Packet loss analysis

• US 8,588,302 B2
• Filed: 06/13/2008
• Issued: 11/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Einarsson, Torbjrn
• Primary Examiner(s): Perungavoor, Sath V
• Assistant Examiner(s): LUO, KATE H
• Application Number:
  US12/997,750
• Publication Number:
  US 20110096836A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,985 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 375/240.13
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 17/004 for digital television systems

Abstract

A test sequence (1) comprises multiple pictures (20, 22, 24, 26) comprising at least one respective intra pixel block (30, 32, 34, 36) at a respective dedicated pixel position in the pictures (20, 22, 24, 26). Such a position in a first picture (20) is different from the position of the intra block (32) in a second picture (22) of the sequence. The sequence (1) is transmitted to a user terminal (200) where it is employed for testing the quality of the data communication. By rendering the pictures (20, 22, 24, 26) packet losses are identifiable as missing pixel blocks (30, 332, 34, 36) in the media presentation (60).

Claims

1. A method of generating a digital media test sequence comprising the steps of:

providing an initial intra-predicted picture having a predefined single color;

providing a sequence of multiple inter-predicted pictures, where each inter-predicted picture comprises at least one group of intra-coded pixels at a dedicated pixel position of said inter-predicted picture and remaining groups of pixels of said inter-predicted picture are inter-coded using skip mode or with zero motion vector and zero prediction error, wherein said dedicated pixel position of said at least one group of intra-coded pixels in a first inter-predicted picture of said multiple inter-predicted pictures is different from said dedicated pixel positions of said at least one group of intra-coded pixels in the remaining inter-predicted pictures of said multiple inter-predicted pictures;

packing said intra-predicted picture into a first data packet;

packing said sequence of multiple inter-predicted pictures into multiple data packets; and

packing a sequence of multiple audio samples into multiple audio data packets, a first set of the multiple audio samples including non-background sound data synchronized to selected inter-predicted or intra pictures and a second remaining set of the multiple audio samples including background sound data synchronized to the rest of pictures in the sequence of multiple audio samples,

wherein the digital media sequence includes the first data packet, multiple data packets, and the multiple audio packets.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising filling up at least one data packet of said multiple data packets with a predefined discardable code to reach a defined data packet size.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising changing said defined data packet size following providing a defined multiple number of data packets comprising pictures.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

providing multiple slices where said multiple slices are co-processable to form an inter-predicted picture of said multiple inter-predicted pictures and each slice comprises a group of intra-coded pixels at a dedicated pixel position of said inter-predicted picture; and

packing said multiple slices into multiple data packets.

14. The method according to claim 1, 5, 10, or 12, wherein the at least one group of intra-coded pixels in each inter-predicted picture is distinguishable from the single-colored initial inter-predicted picture based on chrominance.

15. The method according to claim 1, 5, 10, or 12, wherein the at least one group of intra-coded pixels in each inter-predicted picture is distinguishable from the single-colored initial intra-predicted picture based on luminance.

5. A system for generating a digital media test sequence comprising:

an intra provider configured to provided an initial intra-predicted picture having a predefined single color

a sequence provider configured to provided a sequence of multiple inter-predicted pictures where each inter-predicted picture comprises at least one group of intra-coded pixels distinguishable from the predefined single color of the intial intra-predicted picture at a dedicated pixel position of said inter-predicted picture and remaining groups of pixels of said inter-predicted picture are inter-coded using skip mode or with zero motion vector and zero prediction error, wherein said dedicated pixel position of said at least one group of intra-coded pixels in a first inter-predicted picture of said multiple inter-predicted pictures is different from said dedicated pixel positions of said at least one group of intra-coded pixels in the remaining inter-predicted pictures of said multiple inter-predicted pictures; and

a packet unit configured to;

pack said intra-predicted picture into a first data packet and said sequence of multiple inter-predicted pictures into multiple data packets

pack a sequence of multiple audio sample into multiple audio data packets, a first set of the multiple audio samples including non-background sound data synchronized to selected inter-predicted or intra-pictures and a second remaining set of the multiple audio samples including background sound data synchronized to the rest of pictures in the sequence of multiple audio samples,

wherein the digital media test sequence includes the first data packet, multiple data packets, and the multiple audio packets.

