Virtual MSS Fragment Mapping for Faster MP4 Streaming
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Solution Overview
Problem
The large size of MP4 files leads to long buffer times during playback due to the need to load extensive index data, and the MSS protocol's fragmented chunks complicate server management.
Innovation Solution
A virtual MSS chunking method that establishes a correspondence between MP4 files and MSS chunks using virtual chunk indexes, allowing MP4 files to be played without actual segmentation, reducing buffer times and maintaining efficient server performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If MP4 files are stored as single large files, then storage efficiency is improved, but random access performance deteriorates and startup time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides large MP4 files into multiple small fragment files (MOOF and MOOV fragments) stored in separate files within a directory. This segmentation enables the media server to access only specific fragments needed for random access or streaming, avoiding the need to read entire large files, thus improving both storage efficiency and random access performance simultaneously
2Speed
If MP4 files are fragmented into small files, then random access performance is improved, but file management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an index file as an intermediary that stores metadata mapping logical file positions to physical fragment file locations. This index file simplifies file management by providing a centralized lookup mechanism, allowing the media server to efficiently locate and access specific fragments without complex directory traversal or file management logic
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary organization of fragment files during the file splitting phase, creating a structured directory layout and generating the index file in advance. This preliminary action establishes an optimized file structure that enables fast random access without requiring complex runtime file management operations
3Reliability
If adaptive bitrate switching is implemented, then streaming quality is improved, but protocol compatibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the HLS protocol to support adaptive bitrate switching for MP4 files while maintaining compatibility with existing HLS infrastructure. The solution enables the protocol to serve multiple functions: traditional HLS streaming and adaptive bitrate switching for fragmented MP4 files, thus improving streaming quality without completely sacrificing protocol compatibility
Data Source
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AI summary
An MP4 file virtual MSS fragmentation method, an MSS adapter, a media server and a storage medium. The MP4 file virtual MSS fragmentation method comprises: receiving an MSS download request sent by an MSS player; determining, according to MSS fragment indexes and virtual fragment indexes of the first MP4 file, a data segment corresponding to data of at least one MSS fragment in a first MP4 file, the MSS fragment indexes comprising playback addresses of MSS fragments of the first MP4 file, and the virtual fragment indexes comprising a correlation between the data of each MSS fragment and the data segments of the first MP4 file; sending a data segment download request to a media server; receiving the data segments of the first MP4 file sent by the media server; assembling the data segments to generate at least one MSS fragment; and sending the at least one MSS fragment to the MSS player.