Video Stream Segmentation for Bandwidth Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing networks are unable to efficiently provide high-quality real-time video streams to end-user devices, especially for social viewing scenarios where synchronization across multiple users is required, due to bandwidth limitations and inefficiencies in current video streaming technologies.
Innovation Solution
The method involves converting input video streams into groups of encoded independent self-contained video streams (EISCVSs) using a codec-agnostic process, allowing for efficient transmission over lower bandwidth links by partitioning the stream into tiles and background segments, which can be dynamically requested and combined by user devices based on their specific views and network conditions, with support for multiple user devices and quality adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If brute force provision of ultra high quality real time video streams is used, then video quality is improved, but network bandwidth requirements become infeasible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the video stream into multiple independent self-contained video streams (EISCVSs), each representing a specific field of view or spatial segment. This segmentation allows the system to transmit only the relevant portions of the video content based on user direction requests, rather than transmitting the entire ultra-high-quality stream, thereby reducing bandwidth consumption while maintaining video quality for the viewed portion.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different quality levels to different spatial segments of the video stream. Instead of uniformly providing ultra-high quality across all fields of view, the system encodes each EISCVS at appropriate quality levels and transmits only those segments that are currently being viewed, optimizing bandwidth utilization while preserving quality where needed.
2Adaptability or versatility
If social viewing with synchronization across multiple users is implemented, then user experience is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the video content into multiple independent EISCVSs that can be independently requested and received by different users. Each user device can autonomously select and receive the specific EISCVSs corresponding to their viewing direction without requiring complex synchronization protocols, as the independent encoding of each segment naturally supports multi-user access.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal video stream structure where a single set of encoded independent self-contained video streams can serve multiple users simultaneously. The system accepts direction requests from multiple users and provides the appropriate EISCVSs to each user, allowing the same infrastructure to support both individual and social viewing scenarios without requiring separate synchronized streams for each user group.
3Quantity of substance
If video streams are transmitted over lower bandwidth links, then bandwidth consumption is reduced, but transmission quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the video content into independent spatial segments (EISCVSs) that can be selectively transmitted. By transmitting only the specific segments that users are currently viewing rather than the complete video stream, the system achieves significant bandwidth reduction while maintaining the quality of the transmitted segments at acceptable levels for the viewed content.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transmits only the necessary portion of the video stream that corresponds to user viewing directions rather than the complete ultra-high-quality stream. This partial transmission approach reduces bandwidth consumption to feasible levels while maintaining sufficient quality for the actually viewed portions, avoiding the waste of transmitting unnecessary video data.
Data Source
AI summary
A computerized method for transmitting one or more video streams, the method may include receiving at least one input video stream that comprises visual information obtained from multiple fields of view that differ from each other; converting the at least one input video stream to a group of encoded independent self-contained video streams (EISCVSs), by performing a codec-agnostic process; wherein different EISCVSs comprise visual information from different spatial segments of the at least one input video stream; receiving a first request to receive video information related to a first direction related to a first user; generating a first video stream that comprises a first sub-set of EISCVSs that is related to the first direction; andsending the first video stream to a device of the first user, over a first communication link that has a first bandwidth that is lower than a bandwidth required to convey the input video stream.