Abstract:
A method and apparatus which reduces the start-up delay that may occur when switching programs in audio and/or video streaming applications while maintaining high quality steady-state performance thereof. A program source (e.g., an audio and/or video data stream) is encoded and transmitted as two or more separate bit streams (e.g., sequences of data packets), the transmission of one of these bit streams being delayed by a given amount of time relative to the transmission of the other bit stream(s). At the receiving end of the transmission channel, the two or more bit streams are buffered by receive buffers having different sizes (thereby resulting in different time delays when the contents thereof are decoded), wherein the time delay difference corresponds (inversely) to the relative delay times prior to transmission. Advantageously, either a multiple descriptive source coding scheme or an embedded coding scheme may be employed, in which at least one of the individual bit streams is sufficient to obtain a satisfactory decoded signal, but wherein the addition of the other bit stream(s) will improve the quality of the decoded signal. Alternatively, the data streams may comprise multiple encodings of the program source having different bit rates, wherein the lower bit rate encodings are transmitted with the correspondingly larger delays.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates generally to audio and video streaming applications employed in data packet-based networks such as, for example, the Internet, and more particularly to the buffering of received data packets which is typically performed in such applications. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Internet applications that employ audio and video streaming are becoming increasingly prevalent. (When used herein, the term “audio” will be intended to include speech as one example of an audio signal.) As a natural consequence of transmitting and receiving data over a data packet-based network such as the Internet, when network traffic is large the network gives rise to relatively large packet delays. In particular, packet delays usually vary considerably depending on the momentary level of network congestion. Moreover, data packets are sometimes even lost completely by the network. Since applications which employ audio and video streaming are typically used in non-interactive environments, however, the end-to-end delay is usually not critical. 
   For these reasons, and as is totally familiar to those of ordinary skill in the art, data packets from such streaming applications are usually buffered at the receiving end over a time period which may typically be several seconds in duration. This buffering helps to reduce the detrimental effects of the relatively large and variable packet delays which result from the varying levels of network congestion. Packet losses in the network are typically addressed by using a forward error correction code across the packets, as is also fully familiar to those skilled in the art. The error correction capability of such an error correcting code typically improves with the size of the data packets. 
   Clearly then, a large receive buffer is highly desirable to provide a better quality signal, because it increases the probability that most of the transmitted packets representing data within the given (i.e. the buffered) period of time will have been successfully accumulated in the buffer before it is necessary to decode them for “playback.” However, since the receive buffer usually needs to be initially filled before the signal can be decoded, a large buffer necessarily gives rise to a correspondingly large buffering delay, and, in particular, a large start-up delay. Start-up delays of a few seconds can be quite annoying, especially when a channel switch is made in an Internet broadcast environment. Such an environment typically involves an Internet backbone which broadcasts many independent programs, and a number of users which receive their individually selected program via a server connected to the backbone. A large start-up delay could thus be quite bothersome when a user changes the selected broadcast program. It would be highly desirable, therefore, to provide a source coding and receive data buffering scheme which results in more acceptable start-up delays without sacrificing the benefits of using a large receive buffer. In this manner, relatively painless channel switches may be effectuated while still maintaining high quality steady-state performance. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In accordance with the principles of the present invention, a novel technique is disclosed whereby the start-up delay that may occur when initiating or switching received programs in audio (including speech) or video streaming applications is advantageously reduced while maintaining high quality steady-state performance thereof. Specifically, the instant invention comprises a method and apparatus for processing two or more sequences of data packets received from a network, each of the sequences of data packets representing a common program source, in which a reproduction of the program source is generated by (a) buffering the data packets comprised in a first one of said sequences in a first receive buffer having a first buffering delay; (b) buffering the data packets comprised in a second one of said sequences in a second receive buffer having a second buffering delay, wherein the second buffering delay is smaller than the first buffering delay; (c) decoding the data packets buffered in the second receive buffer after the second buffering delay has elapsed; (d) decoding the data packets buffered in the first receive buffer after the first buffering delay has elapsed; and (e) generating the reproduction of the program source based at least upon the decoding of the data packets buffered in the second receive buffer before the first buffering delay has elapsed, and based at least upon the decoding of the data packets buffered in the first receive buffer after the first buffering delay has elapsed. 
