Method for quick channel switching of streaming media

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for quick channel switching of streaming media. The method comprises the steps of: when a terminal requests a multicasting stream of a new channel after finishing the playing of the last channel, expanding a parameter field carrying x-burst used for indicating the function of supporting flow control in an RTSP (Real Time Streaming Protocol) DESCRIBE message; appointing a playing time point in a first RTSP PLAY message and carrying size information x-burst size of a burst receiving buffer region of a terminal; from an IDR (Instantaneous Decoding Refresh) frame, sending media data corresponding to a unicasting stream at a rate being higher than an original code rate after finding the corresponding IDR frame according to the playing time point requested by the terminal and the size information x-burst size of the burst receiving buffer region by a streaming media server; and receiving the unicasting stream and playing the unicasting stream by the terminal until the unicasting stream comes up with the multicasting stream, and then playing the multicasting stream by the terminal. According to the method, the original system frameworks of the terminal and the streaming media server are unchanged, and only expansion is carried out on the original RTSP to realize a quick channel switching function, the change is very little, and the method is simple and easy to implement.

Description

technical field [0001] The invention relates to the technical field of streaming media, in particular to a method for fast channel switching of streaming media. Background technique [0002] The live channel in the streaming media network is usually sent by multicast, and the terminal switches channels by joining a multicast group. Streaming media takes longer to switch channels than traditional analog / digital TV. Channel switching delay is usually affected by the following factors: [0003] 1. Network delay: There is a certain time delay between the terminal joining the multicast group and receiving the multicast data. [0004] 2. Terminal-related information processing delay: due to the correlation between data (frames), the terminal needs to receive relevant data before processing. [0005] 3. Terminal Mpeg buffer (Mpeg buffer) processing delay: The terminal Mpeg buffer buffers the processed data, and when the data reaches a certain threshold, it is handed over to the ...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

[0003] 1. Network delay: There is a certain time delay between the terminal joining the multicast group and receiving the multicast data

[0004] 2. Terminal-related information processing delay: Due to the correlation between data (frames), the terminal needs to receive relevant data before processing

[0018] The advantage of this solution is that the user experience will not be reduced during the channel switching process; the disadvantage is that a new fast channel switching (FCC) server cluster needs to be added, and additional bandwidth will be occupied at the same time. RTCP extended messages are used as terminals and fast channel switching (FCC) The request between servers, the interface for controlling and terminating unicast streams, and the RTCP protocol is based on UDP (User Datagram Protocol) transmission, UDP is an unreliable transmission protocol, so when some special situation occurs in the network , the RTCP message may be lost, which will cause the terminal to fail to receive the unicast stream from the FCC server, and fast channel switching will fail. In order to ensure that the RTCP message is reliable, the terminal and the FCC server must implement the RTCP retransmission mechanism, which leads to Terminals and FCC servers are more complex to implement

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