with one or more parameters of the client device receiving the media stream. Video quality estimation for one or more client devices may be aggregated and displayed to a service operator and/or may be used to inform content selection decisions in an adaptive bit-rate delivery method.