Video Storage Fragment I Frame Insertion for Random Access

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional video storage methods face inefficiencies in random access and playback due to long GOP lengths, leading to increased decoding burdens and prolonged wait times, especially when I Frame intervals are extended, causing bit stream loss and structural disruption in long GOP encoding.

Innovation Solution

The introduction of R Frames, which can only refer to a preceding I Frame and not a common P Frame, allows for efficient storage and decoding by inserting an I Frame alongside R Frames in storage fragments, maintaining the GOP structure and avoiding cross-storage fragment referencing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If GOP length is extended to reduce storage costs and bit rate, then storage efficiency is improved, but random access wait time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage efficiencyVSAvoidrandom access wait time
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces R Frames as intermediate reference points within the GOP structure, creating multiple access entry points. This segments the long GOP into manageable sections where R Frames can serve as alternative reference frames for random access, reducing wait time while maintaining extended GOP benefits for storage efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

R Frames act as intermediary reference frames between I Frames and P/B frames. They can reference preceding I Frames and are used for forward prediction, providing an intermediate layer that enables efficient random access without requiring immediate I Frame references, thus reducing access wait time

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If I Frame interval is extended to reduce encoder complexity, then encoding complexity is reduced, but bit stream loss occurs during storage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveencoder complexityVSAvoidbit stream loss
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary action by inserting I Frames at strategic positions before R Frames when storing to new fragments. This ensures that even with extended I Frame intervals, the storage system has the necessary reference frames available to prevent bit stream loss and maintain decoding capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

R Frames serve as intermediary reference frames that can reference preceding I Frames. They bridge the gap between extended I Frame intervals, allowing the system to maintain reference availability without requiring frequent I Frame encoding, thus preventing bit stream loss while reducing encoder complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Quantity of substance

If conventional storage method is used with long GOP, then storage capacity utilization is improved, but decoding burden increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage capacity utilizationVSAvoiddecoding burden
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the video stream into fragments that begin with I Frames and contain R Frames. This segmentation creates manageable decoding units where R Frames can be decoded using their I Frame references within the same fragment, reducing the decoding burden compared to processing entire long GOPs as single units

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

R Frames act as intermediary reference frames that simplify the decoding process by providing local references within fragments. They enable the decoder to use nearby I Frames for reference rather than searching throughout the entire long GOP, reducing decoding complexity while maintaining efficient storage capacity utilization

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3093849B1Devices and methods for video storage
Publication Date: 2020.03.25 HANGZHOU HIKVISION DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY CO LTD
  • EP3093849B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3093849B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3093849B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Systems, devices and methods are provided for video storage. For example, video data is acquired for generating buffer zone data, the buffer zone data beginning with an I frame or an R frame of the video. At least part of the buffer zone data is stored to a storage fragment in a storage area. In response to the storage fragment being newly opened and a first frame of the at least part of the buffer zone data being an R Frame, an I Frame with reference relation to the first frame is inserted to the storage fragment, the R Frame corresponding to a picture frame referring to the I Frame.