Patent Application
20180243651
The invention relates to a method for streaming and reproducing applications (APPs).
Moreover, the invention relates to a telecommunication network for streaming and reproducing applications (APPs).
Finally, the invention also relates to the use of a telecommunication network.
Today, it is more and more important to develop applications natively. Native developments are always individually adapted to one particular platform, however.
The problem, however, is that newer and more modern platforms are always entering the market and users use not only one platform but rather many different platforms.
A further problem is the underlying hardware. Specific applications also form the basis of specific hardware. This hardware has to meet particular demands on the application, for example graphics load, processor capacity, memory, energy consumption. Conversely, however, an application can also use more computer power or graphics power than the hardware of the platform can provide. Specifically in the case of graphics-intensive applications—for example games—this can lead to users being unable to use them, since the system is incompatible. There are fundamentally three different approaches to transferring applications to a platform-non-native environment.
First, there is what is known as the native development (porting). The application is redeveloped from the standpoint of the non-native platform. Of all three methods, this is the most complex and most time-consuming way, but it affords the opportunity to use all the functionalities of the new platform. One problem of this method, however, is that the application is subject to the constraints of the platform. As such, it is not possible for games with high graphics demands to be ported to a mobile platform, for example. Different hardware prerequisites within the non-native platform are also a problem, since not every user has the same mobile radio, for example.
Additionally, there is already software in existence that is intended to allow the developer to make a native development easier. Porting takes place using particular software to the effect that portions of the existing software are replaced so as to achieve compatibility with the non-native system. This step is not always possible, since some platforms differ architectonically from one another too much. In such cases, there is for the most part also a lack of support from the operator of the platform, and for this reason the native development is resorted to for the most part.
Web apps are applications that are developed as a basis for web browsers and can therefore be used on almost all platforms. To this end, a WCM (Webcontent Management) system is also often used. These applications can be reached only via a corresponding browser, however, which the platform has to provide. A disadvantage with this method is that not all applications can be ported using this method. It is necessary to use a browser that does not always ensure a native depiction of the application.
Streaming: this means that the application runs on a server and is only played back on the non-native platform by means of a client. This technology is currently restricted, however, to particular applications that are not time-critical (the keyword in this case is “latency”).
WO 2012/037170 A1 discloses the practice of transmitting the application code to the client in parallel with the stream in order to be able to terminate the stream as soon as the application is executable on the client, so that the application runs directly on the client so as to be able to save streaming resources. This may be worthwhile for consoles, for example, but is not possible in the event of hardware-specific prerequisites (limitations).
WO 2009/073830 describes a system that provides the user with access to a service on the basis of a “subscription fee”. In this case, the customer is allocated a particular streaming server for the period booked. However, our system allocates the user a geographically optimum streaming server without a “subscription fee” being needed.
Additionally, WO 2010/141522 A1 uses a game server via which the streaming communication between client and streaming server sometimes takes place. Moreover, the functionalities of the interactive layer are mapped via the video source, which, for this development, is dealt with via a separate server in order to also provide third parties with access to advertising space, for example.
The invention is based on the object of providing a method for streaming and reproducing applications (APPs) via a particular telecommunication system and of playing back non-natively compatible applications on non-software-native environments.
This object is achieved by each of coordinate patent claims 1 to 3.
Patent claim 1 describes a method for streaming and reproducing applications (APPs) via a particular telecommunication system, in which one or more streaming servers that can connect to one another by telecommunication execute the relevant application and that connect to the respective telecommunication terminal locally, the relevant telecommunication terminal retrieving the required application from a local server that provides the computer power for rendering and encoding the relevant application.
Advantage: the individual selection of a local streaming server reduces the latency between streaming server and client to a minimum, so that a greatest possible range with a greatest possible coverage is achieved while the method works in a resource-saving manner and does not provide the streaming server until it is needed.
In patent claim 2, a method is for reproducing applications on non-application-native system environments that differ through either different hardware components or software components, wherein the streaming server undertakes the handling of the different applications and the rendering/encoding of the application and the audio and video signals thereof, the data being transmitted to the respective telecommunication terminal—mobile radio, tablet, laptop, PC, TV—and the transmission being performed by means of a modified h.254 protocol and the WAN being used as a transmission means for audio/video packets by UDP/TCP and the complete computer power being undertaken by the relevant streaming server, wherein the packaged data are decoded only on the telecommunication terminal.
Advantage: the standardization of the communication allows an ideal route for communication between client and streaming server to be chosen independently of the application at any desired time.