   In accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, a program source (e.g., an audio and/or video data stream) is encoded and transmitted as two or more separate bit streams (e.g., sequences of data packets), wherein the transmission of one of these bit streams has been delayed prior to transmission by a given amount of time relative to the transmission of the other bit stream(s). At the receiving end, these two or more bit streams are buffered by receive buffers having different buffering delays (e.g., as a result of having different buffer sizes), wherein the time delay difference corresponds to the relative delay times effectuated between the bit streams prior to transmission. 
   In accordance with one illustrative embodiment of the present invention, it may be advantageous to employ a multiple descriptive source coding scheme, familiar to those skilled in the art. As is well known, in such a scheme, each of two or more individual bit streams are coded, each bit stream being sufficient by itself so that when it is decoded, a reproduction of the original program source having a satisfactory signal quality is obtained. However, when a combination of two or more of these individual bit streams is decoded, a reproduced signal of improved quality will result. (See, e.g., Michael T. Orchard et al., “Redundancy Rate-Distortion Analysis of Multiple Description Coding Using Pairwise Correlating Transforms,” Proc. IEEE International Conference on Image Processing, October, 1997.) In this case, it is useful to transmit one of the individual bit streams as the “second” sequence of data packets, and either another one of the individual bit streams, or preferably, a combination of two or more of the individual bit streams as the “first” sequence of data packets. (Note that it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that for the efficient use of channel bandwidth, in any embodiment of the present invention for which it is desirable that the same data be included in multiple bit streams, that data can be advantageously transmitted as a part of only one of these bit streams, and then re-combined with the other(s) at the receive end of the channel, either before or after the corresponding decoding of the encoded bit stream data is performed.) 
   In accordance with another illustrative embodiment of the invention, it may be advantageous to employ an embedded coder, also familiar to those skilled in the art, in which a core layer and one or more enhancement layers are separately coded. (See, e.g., Jurgen Herre et al., “The Integrated Filterbank Based Scalable MPEG-4 Audio Coder,” 105th Audio Engineering Society Convention, San Francisco, September, 1998.) In this case, it is useful to transmit the core layer bit stream as the “second” sequence of data packets, and a combination of the core layer bit stream and the enhancement layer(s) bit stream(s) as the “first” sequence of data packets. Again, the channel bandwidth efficiency “technique” described above can be advantageously employed. And also, in accordance with still another illustrative embodiment of the invention, the data streams may advantageously comprise multiple encodings of the program source each having a different bit rate, wherein lower bit rate encodings are transmitted with correspondingly larger delays (and thus buffered at the receiver with receive buffers having correspondingly shorter buffer delays). 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  shows a first illustrative environment for an audio or video streaming application in which the start-up delay for a given program broadcast may be advantageously reduced in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  shows a second illustrative environment for an audio or video streaming application in which the start-up delay for a given program broadcast may be advantageously reduced in accordance with another illustrative embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIG. 1  shows a first illustrative environment for an audio or video streaming application in which the start-up delay for a given program broadcast may be advantageously reduced in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention. In particular, the figure shows a program source, A(n), which is encoded by both source coder  11  and source coder  12  to produce two independent bit streams, a 1 (n) and a 2 (n), respectively. Each of these source coders may comprise any one of a number of conventional packet-based coders familiar to those of ordinary skill in the art, and as may be used for the coding of, for example, audio and/or video program data for transmission across a packet-based network such as, for example, the Internet. 
