Viewport Dependent Delivery Network Architecture
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current viewport dependent delivery systems face challenges in scalability and efficient end-to-end network utilization, particularly in delivering immersive 360-degree video content, due to limitations in encoder capacity and increased latency and bandwidth wastage when content is not aligned with the viewer's viewport.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves distributing VDD workload across multiple edge nodes proximal to content contribution and reception points, using connector and distributor nodes to manage and deliver immersive media, optimizing delivery methods based on viewport ranges and node capabilities, and leveraging 5G technology for low-latency processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If viewport dependent delivery is implemented to reduce bandwidth wastage, then bandwidth utilization is improved, but device complexity increases due to multiple encoder instances required per node
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the delivery function by introducing two types of nodes: connector nodes that receive immersive media and perform viewport-dependent delivery, and distributor nodes that distribute the delivered media to receiver devices. This segmentation allows viewport-dependent delivery to be performed only at connector nodes rather than at every network point, reducing the overall encoder capacity requirement while maintaining bandwidth efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
Connector nodes act as intermediaries between the immersive media source and distributor nodes. These intermediary nodes perform the computationally intensive viewport-dependent delivery function, receiving immersive media, determining viewport information, and delivering optimized content to distributor nodes which then distribute to multiple receiver devices. This intermediary approach centralizes the encoding workload.
2Reliability
If multiple encoder instances are deployed per node for viewport dependent delivery, then delivery quality is improved, but scalability is limited due to encoder capacity constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the network into connector nodes and distributor nodes, where connector nodes handle viewport-dependent delivery and distributor nodes handle content distribution. This segmentation allows the system to scale by adding more distributor nodes without requiring proportional increases in encoder capacity at each node, as the encoding workload is concentrated at connector nodes.
Solution Approach 2:
Distributor nodes are designed with multi-functionality, serving multiple receiver devices simultaneously without requiring separate encoder instances for each device. A single distributor node can distribute viewport-dependent content to multiple receivers, making the system more scalable and adaptable to varying numbers of users.
3Device complexity
If immersive media is delivered without viewport alignment, then device complexity is reduced, but bandwidth wastage increases due to delivery of unviewed content
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality by delivering different quality levels to different regions of the immersive media based on viewport information. Connector nodes determine which portions of the 360-degree content are currently viewable and deliver high-quality content only for those viewport regions, while reducing or eliminating delivery of content outside the viewport, thereby reducing bandwidth wastage without requiring complex systems at receiver devices.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The embodiments relate to a method and apparatus for viewport dependent delivery (VDD) of immersive media between a contribution device and a receiver. Connector node is generated in a proximity with the contribution device. Distributor node is generated in a proximity with the receiver device and an identifier of the distributor node is provided to the receiver, wherein the identifier of the distributor node is used by the receiver to instantiate a VDD session with the contribution device. VDD session is established between the contribution device and the connector node, between the connector node and the distributor node, and between the distributor node and the receiver. The immersive media is delivered by using the established VDD sessions, wherein the immersive media matches to a viewport provided by the receiver.