METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR RATE ADAPTATION IN MOTION PICTURE EXPERTS GROUP MEDIA TRANSPORT

• US 20140379903A1
• Filed: 01/08/2014
• Published: 12/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Bouazizi, Imed, Ma, Zhan, Xu, Meng
• Granted Patent: US 10,033,658 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/74 measures in reaction to resource unavailability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/70 Media network packetisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/752 adapting media to network capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/762 at the source reformatting of additional data in video distribution servers H04N21/2355
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/00 Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD] real-time bi-directional transmission of motion video data H04N7/14 ; broadcast or conference over packet switching networks H04L12/18
• 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 21/2662 Controlling the complexity of the video stream, e.g. by scaling the resolution or bitrate of the video stream based on the client capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64322 IP
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6437 Real-time Transport Protocol [RTP]

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for a Motion Picture Experts Group (MPEG) media transport (MMT) device for sending or receiving media content is provided. The MMT device comprises a memory unit and a controller. The controller is configured to measure an available bandwidth, receive fragments of a first encoded stream of the media content and fragments of a second encoded stream of the same media content based on the available bandwidth and a current transmission bandwidth. A mixed encoded stream comprises the fragments received from the first encoded stream and the fragments received from the second encoded stream.

Claims

1. A Motion Picture Experts Group (MPEG) media transport (MMT) device for receiving media content, the MMT device comprising:

a memory unit; and

a controller configured to;

measure an available bandwidth;

receive fragments of a first encoded stream of the media content and fragments of a second encoded stream of the same media content based on the available bandwidth and a current transmission bandwidth,

wherein a mixed encoded stream comprises the fragments received from the first encoded stream and the fragments received from the second encoded stream.

2. The MMT device of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to:

adjust dropping the fragments of the first encoded stream prior to receiving fragments from the second encoded stream.

3. The MMT device of claim 2, wherein:

the adjusting comprises dropping sufficient media fragment units (MFUs) if the available bandwidth is less than the current transmission bandwidth and the current bandwidth minus the available bandwidth is less than a sum of a size of one or more disposable media units, and

the adjusting comprises reducing the dropping sufficient media fragment units (MFUs) if the available bandwidth is not less than the current transmission bandwidth and the available bandwidth is not greater than one of the current transmission bandwidth times a factor of 1+β and

a threshold.

4. The MMT device of claim 1, wherein:

the second encoded stream is associated with a lower bitrate and is switched to if the available bandwidth is less than the current transmission bandwidth and the current bandwidth minus the available bandwidth is not less than a sum of a size of one or more disposable media units, and

the second encoded stream is associated with a higher bitrate and is switched to if the available bandwidth is not less than the current transmission bandwidth and the available bandwidth is greater than one of the current transmission bandwidth times a factor of 1+β and

a threshold.

5. The MMT device of claim 1, wherein the fragments sent of the first encoded stream and the fragments sent of the second encoded stream have a minimal time overlap not exceeding one or more media samples.

6. The MMT device of claim 2, wherein:

the adjusting is based on additional metadata from a content provider,

the additional metadata is configured to indicate a minimum frame rate for a specific period of time,

the dropping is stopped if the frame rate from the dropping is lower than the recommended frame rate, and

the second encoded stream is associated with a lower bitrate and is switched to if the frame rate from the dropping is lower than the recommended frame rate.

7. The MMT device of claim 1, wherein information in an MMT Fragment Header and information in a media fragment unit (MFU) of the media content is used to pre-calculate which MFUs are to be dropped.

8. A Motion Picture Experts Group (MPEG) media transport (MMT) device for sending media content, the MMT device comprising:

a memory unit; and

a controller configured to;

measure an available bandwidth;

switch from sending fragments of a first encoded stream of the media content to sending fragments of a second encoded stream of the same media content based on the available bandwidth and a current transmission bandwidth,

wherein a mixed encoded stream comprises the fragments sent of the first encoded stream and the fragments sent of the encoded second stream.