   Advantageously, the encodings performed by these two source coders are such that a reproduction of the original program source signal should be obtainable by decoding a 2 (n) only, and, preferably, such decoding should produce a signal of a reasonably acceptable quality. Moreover, a decoding of either a 1 (n) individually, or, alternatively, a combination of a decoding of each of a 1 (n) and a 2 (n), advantageously results in a reproduction of the original program source signal having a superior quality to that which is obtainable by decoding a 2 (n) only. 
   Specifically, in accordance with certain illustrative embodiments of the present invention, source coders  11  and  12  may advantageously implement one of a number of various coding schemes, each of which is familiar to those of ordinary skill in the art, designed to provide these advantageous characteristics. For example, it may be desirable to employ a multiple descriptive source coding scheme, in which each of two (or more) individual bit streams are coded and are sufficient by themselves to obtain a decoded signal having a satisfactory quality, but wherein the decoding of a combination of the two (or more) of these individual bit streams will result in a signal having improved quality as compared thereto. In this case, one of theses individual bit streams may be generated by source coder  12  and transmitted as signal a 2 (n), while the other one of these individual bit streams (or one of the other bit streams if there are more than two such individual bit streams) is generated by source coder  11  and transmitted as signal a 1 (n). At the receiving end of the transmission channel (see the discussion below), a combination of these two (or more) individual bit streams (the combination being effectuated either before or after the decoding process) can be used to produce the higher quality signal. 
   In accordance with another illustrative embodiment of the invention, it may be advantageous to employ an embedded coder, also familiar to those skilled in the art, in which a core layer and one (or more) enhancement layers are separately coded. In this case, the core layer is coded by source coder  12  and transmitted as signal a 2 (n), while the enhancement layer (or one of the enhancement layers if there is more than one such layer) is coded by source coder  11  and transmitted as signal a 1 (n). As above, at the receiving end of the transmission channel (see below), a combination of these two (or more) individual bit streams (combined either before or after decoding) can be used to produce the higher quality signal. 
   And also, in accordance with still another illustrative embodiment of the invention, the data streams may advantageously comprise multiple encodings of the program source each having a different bit rate. In this case, source coder  11  produces the encoding having the larger of the bit rates and transmits the resultant data stream as signal a 1 (n), whereas source coder  12  produces the encoding having the smaller of the bit rates and transmits the resultant data stream as signal a 2 (n). 
   In any case, and in accordance with the illustrative environment of  FIG. 1 , signal a 2 (n), as generated by source coder  12 , is delayed prior to transmission (relative to the transmission of signal a 1 (n) as generated by source coder  11 ) by conventional delay element  14 . The amount of delay which is applied, n d , is advantageously approximately equal to the difference in the delays which are to be incurred by the receive buffers used at the receiver prior to the decoding of the two data streams, a 1 (n) and a 2 (n)—see the discussion below. Thus, delay element  14  produces signal a 2 (n-n d ), namely, signal a 2 (n) delayed by an amount of time n d . Channel  16  represents a communications channel adapted to the transmission of packet-based data streams such as, for example, the Internet. Alternatively, however, channel  16  may comprise any of a number of other possible communications channels, including (but not limited to), for example, a telecommunications network (such as, for example, a Local Exchange Carrier network or an Inter-exchange Carrier network), or a local or wide area computer network. 
   In accordance with the illustrative embodiment of  FIG. 1 , the receiving end of channel  16  comprises two receive buffers—receive buffer  17  and receive buffer  18 . Receive buffer  17  is adapted to receive the data stream which was transmitted as a 1 (n), and receive buffer  18  is adapted to receive the data stream which was transmitted as a 2 (n). Receive buffer  17  has an associated buffer delay of n 1  and receive buffer  18  has an associated buffer delay of n 2 . For example, these particular associated delays may result from the specific buffer sizes which are chosen for use in accumulating the received data packets. (A larger buffer size typically corresponds to a larger associated buffer delay. The advantages of using larger buffer sizes and larger buffer delays are well known to those of ordinary skill in the art and are described above.) Specifically, in accordance with the principles of the present invention, n 1 &gt;n 2 . In particular, n 1  advantageously approximately equals the sum of n 2  and n d  (i.e., n 1 =n 2 +n d ), where n d  is the delay associated with delay element  14  (on the transmission “side” of communications channel  16 ) as described above. 
