Virtualized Video-Conferencing Service for Thin-Client Latency Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Legacy TV set-top boxes lack the processing power and memory to support interactive video-conferencing services due to their limited resources, making it difficult to deliver full computing capabilities without increasing costs, and existing solutions face challenges in reducing latency and bandwidth requirements for virtualizing video-conferencing applications.

Innovation Solution

A virtualized application service system that runs interactive video-conferencing applications on a server, allowing thin-client devices to appear as if the applications are running locally, by transmitting instructions rather than video and audio data, reducing bandwidth and memory requirements, and using digest segments to reconstruct media streams for efficient playback.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If video-conferencing applications are virtualized on a server, then thin-client devices can access full computing capabilities, but latency increases due to remote processing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess to full computing capabilitiesVSAvoidlatency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the video-conferencing application into two parts: the application logic and media processing run on the server, while the audio/video capture and playback functions remain on the thin-client device. This segmentation allows the device to access full application capabilities remotely while minimizing latency by keeping time-sensitive media functions local.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary component that manages the connection between the thin-client device and the server. This intermediary optimizes data transmission by sending only necessary control signals and metadata to the server, while receiving processed video/audio streams, thereby reducing latency and bandwidth requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If video and audio data are transmitted to a virtualized video-conferencing application, then the application can process media, but bandwidth requirements increase and latency becomes unacceptable

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemedia processing capabilityVSAvoidbandwidth consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the heavy media processing functions from the thin-client device and relocates them to the server. The device only transmits raw or minimally processed audio/video data and receives processed streams, significantly reducing bandwidth consumption while maintaining reliable media processing capabilities on the server.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of transmitting complete high-quality video and audio streams bidirectionally, the patent implements partial action by sending only essential data (e.g., compressed streams or metadata) to the server and receiving only the necessary processed output, thereby reducing bandwidth requirements while maintaining sufficient processing capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Ease of operation

If full computing capabilities and memory are added to devices to support video-conferencing applications, then applications can run locally, but device cost increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocal application executionVSAvoiddevice cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a virtual copy of the video-conferencing application environment on the server that mimics a full-featured client device. Thin-client devices access this virtual copy remotely, obtaining the experience of running applications locally without needing to physically upgrade their hardware, thereby maintaining ease of operation while reducing device cost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

4Quantity of substance

If legacy set-top boxes are used for video-conferencing services, then device cost remains low, but processing power and memory are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice costVSAvoidprocessing power

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a server as an intermediary that provides the additional processing power and memory required for video-conferencing applications. Legacy set-top boxes connect to this server, which handles the computationally intensive tasks, allowing the devices to maintain low cost while accessing enhanced processing capabilities through the intermediary server infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS11876844B2Systems and methods of alternative networked application services for video-conferencing applications

Publication Date: 2024.01.16 ACTIVEVIDEO NETWORKS INC

AI summary

The server system hosts one or more virtual client devices executing one or more virtual applications, each virtual client device corresponding to a remote physical client device. The server system receives, from a first remote physical client device, a signal of a characteristic of media detected by a physical component of the first remote physical client device. The server system, in response to receiving the signal of the characteristic of the media, determines, based on the characteristic of the media, an instruction for adjusting the media detected by the physical component of the first remote physical client device and transmits, to the client device, the instruction for adjusting the media at the first remote physical client device.