Patent claim 3 describes a method for providing a platform-independent streaming technology that is programmed once and portable to any telecommunication terminals, in which the streaming of the individual applications, for example video games, is effected via a WAN, such that
According to the stated object, the method according to the invention allows non-natively programmed applications to be played back on non-software-native environments, specifically without meeting the hardware-specific prerequisites of the non-native platforms, for example in respect of computer power and graphics power, and without meeting the software-specific prerequisites of the non-native platforms, for example applications that run only via one particular operating system. In comparison with for example US 2014/0073428 A1, the invention uses a client created specifically for this application. This client can be used on any desired platform in order to ensure almost latency-free reproduction of an h.254 compressed stream. For transferring the frames, the h.254 code is used. H.264/MPEG-4 AVC is an H. standard for high-efficiency video compression. The standard was adopted in 2003. The ITU designation for this is H.264. In the case of ISO/IEC MPEG, the standard goes by the designation MPEG-4/AVC (Advanced Video Coding) and is the tenth part of the MPEG-4 standard (MPEG-4/Part 10, ISO/IEC 14496-10). The method according to the invention moreover involves resource handling being used that distributes the load to individual streaming servers in order to save first resources but second also capacities/investment. This allows the system to operate with greater cost savings than comparable systems as in the case of WO 2012/37170 A1, for example. This also affords the opportunity to shut down streaming servers during operation, for example in order to perform maintenance work. It is known generally that in almost all cases, as in WO 2010/141522 A1, for example, it is always necessary for what is known as a hook into the code of the application to be initiated in order to allow the streaming server to stream the application. This results in the application code needing to be altered, which can lead firstly to additional effort but secondly to considerable problems with the original developer of the application. The method according to the invention makes a hook superfluous and allows the method to be automated.
The client application fundamentally consists of three parts (decode thread, render thread and the interactive layer) and is recorded in clientnetwork.so (shared library). These parts break down into individual modules.
The client session manager module is responsible for managing (starting/ending) the session and is used to administer the session started by the user. This module can also be used to make settings with regard to latency optimization.
The network module undertakes the network communication and manages the communication with the streaming server.
The controller module intercepts the user input of the application and transmits the latter to the game streaming server.
The decoder render audio modules consists of two parts: the decoder module undertakes the decoding of the h.264 stream. The audio player plays the sound.
The evaluator module transmits reporting to the streaming server.
The recovery module undertakes the handling of the strategies for corrupt frames.
The client UI module is incorporated in the interactive layer and is responsible for the UI of the application.
The interactive layer allows an additional visual depiction of information to be visualized on the underlying render thread, for example in order to display community feature/assistance or advertising. It is above the render thread and can be individually adapted by the user.
For the interactive layer, a predefined user interface is provided for each platform. However, the user can use what is known as layer scripting to produce the applicable user interface, under particular constraints, himself. Layer scripting provides the user with a specifically developed scripting environment that allows particular functionalities to be tied to predefined buttons. It is thus possible for the user to adapt his UI individually to the needs thereof.
The streaming server fundamentally consists of three modules (network thread, GPU thread and session handler) and is recorded in servernetwork.dll (shared library). Each running application on the streaming server is respectively assigned a GPU and a network thread. This automatic process is managed by the session handler.
The network thread is responsible for delivery of the encoded audio and video file.
The GPU thread is responsible for the hardware encoding of the audio and video frames of the application, undertakes packet buffering via UDP/TCP and undertakes timestamping and compression.
The session handler is responsible for starting/stopping and managing the GPU & network threads. It coordinates available resources on the game streaming server and communicates with the session management server. The idea behind the session handler is automatic management of the resources in order to be able to save costs.
The session management server consists of four modules: authentication module; network module; session manager module; evaluator module.
The authentication of the client is undertaken by the access server in order first to store the client specifications for the streaming server in order to check whether the client is authorized to retrieve the requested application. The authentication can also work opposite a third-party system, so that non-native systems can also be coupled.
The network module is responsible for load balancing, quality assurance and administration. Load balancing is understood to mean the uniform distribution of the load within the network. In the quality assurance domain, every single stream is monitored and optimized on the basis of performance (for example by means of particular routing). The administration is intended to allow the administrator to inspect the present load and the routing in order to perform particular configurations.
The session manager module is responsible for load optimization and control of the game streaming servers. This unit links incoming client requests to a free slot on a game streaming server and then sets up a direct connection between client and streaming server. Critical criteria for a link are: latency between streaming server and application client and available resources. The aim is to use this unit to establish a resource-saving method in order to be able to shut down unused power.
Evaluator module. This undertakes generation of the statistics and administration.
The content server undertakes the display of advertising on the interactive layer of the applicable client for the appropriate game. Advertising can be displayed in multiple forms. There is either a permanent placement within the application or particular times are predefined that, as soon as they are initiated, set an appropriate trigger to display advertising.