   Receive buffer  17  and receive buffer  18  are used to provide the input to decoder  21  and decoder  22 , respectively. These two decoders correspond to source coders  11  and  12 , and are used to generate corresponding reproductions of the original source program from the two data streams a 1 (n) and a 2 (n), denoted in the figure as b 1 (n) and b 2 (n), respectively. In particular, decoders  21  and  22  implement conventional decoding of packet-based bit streams, and, in particular, use decoding algorithms which correspond to the encoding algorithms that were used by source coders  11  and  12 . (That is, the decoding algorithm implemented by decoder  21  comprises a conventional decoding method for decoding data streams produced by the conventional encoding algorithm implemented by coder  11 , and the decoding algorithm implemented by decoder  22  comprises a conventional decoding method for decoding data streams produced by the conventional encoding algorithm implemented by coder  12 .) In order to provide accurate and robust decoding of the incoming bit streams, decoders  21  and  22  advantageously delay for a time period equal to n 1  and n 2 , respectively, both after an initial receiver start-up (e.g., when power is applied) and after a receiver “channel” change is effectuated (i.e., the selection of a different broadcast source program), before the corresponding decoding process begins. (As described above, n 1  and n 2  are the buffer delays associated with buffers  17  and  18 , respectively.) 
   Finally, in accordance with the principles of the present invention as embodied in the illustrative environment of  FIG. 1 , selection processor  24  operates to produce the resulting reproduction of the original source program, B(n). In particular, this may be done by selecting either the output of decoder  21  or the output of decoder  22  according to the amount of time which has elapsed either since receiver start-up or since a receiver channel change has resulted in the selection of a different broadcast source program. Specifically, the output of decoder  22  is initially selected by selection processor  24  (after delay n 2  has elapsed, thereby enabling the proper decoding of bit stream a 2 (n)), but subsequently—in particular once delay n 1  has elapsed (thereby enabling the proper decoding of bit stream a 1 (n))—the output of decoder  21  is selected instead. (Recall that in accordance with the illustrative embodiment of the present invention being described herein, n 1 &gt;n 2 . Thus, delay n 2  will elapse before delay n 1  has elapsed.) In this manner, a reproduction of the program source, albeit one having somewhat less than the best quality available, is provided after delay n 2  has elapsed, but prior to the time when delay n 1  has elapsed, thereby at least partially ameliorating the excessive delay that might otherwise be encountered upon either receiver start-up or when a receiver channel change occurs as a result of the selection of a different broadcast source program. 
   As discussed above, in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention in which a coding scheme is used in which a higher quality signal is advantageously obtained based upon a combination of the two data streams a 1 (n) and a 2 (n), decoder  21  may use the outputs of both receive buffer  17  and receive buffer  18  to produce its reproduction of the original source program after delay n 1  has elapsed. Alternatively, embodiments employing such coding schemes may allow for the individual decoding of the two data streams a 1 (n) and a 2 (n) by decoder  21  and decoder  22 , respectively, and then combine (e.g., within selection processor  24 ) these decodings in a conventional manner to produce the higher quality reproduction. Note that in this latter case, selection processor  24  advantageously outputs signal b 2 (n) after the delay n 2  has elapsed but before the delay n 1  has elapsed (recall that n 1 &gt;n 2 ), and then outputs an appropriate combination of signal b 1 (n) and signal b 2 (n) (i.e., after the delay n 1  has elapsed) as its final reproduction of the original source program, B(n). 
