Video Stream Switching via Key Frame Buffering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing multimedia systems face delays and inefficiencies when switching between video streams, particularly when navigating backwards to specific segments in streaming video, due to the use of differentially compressed frames and the need to wait for key frames, which is undesirable for fast-paced events like sports.
Innovation Solution
A multimedia system with buffers for differentially compressed and key frames allows for immediate switching between video streams by identifying a key frame preceding the requested time and using it to locate and start transmitting the corresponding image frame, reducing delay and improving user interaction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If differentially compressed frames are used to conserve bandwidth, then transmission efficiency is improved, but the ability to navigate backwards to specific segments is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The video stream is segmented into key frames (independently decodable) and differentially compressed frames (dependent on key frames). The system selectively transmits and buffers key frames separately, enabling random access to specific time segments without requiring transmission of all intermediate frames, thus maintaining backwards navigation capability while conserving bandwidth.
Solution Approach 2:
Key frames are pre-transmitted and pre-buffered before they are needed for navigation operations. The system maintains a buffer of key frames at the transmitter side, allowing immediate retrieval and transmission when backwards navigation is requested, eliminating the need to wait for key frames to be naturally transmitted in the stream.
2Measurement precision
If the system waits for the next key frame to locate specific segments, then navigation accuracy is improved, but navigation speed deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Key frames are pre-transmitted and pre-buffered before they are needed for navigation operations. The system maintains a buffer of key frames at the transmitter side, allowing immediate retrieval and transmission when backwards navigation is requested, eliminating the need to wait for key frames to be naturally transmitted in the stream.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses timestamp information and frame indexing to precisely identify the location of key frames relative to the requested time segment. This feedback mechanism ensures accurate segment location while enabling rapid retrieval without waiting for natural stream progression.
3Adaptability or versatility
If picture-in-picture configuration is used for stream switching, then user interface flexibility is improved, but switching delay increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple video streams are pre-buffered in advance at the transmitter side, and the system maintains readiness to switch between them immediately upon receiving a user request. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for picture-in-picture configuration and associated delays, enabling instant stream switching while maintaining interface flexibility through direct user controls.
Data Source
AI summary
The multimedia systems and methods disclosed herein permit rapid switching from one video stream to another in order to present similar images at different camera angles. The systems and methods further describe a virtual joystick and a moviola system. The virtual joystick allows a viewer to select for viewing in a main portion of a display, a sequence of images at a different camera angle than what was previously rendered on the main portion. The different camera angle is intuitively obvious based on a spatial relationship between two or more thumbnail display windows displayed in the virtual joystick. The moviola system allows rapid backwards navigation of a video stream that has already been received in a video receiver, and also allows slow motion backwards/forwards viewing starting from a paused image.