Video distribution synchronization

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11095929-B2
Application number	US-202016797952-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 21, 2020
Priority date	Nov 17, 2015
Publication date	Aug 17, 2021
Grant date	Aug 17, 2021

Abstract

Systems and methods for video distribution synchronization are described herein. An example method to distribute a media stream over a distribution network to a number of devices may include determining, by one or more computer processors coupled to memory, a common master-client shared time reference Tref. Example methods may include determining a mean intermediate arrival time for first packets of a first type of the media stream, determining respective first playout times for the first packets based on the mean intermediate arrival time and the time reference Tref, associating the first packets with the respective first playout times, and distributing the media stream to the plurality of devices.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method to distribute a media stream over a distribution network to a plurality of devices, the method comprising:
determining, by one or more computer processors coupled to memory, a common master-client shared time reference T ref ;
determining a mean intermediate arrival time for first packets of a first type of the media stream;
determining respective first playout times for the first packets based on the mean intermediate arrival time and the time reference T ref ;
associating the first packets with the respective first playout times; and
distributing the media stream to the plurality of devices.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
generating timestamps for the first packets corresponding to the respective first playout times.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the media stream further comprises second packets of a second type, the method further comprising:
generating timestamps for the second packets corresponding to respective second playout times based on a predetermined ratio between a first number of the first packets and a second number of the second packets.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the first type is associated with full picture video data, and the second type is associated with delta picture video data.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the media stream is a received media stream.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
a central master node, wherein the central master node is configured to associate the first packets with the respective first playout times.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
inserting timestamps of the time reference T ref into the media stream and into a back reporting stream; and
extracting the timestamps of the time reference T ref in the plurality of devices for providing a coordinated local time of the plurality of devices.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein each respective first playout time includes a predetermined playout delay.

9. A device configured to distribute a media stream over a distribution network to a plurality of devices, the device comprising:
memory configured to store computer-executable instructions; and
at least one computer processor configured to access the memory and execute the computer-executable instructions to:
determine a common master-client shared time reference T ref ;
determine a mean intermediate arrival time for first packets of a first type of the media stream;
determine respective first playout times for the first packets based on the mean intermediate arrival time and the time reference T ref ;
associate the first packets with the respective first playout times; and
distribute the media stream to the plurality of devices.

10. The device of claim 9 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to access the memory and execute the computer-executable instructions to:
generate timestamps for the first packets corresponding to the respective first playout times.

11. The device of claim 10 , wherein the media stream further comprises second packets of a second type, and wherein the at least one processor is further configured to access the memory and execute the computer-executable instructions to:
generate timestamps for the second packets corresponding to respective second playout times based on a predetermined ratio between a first number of the first packets and a second number of the second packets.

12. The device of claim 11 , wherein the first type is associated with full picture video data, and the second type is associated with delta picture video data.

13. The device of claim 9 , wherein the media stream is a received media stream.

14. The device of claim 9 , wherein the device is in communication with a central master node, and wherein the central master node is configured to associate the first packets with the respective first playout times.

15. The device of claim 9 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to access the memory and execute the computer-executable instructions to:
insert timestamps of the time reference T ref into the media stream and into a back reporting stream; and
extract the timestamps of the time reference T ref in the plurality of devices for providing a coordinated local time of the plurality of devices.

16. The device of claim 9 , wherein each respective first playout time includes a predetermined playout delay.

17. A method comprising:
determining, by one or more computer processors coupled to memory, a common master-client shared time reference T ref ;
determining a mean intermediate arrival time for first packets of a first type of a media stream;
inserting timestamps of the time reference T ref into the media stream and into a back reporting stream;
extracting the timestamps of the time reference T ref in a plurality of devices for providing a coordinated local time of the plurality of devices; and
distributing the media stream to the plurality of devices.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
determining respective first playout times for the first packets based on the mean intermediate arrival time and the time reference T ref ; and
associating the first packets with the respective first playout times.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising:
generating timestamps for the first packets corresponding to the respective first playout times.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the media stream further comprises second packets of a second type, the method further comprising:
generating timestamps for the second packets corresponding to respective second playout times based on a predetermined ratio between a first number of the first packets and a second number of the second packets;
wherein the first type is associated with full picture video data, and the second type is associated with delta picture video data.

Assignees

• Livestreaming Sweden Ab
• Amazon Tech Inc

Inventors

• Lindgren Per
• Olsson Ted
• Cedronius Anders
• Insulander Hans
• Bohm Christer
• Danielson Magnus

Classifications

• H04L65/611

  for multicast or broadcast (systems for broadcast or conference H04L12/18; arrangements for broadcast or distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/00; arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time H04H60/00; selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS], H04W4/06) · CPC title

• H04L65/65

  Network streaming protocols, e.g. real-time transport protocol [RTP] or real-time control protocol [RTCP] · CPC title

• H04N21/43076

  of the same content streams on multiple devices, e.g. when family members are watching the same movie on different devices · CPC title

• H04N21/8547

  involving timestamps for synchronizing content · CPC title

• H04N21/242 Primary

  Synchronisation processes, e.g. processing of PCR [Programme Clock References] {(arrangements for synchronising broadcast or distribution via plural systems in broadcast distribution systems H04H20/18)} · CPC title