     FIG. 2  shows a second illustrative environment for an audio or video streaming application in which the start-up delay for a given program broadcast may be advantageously reduced in accordance with another illustrative embodiment of the present invention. In particular, the illustrative environment shown in  FIG. 2  provides for three (rather than 2) bit streams, which may be used, for example, to produce at least three levels of increasing quality reproduced source program signals, again at the “expense” of increasing the associated decoding delays (and thus, for example, increasing start-up delays). Note, of course, that it will be obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art to extend the principles of the invention to embodiments comprising even more (i.e., four or more) bit streams, thereby producing correspondingly more potential levels of increasing quality reproduced source program signals. 
   Specifically, the illustrative environment of  FIG. 2  adds additional source coder  13 , additional delay  15 , additional receive buffer  19 , and additional decoder  23 , to the components shown in FIG.  1  and described above. In particular, the program source, A(n), is encoded by each of source coders  11 ,  12 , and  13  to produce three independent bit streams, a 1 (n), a 2 (n), and a 3 (n), respectively. As in the case of the illustrative environment shown in  FIG. 1 , each of these source coders may comprise any one of a number of conventional packet-based coders familiar to those of ordinary skill in the art, and as may be used for the coding of, for example, audio or video program data for transmission across a packet-based network such as, for example, the Internet. Further, source coders  11 ,  12 , and  13  may advantageously implement one of a number of various coding schemes, each of which is familiar to those of ordinary skill in the art, designed to provide characteristics analogous to those described above in connection with FIG.  1 . 
   Specifically, signal a 2 (n), as generated by source coder  12 , and signal a 3 (n), as generated by source coder  13 , are each delayed prior to transmission (relative to the transmission of signal a 1 (n) as generated by source coder  11  as well as relative to each other) by conventional delay elements  14  and  15 , respectively. The amount of delay which is applied by delay element  14 , n d1 , is advantageously approximately equal to the difference in the delays incurred by the receive buffers used at the receiver for the decoding of the two data streams, a 1 (n) and a 2 (n), while the amount of delay which is applied by delay element  15 , n d2 , is advantageously approximately equal to the difference in the delays incurred by the receive buffers used at the receiver for the decoding of the two data streams, a 1 (n) and a 3 (n). (See the discussion below.) Thus, delay element  14  produces signal a 2 (n-n d1 ), namely, signal a 2 (n) delayed by an amount of time n d1 , while delay element  15  produces signal a 3 (n-n d2 ), namely, signal a 3 (n) delayed by an amount of time n d2 . Note that advantageously, n d1 &lt;n d2 . 
   In accordance with the illustrative embodiment of  FIG. 2 , the receiving end of channel  16  comprises three receive buffers—receive buffers  17 ,  18 , and  19 . Receive buffer  17  is adapted to receive the data stream which was transmitted as a 1 (n), receive buffer  18  is adapted to receive the data stream which was transmitted as a 2 (n), and receive buffer  19  is adapted to receive the data stream which was transmitted as a 3 (n). Advantageously, receive buffer  17  has an associated buffer delay of n 1 , receive buffer  18  has an associated buffer delay of n 2 , and receive buffer  19  has an associated buffer delay of n 3 , specifically wherein n 1 &gt;n 2 &gt;n 3 . In particular, n 1  advantageously approximately equals the sum of n 2  and n d1  (i.e., n 1 =n 2 +n d1 ), where n d1  is the delay associated with delay element  14  described above. Similarly, n 1  advantageously approximately equals the sum of n 3  and n d2  (i.e., n 1 =n 3 +n d2 ), where n d2  is the delay associated with delay element  15  described above. 
