VR Streaming Network Assistance via Priority Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
In wireless communication networks, particularly in cellular or mobile networks, multi-segment data streaming faces challenges such as bandwidth inefficiency due to varying transmission priorities of data segments, leading to potential stalling of media playback in virtual reality applications, where segments representing the same time period but with different importance levels compete for bandwidth.
Innovation Solution
The method involves establishing a network assistance session to assign relative priorities to data segments based on their importance, such as field of view in a virtual reality environment, and requesting recommended transmission rates from a DASH-aware network element, which allocates network resources accordingly to ensure higher priority segments are transmitted at higher quality and lower latency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple data segments are transmitted simultaneously in a multi-segment data stream, then the data can be delivered to the client, but valuable bandwidth is wasted on low priority segments that could be better utilized for high priority segments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the data stream into multiple data segments with different priority levels (e.g., high priority, medium priority, low priority segments). This segmentation allows the network to treat different segments differently based on their importance, enabling selective transmission that optimizes bandwidth utilization while ensuring critical data is delivered first.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different quality levels of service to different data segments based on their priority. High priority segments receive preferential treatment in terms of bandwidth allocation and transmission timing, while low priority segments receive reduced service. This local differentiation of quality ensures that critical data is transmitted efficiently without wasting bandwidth on less important data.
2Productivity
If low priority VR stream segments use valuable bandwidth, then more data can be transmitted, but media playback may stall in the user's field of view
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary actions by buffering high priority data segments before they are needed for playback. The system anticipates future playback needs and pre-loads critical segments into the buffer, ensuring that when media playback is required, the necessary data is already available and does not cause stalling or interruptions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs feedback mechanisms where the client continuously reports its playback status and buffer levels to the network. Based on this feedback, the network dynamically adjusts the transmission of different priority segments, reducing or pausing low priority segment transmission when high priority segments are needed to maintain playback continuity.
3Device complexity
If network resources are allocated without priority awareness, then network simplicity is maintained, but quality of experience deteriorates for critical data segments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameters of network resource allocation by introducing priority-based weighting factors. Instead of treating all data segments equally, the system assigns different weights or parameters to high priority, medium priority, and low priority segments, causing the network allocation mechanism to favor critical data while maintaining overall network simplicity through automated priority processing.
Data Source
AI summary
Network assistance is provided for the streaming of multi-segment data from a data source (12) to a streaming client (54) in a network. The network assistance for multi-segment data streaming may be carried out in an automated manner by the respective devices. The systems and methods include new functions that allow for more efficient handling of data segments that make up a data stream. The network assistance for multi-segment streaming may improve, for example, virtual reality (VR) streaming performance.