9. The MMT device of claim 8, wherein the controller is further configured to:

adjust dropping the fragments of the first encoded stream prior to the switching from the first encoded stream to the second encoded stream.

10. The MMT device of claim 9, wherein:

the adjusting comprises dropping sufficient media fragment units (MFUs) if the available bandwidth is less than the current transmission bandwidth and the current bandwidth minus the available bandwidth is less than a sum of a size of one or more disposable media units, and

the adjusting comprises reducing the dropping sufficient media fragment units (MFUs) if the available bandwidth is not less than the current transmission bandwidth and the available bandwidth is not greater than one of the current transmission bandwidth times a factor of 1+β and

a threshold.

11. The MMT device of claim 8, wherein:

the second encoded stream is associated with a lower bitrate and the switching comprises switching to the lower bitrate if the available bandwidth is less than the current transmission bandwidth and the current bandwidth minus the available bandwidth is not less than a sum of a size of one or more disposable media units, and

the second encoded stream is associated with a higher bitrate and the switching comprises switching to the higher bitrate if the available bandwidth is not less than the current transmission bandwidth and the available bandwidth is greater than one of the current transmission bandwidth times a factor of 1+β and

a threshold.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the fragments sent of the first encoded stream and the fragments sent of the second encoded stream have a minimal time overlap not exceeding one or more media samples.

13. The MMT device of claim 9, wherein:

the adjusting is based on additional metadata from a content provider,

the additional metadata is configured to indicate a minimum frame rate for a specific period of time,

the dropping is stopped if the frame rate from the dropping is lower than the recommended frame rate, and

the second encoded stream is associated with a lower bitrate and the switching comprises switching to the lower bitrate if the frame rate from the dropping is lower than the recommended frame rate.

14. The MMT device of claim 8, wherein information in a Motion Picture Experts Group (MPEG) media transport (MMT) Fragment Header and information in a media fragment unit (MFU) of the media content is used to pre-calculate which MFUs are to be dropped.

15. A method for transferring media content, the method comprising:

measuring an available bandwidth;

switching from sending fragments of a first encoded stream of the media content to sending fragments of a second encoded stream of the same media content based on the available bandwidth and a current transmission bandwidth,

wherein a mixed encoded stream comprises the fragments sent of the first encoded stream and the fragments sent of the second encoded stream.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

adjusting dropping the fragments of the first encoded stream prior to the switching from the first encoded stream to the second encoded stream.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein:

the adjusting comprises dropping sufficient media fragment units (MFUs) if the available bandwidth is less than the current transmission bandwidth and the current bandwidth minus the available bandwidth is less than a sum of a size of one or more disposable media units, and

the adjusting comprises reducing the dropping sufficient media fragment units (MFUs) if the available bandwidth is not less than the current transmission bandwidth and the available bandwidth is not greater than one of the current transmission bandwidth times a factor of 1+β and

a threshold.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein:

the second encoded stream is associated with a lower bitrate and the switching comprises switching to the lower bitrate if the available bandwidth is less than the current transmission bandwidth and the current bandwidth minus the available bandwidth is not less than a sum of a size of one or more disposable media units, and

the second encoded stream is associated with a higher bitrate and the switching comprises switching to the higher bitrate if the available bandwidth is not less than the current transmission bandwidth and the available bandwidth is greater than one of the current transmission bandwidth times a factor of 1+β and

a threshold.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the fragments sent of the first encoded stream and the fragments sent of the second encoded stream have a minimal time overlap not exceeding one or more media samples.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein:

the adjusting is based on additional metadata from a content provider,

the additional metadata is configured to indicate a minimum frame rate for a specific period of time,

the dropping is stopped if the frame rate from the dropping is lower than the recommended frame rate, and

the second encoded stream is associated with a lower bitrate and the switching comprises switching to the lower bitrate if the frame rate from the dropping is lower than the recommended frame rate.