   Receive buffers  17 ,  18 , and  19  are used to provide the input to decoders  21 ,  22 , and  23 , respectively. These three decoders correspond to source coders  11 ,  12 , and  13 , and are used to generate corresponding reproductions of the original source program from the three data streams a 1 (n), a 2 (n), and a 3 (n), denoted in the figure as b 1 (n), b 2 (n), and b 3 (n), respectively. In particular, decoders  21 ,  22 , and  23  implement conventional decoding of packet-based bit streams, and, in particular, use decoding algorithms which correspond to the encoding algorithms that were used by source coders  11 ,  12 , and  13 . 
   Finally, in accordance with the principles of the present invention as embodied in the illustrative environment of  FIG. 2 , selection processor  24  operates to produce the resulting reproduction of the original source program. B(n), by selecting the output of either decoder  21 , decoder  22 , or decoder  23 , according to the amount of time which has elapsed either since receiver start-up or since a receiver channel change has resulted in the selection of a different broadcast source program. Specifically, in this case, the output of decoder  23  is initially selected (after delay n 3  has elapsed, thereby enabling the proper decoding of bit stream a 3 (n)). Once delay n 2  has elapsed (thereby enabling the proper decoding of bit stream a 2 (n)), the output of decoder  22  may be advantageously selected instead. And finally, once delay n 1  has elapsed (thereby enabling the proper decoding of bit stream a 1 (n)), the output of decoder  21  may be advantageously selected to provide the highest quality reproduction of the original source program. (Recall that in accordance with the illustrative embodiment of the present invention being described herein, n 1 &gt;n 2 &gt;n 3 .) In this manner, a hierarchical sequence of reproductions of the program source, each having somewhat better quality than the one provided before it, may be advantageously provided after a sufficient corresponding delay has elapsed. 
   The preceding merely illustrates the principles of the invention. It will thus be appreciated that those skilled in the art will be able to devise various arrangements which, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the invention and are included within its spirit and scope. Furthermore, all examples and conditional language recited herein are principally intended expressly to be only for pedagogical purposes to aid the reader in understanding the principles of the invention and the concepts contributed by the inventors to furthering the art, and are to be construed as being without limitation to such specifically recited examples and conditions. Moreover, all statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and embodiments of the invention, as well as specific examples thereof, are intended to encompass both structural and functional equivalents thereof. Additionally, it is intended that such equivalents include both currently known equivalents as well as equivalents developed in the future, i.e. any elements developed that perform the same function, regardless of structure. 
   Thus, for example, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the block diagrams herein represent conceptual views of illustrative circuitry embodying the principles of the invention. Similarly, it will be appreciated that any flow charts, flow diagrams, state transition diagrams, pseudocode, and the like represent various processes which may be substantially represented in a computer readable medium and so executed by a computer or processor, whether or not such computer or processor is explicitly shown. 
   The functions of the various elements shown in the figures, including functional blocks labeled as “processors” may be provided through the use of dedicated hardware as well as hardware capable of executing software in association with appropriate software. When provided by a processor, the functions may be provided by a single dedicated processor, by a single shared processor, or by a plurality of individual processors, some of which may be shared. Moreover, explicit use of the term “processor” or “controller” should not be construed to refer exclusively to hardware capable of executing software, and may implicitly include, without limitation, digital signal processor (DSP) hardware, read-only memory (ROM) for storing software, random access memory (RAM), and non-volatile storage. Other hardware, conventional and/or custom, may also be included. Similarly, any switches shown in the figures are conceptual only. Their function may be carried out through the operation of program logic, through dedicated logic, through the interaction of program control and dedicated logic, or even manually, the particular technique being selectable by the implementor as more specifically understood from the context. 
   In the claims hereof any element expressed as a means for performing a specified function is intended to encompass any way of performing that function including, for example, a) a combination of circuit elements which performs that function, or b) software in any form, including, therefore, firmware, microcode or the like, combined with appropriate circuitry for executing that software to perform the function. The invention as defined by such claims resides in the fact that the functionalities provided by the various recited means are combined and brought together in the manner which thc claims call for. Applicant thus regards any means which can provide those functionalities as equivalent as those shown herein.