Informative data streaming server

• US 9,231,992 B2
• Filed: 06/09/2011
• Issued: 01/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Masimo Corporation
• Original Assignee: Vantrix Corporation
• Inventors: Lefebvre, Yves
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Thuong
• Application Number:
  US13/157,157
• Publication Number:
  US 20110238856A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,671 Days
• Field of Search: 709/213, 709/228, 370/252, 370/338, 375/240, 375/262
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/762 at the source reformatting of additional data in video distribution servers H04N21/2355
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23805 Controlling the feeding rate to the network, e.g. by controlling the video pump
• 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 21/44227 Monitoring of local network, e.g. connection or bandwidth variations; Detecting new devices in the local network configuring of peripheral devices in general G06F9/4411; monitoring connectivity in data switched networks H04L43/0811
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6175 involving transmission via Internet broadcast-related systems characterised by the transmission system being the Internet H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6332 directed to client
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6373 for rate control , e.g. request to the server to modify its transmission rate flow control in packet networks H04L47/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64738 Monitoring network characteristics, e.g. bandwidth, congestion level data switched network analysis H04L41/14; monitoring functioning in data switched networks H04L43/0817; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10

Abstract

A method of data streaming from an encoder to a decoder is provided. The method includes establishing a connection from said encoder to said decoder; acquiring measurements characterizing said connection; estimating transmittance variation of said connection according to said measurements; determining a permissible encoding rate of said encoder compatible with the transmittance variation; determining a set of metrics characterizing said connection; receiving, at said encoder, a signal from a source; instructing said encoder to encode said signal according to said permissible encoding rate; selecting a set of notification-display intervals each corresponding to a respective metric among said set of metrics; and superimposing on said signal, during said notification-display intervals, corresponding indications of said metrics. A corresponding system is also provided.

Claims

1. A method of data streaming from an encoder to a decoder, the method comprising employing a streaming server having a processor and a memory device for:

establishing a connection from said encoder to said decoder;

acquiring measurements characterizing said connection;

estimating transmittance variation of said connection according to said measurements;

determining a permissible encoding rate of said encoder compatible with the transmittance variation;

determining a set of metrics characterizing said connection;

receiving, at said encoder, a signal from a source;

instructing said encoder to encode said signal according to said permissible encoding rate;

selecting a set of notification-display intervals each corresponding to a respective metric among said set of metrics; and

inserting corresponding indications of said metrics in said signal during said notification-display intervals.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein a first metric of said set of metrics quantifies discrepancy between said permissible encoding rate and a previous encoding rate of said encoder.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining a current frame rate of said encoder;

determining a second metric of said set of metrics as an indicator of discrepancy between said current frame rate and a previous frame rate.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

extracting, from said measurements, a current data-loss fraction; and

determining a third metric of said set of metrics as an indicator of discrepancy between said current data-loss fraction and a previous data-loss fraction.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

extracting, from said measurements, a current transfer delay between said encoder and said decoder; and

determining a fourth metric of said set of metrics as an indicator of discrepancy between said current transfer delay and a previous transfer delay.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

extracting, from said measurements, a current occupancy of a receiving buffer at said decoder; and

determining a fifth metric of said set of metrics as an indicator of discrepancy between said current occupancy and a previous occupancy of said receiving buffer.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising allocating said display intervals in different time frames successively separated by an integer multiple of time-frame periods.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising allocating said notification-display intervals within a common time frame.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising activating said inserting conditional on a determination that a magnitude of a relative change in said permissible encoding rate exceeds a predetermined value.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising activating said inserting subject to an indication of exceeding respective predefined thresholds of said metrics.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising activating said inserting periodically following each of successive reporting periods of specified durations.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining a mean value of said current encoding rate over successive observation intervals; and

responsive to a determination that said mean value is smaller than a predetermined threshold corresponding to said signal, inserting an indication of said mean value in said signal.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein said signal comprises real-time-transport-protocol (RTP) packets.

14. An apparatus for data streaming comprising a processor coupled to:

an encoder;

a device for signal interface communicatively interposed between said encoder and a decoder;

a memory device storing instructions thereon causing said processor to;

establish a connection from said encoder to said decoder;

acquire measurements characterizing said connection;

estimate transmittance variation of said connection according to said measurements;

determine a permissible encoding rate of said encoder compatible with the transmittance variation;

determine a set of metrics characterizing said connection;

receive a signal from a source;

instruct said encoder to encode said signal according to said permissible encoding rate;

select a set of notification-display intervals each corresponding to a respective metric among said set of metrics; and

insert corresponding indications of said metrics in said signal during said notification-display intervals.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said instructions further cause said processor to:

determine discrepancy between said permissible encoding rate and a previous encoding rate of said encoder as a first metric of said set of metrics; and

insert said first metric in a first notification-display period of said set of notification-display periods.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said instructions further cause said processor to:

determine a current frame rate of said encoder;

determine an indicator of discrepancy between said current frame rate and a previous frame rate as a second metric of said set of metrics; and

insert said second metric in said signal during a second notification-display period of said set of notification periods.

17. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said instructions further cause said processor to:

extract, from said measurements, a current data-loss fraction;

determine an indicator of discrepancy between said current data-loss fraction and a previous data-loss fraction as a third metric of said set of metrics; and

insert said third metric in said signal during a third notification-display period of said set of notification periods.

18. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said instructions further cause said processor to:

extract from said measurements a current transfer delay between said encoder and said decoder;

determine an indicator of discrepancy between said current transfer delay and a previous transfer delay as a fourth metric of said set of metrics; and

insert said fourth metric in said signal during a fourth notification-display period of said set of notification periods.

19. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said instructions further cause said processor to:

extract, from said measurements, a current occupancy of a receiving buffer at said decoder;

determine an indicator of discrepancy between said current occupancy and a previous occupancy of said receiving buffer as a fifth metric of said set of metrics; and

insert said fifth metric in said signal during a fifth notification-display period of said set of notification periods.

20. The method of claim 14 wherein said instructions further cause said processor to allocate said set of notification-display intervals in different time frames successively separated by an integer multiple of time-frame periods.

21. The method of claim 14 wherein said instructions further cause said processor to allocate said set of notification-display intervals within a common time frame.

22. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said instructions further cause said processor to periodically superimpose said indications of said metrics on said signal.

23. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said instructions further cause said processor to:

determine a mean value of said current encoding rate over successive observation intervals; and

responsive to a determination that said mean value is smaller than a predetermined threshold corresponding to said signal, inserting an indication of said mean value in said signal.

24. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing processor-executable instructions which cause a processor to:

establish a connection from an encoder to a decoder;

acquire measurements characterizing said connection;

estimate transmittance variation of said connection according to said measurements;

determine a permissible encoding rate of said encoder compatible with the transmittance variation;

receive a signal from a source;

determine a first metric quantifying discrepancy between said permissible encoding rate and a previous encoding rate of said encoder; and

where said metric satisfies a predetermined first criterion, said processor-readable instructions cause said processor to;

instruct said encoder to encode said signal according to said permissible encoding rate;

determine a first notification-display interval; and

insert indications of said permissible encoding rate and said first metric in said signal during said first notification-display interval.