6. The system according to claim 5, further comprising a packet filler configured to fill up at least one data packet of said multiple data packets with a predefined discardable code to reach a defined data packet size.

7. The system according to claim 6, further comprising a size processor configured to change said defined data packet size following providing a defined multiple number of data packets comprising pictures.

8. The system according to claim 5, further comprising a slice provider configured to provide multiple slices where said multiple slices are co-processable to form an inter-predicted picture of said multiple inter-predicted pictures and each slice comprises a group of intra-coded pixels at a dedicated pixel position of said inter-predicted picture, wherein said packet unit is arranged for packing said multiple slices into multiple data packets.

9. The system according to claim 5, further comprising an audio provider configured to provide the sequence of multiple audio samples.

10. A method of testing a data connection between a transmitting end and a receiving end of said data connection, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving, at said receiving end, a digital media test sequence from said transmitting end, said digital media test sequence comprises a first data packet comprising an initial intra-predicted picture having a predefined single color and a sequence of data packets comprising multiple inter-predicted pictures where each inter-predicted picture comprises at least one group of intra-coded pixels at a dedicated pixel position of said inter-predicted picture and remaining groups of pixels of said inter-predicted picture are inter-coded using skip mode or with zero motion vector and zero prediction error, wherein said dedicated pixel position of said at least one group of intra-coded pixels in a first inter-predicted picture of said multiple inter-predicted pictures is different from said dedicated pixel positions of said at least one group of intra-coded pixels in the remaining inter-predicted pictures of said multiple inter-predicted pictures; and

co-processing pictures received at said receiving end to form a media presentation in which said groups of intra-coded pixels are individually identifiable and a lost data packet being identifiable as a missed group of intra-coded pixels in said media presentation,

wherein said digital media test sequence further comprises data packets with audio samples each initial being synchronized to a respective inter-predicted picture of said multiple inter-predicted pictures and first set of said multiple audio samples comprising non-background sound data and a second remaining set of said multiple audio samples comprising background sound data, said method further comprising the steps of;

playing back sound data of said audio samples in parallel with said co-processing; and

investigating synchronization between video and audio based on a relative timing of playing back said non-background sound data.

11. The method according to claims 10, further comprising the steps of:

counting the number of missed groups of intra-coded pixels in said media presentation; and

generating a data connection quality parameter based on said counted number.

12. A device for testing a data connection between said device and a transmitting unit, said device comprising:

a receiver for receiving a digital media test sequence from said transmitting unit, said digital media test sequence comprises a first data packet comprising an initial intra-predicted picture having a predefined single color and a sequence of data packets comprising multiple inter-predicted pictures where each inter-predicted picture comprises at least one group of intra-coded pixels at a dedicated pixel position of said inter-predicted picture and remaining groups of pixels of said inter-predicted picture are inter-coded using skip mode or with zero motion vector and zero prediction error, wherein said dedicated pixel position of said at least one group of intra-coded pixels in a first inter-predicted picture of said multiple inter-predicted pictures is different from said dedicated pixel positions of said at least one group of intra-coded pixels in the remaining inter-predicted pictures of said multiple inter-predicted pictures; and

a data processor configured to co-process pictures received by said receiver to form a media presentation in which said groups of intra-coded pixels are individually identifiable and a lost data packet being identifiable as a missed group of intra-coded pixels in said media presentation,

wherein said digital media test sequence further comprises data packets with audio samples each initially being synchronized to a respective inter-predicted picture of said multiple inter-predicted pictures, a first set of said multiple audio samples includes non-background sound. data, and a second. remaining set of said multiple audio samples includes background sound data, said device further comprising;

an audio player configured to play back sound data of said audio samples in parallel with said co-processing allowing investigation of synchronization between video and audio based on a timing of playing back said non-background sound data.

13. The device according to claim 12, further comprising:

a loss counter for counting the number of missed groups of intra-coded pixels in said media presentation; and

a parameter generator for generating a data connection quality parameter based on said counted number.