Optimized data streaming and uses thereof

• US 20040154041A1
• Filed: 01/23/2004
• Published: 08/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Eyemail Technology Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Eyemail Technology Incorporated
• Inventors: Zhang, Gary Xiao-Liang
• Application Number:
  US10/764,073
• Publication Number:
  US 20040154041A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/74
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/525 by redistribution of residual bandwidth
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/65 Network streaming protocols, e.g. real-time transport protocol [RTP] or real-time control protocol [RTCP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/70 Media network packetisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23406 involving management of server-side video buffer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2385 Channel allocation H04N21/266 takes precedence; Bandwidth allocation H04N21/24 takes precedence ; allocation of channels according to the instantaneous demands of the users in time-division multiplex systems H04J3/1682; admission control, resource allocation in open networks H04L12/5692; arrangements for maintenance or administration in data switching networks involving bandwidth and capacity management H04L41/0896; negotiating bandwidth in wireless networks H04W28/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2402 Monitoring of the downstream path of the transmission network, e.g. bandwidth available traffic monitoring in data switching networks H04L43/00; monitoring data switching networks utilization H04L43/0876
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26216 involving the channel capacity, e.g. network bandwidth admission control, resource allocation in open networks H04L12/5692; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10; establishing a schedule or organising the servicing of application requests taking into account QoS H04L67/61
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44004 involving video buffer management, e.g. video decoder buffer or video display buffer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64769 for rate control flow control in packet networks H04L47/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8453 by locking or enabling a set of features, e.g. optional functionalities in an executable program

Abstract

A variable-rate compressed multimedia data stream is typically characterized by relatively short intervals of relatively high local bitrate between relatively long intervals of relatively low bitrate. Typically, the perceived quality of the presentation at playback depends heavily on this data with locally high rate. However, it is this segment that is also most susceptible to stalls in bandwidth, and most limited by underflow constraints imposed by most current streaming techniques. This invention provides a novel simple solution to maximize use of all available bandwidth to pre-stream such data in an auxiliary channel while streaming the rest of the presentation along a main channel, called Tortoise and Hare Streaming. This method also realizes high robustness in the face of jittery bandwidths with minimal additional memory or computation resources at both the server and the client. Methods to decide which channel a given block of data should be allocated to for transmission are disclosed. Methods to determine a schedule for transmission in each channel based upon conditions such as network conditions, presentation quality are also disclosed. Finally, a complete architecture from authoring to playback for an embodiment of the system is provided.

Claims

1. A novel dual-stream method of streaming variable-rate data.

2. The dual-stream method of claim 1, which is extendable to multiple streams.

3. A scheme to send parts of a stream with locally large bandwidth over one or more auxiliary channels while the rest of the data in that stream is sent over one or more base channels.

4. The scheme of claim 3, applicable to all types of multimedia where quality-sensitive material requires localized high bitrates as compared to the average bitrate requirement of the bitstream.

5. A method to maximize use of all available bandwidths to pre-stream such data in an auxiliary channel while streaming the rest of the presentation along a main channel.

6. The method of claim 5, as set forth in FIG. 6.