Video Stream Preloading and Switching Mechanism

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing video streaming technologies experience delays when playing multiple video clips in succession, particularly due to low-bandwidth and high-latency connections, leading to an unsatisfactory user experience.

Innovation Solution

A method where a media player manager initiates playback of a first video stream in the foreground and loads a second video stream in the background, switching them upon detecting specific events, such as the completion of the first stream or user input, to minimize delays and preload subsequent streams.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If video streams are loaded sequentially before playback, then playback continuity is improved, but loading time and user wait time increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveplayback continuityVSAvoiduser wait time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary loading of video stream data into a buffer during the playback of the current stream. This preliminary action ensures that the next video stream is ready to play immediately when the current stream ends, eliminating wait time while maintaining playback continuity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The buffer continuously receives and stores video data during playback operations. This continuous buffering action ensures that data is always available for immediate playback without interruption, maintaining both playback continuity and minimizing user wait time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

2Speed

If multiple video streams are preloaded into memory, then switching between streams becomes faster, but memory resource consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestream switching speedVSAvoidmemory resource consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of loading entire video streams into memory, the system loads only partial portions (segments) of the next video stream into the buffer. This partial loading approach enables fast switching while consuming minimal memory resources, as only the necessary portion needed for immediate playback is preloaded.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The video stream data is divided into smaller segments that are loaded incrementally into the buffer during playback. This segmentation allows the system to manage memory efficiently by loading only small portions at a time, rather than entire streams, thus maintaining fast switching capability while controlling memory consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Stability of the object's composition

If video data is buffered before playback, then playback smoothness is improved, but initial delay before playback starts increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveplayback smoothnessVSAvoidinitial delay

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The buffer operates continuously during playback, constantly receiving and storing video data as it is streamed. This continuous buffering ensures that playback remains smooth and uninterrupted while minimizing the initial delay, as the buffer is already populated with data from ongoing streaming rather than requiring complete pre-loading before playback begins.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentUS10536743B2Preloading and switching streaming videos

Publication Date: 2020.01.14 AUTODESK INC

AI summary

One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for playing sequential video streams. The technique involves initiating playback of a first video stream within a foreground of a display region and loading at least a portion of a second video stream during the playback of the first video stream. The technique further involves detects an event associated with the playback of the first video stream, and, in response, initiating playback of the second video stream within the foreground of the display region.