UDP (User Datagram Protocol) is simple, less involved and more efficient for realtime data transmissions. The problem with UDP, however, is that the is no mechanism for dealing with data packets that have been lost in the network. Therefore, screen errors, stutters and flickering occur while the game is played in the cloud.
We have determined four strategies that will intelligently correct the packet loss situation.
Blocking: strategy at the user end that involves a still being shown while error correction takes place. This will allow the user a better user experience in comparison with screen errors, stutters and flickering. This method will therefore ensure that the image is not erroneous in the event of packet loss.
Not blocking: strategy at the user end that involves no still being produced while a transmission of the lost packets is requested from the server. This fresh transmission is not comparable with the TCP transmission, since it is under our own control and we efficiently request it only when it is needed.
Intrarefresh: this strategy is implemented at the user end and speak to the video encoder (at the server end) in real time. In the event of the loss of a packet, it asks the encoder to perform a frame refresh. Therefore, as soon as it is interrupted on account of a loss of image packets, the image has a frame refresh applied to it in milliseconds, which the naked eye does not even notice.
Frame validation: this strategy keeps one eye on the frame rate at which images are sent from the server end. In the event of a fluctuating frame rate, it ensures that the image packets are sent at a constant frame rate. This helps to ensure a uniform image experience.
A further inventive refinement is described in patent claim 4, in which in the event of packet loss during the transmission of files to the telecommunication terminal, for example from a gaming server to the telecommunication terminal, the following steps are performed:
Advantage: the automation of the recovery process reduces the duration of errors that occur by a multiple and thus allows an almost error-free, continuously self-calibrating transmission between streaming server and client.
This object is achieved by coordinate patent claims 5 to 7.
Patent claim 5 describes a telecommunication network for streaming and reproducing applications (APPs) via a particular telecommunication system, in which one or more streaming servers that can connect to one another by telecommunication execute the relevant application and that connect to the respective telecommunication terminal locally, the relevant telecommunication terminal retrieving the required application from a local server that provides the computer power for rendering and encoding the relevant application.
Patent claim 6 describes a telecommunication network for reproducing applications on non-application-native system environments that differ through either different hardware components or software components, wherein the streaming server undertakes the handling of the different applications and the rendering/encoding of the application and the audio and video signals thereof, the data being transmitted to the respective telecommunication terminal—mobile radio, tablet, laptop, PC, TV—and the transmission being performed by means of a modified h.254 protocol and the WAN being used as a transmission means for audio/video packets by UDP/TCP and the complete computer power being undertaken by the relevant streaming server, wherein the packaged data are decoded only on the telecommunication terminal.
The solution according to patent claim 7 describes a telecommunication network for providing a platform-independent streaming technology that is programmed once and portable to any telecommunication terminals, in which the streaming of the individual applications, for example video games, is effected via a WAN, such that
This object is achieved by each of coordinate patent claims 8 to 10.
Patent claim 8 describes the use of a telecommunication network for streaming and reproducing applications (APPs) via a particular telecommunication system, in which one or more streaming servers that can connect to one another by telecommunication execute the relevant application and that connect to the respective telecommunication terminal locally, the relevant telecommunication terminal retrieving the required application from a local server that provides the computer power for rendering and encoding the relevant application.
Patent claim 9 describes a solution for the use of a telecommunication network on non-application-native system environments that differ through either different hardware components or software components, wherein the streaming server undertakes the handling of the different applications and the rendering/encoding of the application and the audio and video signals thereof for the individual applications (frames), the data being transmitted to the respective telecommunication terminal—mobile radio, tablet, laptop, PC, TV—and the transmission being performed by means of a modified h.254 protocol and the WAN being used as a transmission means for audio/video packets by UDP/TCP and the complete computer power being undertaken by the relevant streaming server, wherein the packaged data are decoded only on the telecommunication terminal.
Patent claim 10 describes the use of a telecommunication network for providing a platform-independent streaming technology that is programmed once and portable to any telecommunication terminals, in which the streaming of the individual applications, for example video games, is effected via a WAN, such that
A further inventive refinement in respect of the application is described by patent claim 11. In the event of a packet loss during the transmission of data to the telecommunication terminal, for example from a gaming server to the telecommunication terminal, the following steps are performed:
Patent claim 12 shows the use of a communication network for the communication with a client (user, terminal) with the following source code:
Patent claim 13 describes the use in connection with a telecommunication network according to the invention for the decoding of a video application and for the decoding of a terminal with the following source code:
According to patent claim 14, the following source code is used according to the invention for the dynamic error handling strategies:
Patent claim 15 is directed toward the use of the following source code for a video packet compression:
The drawing illustrates the invention—partly schematically—by way of example, and:
The client serves as a thin client for the transmission of the audio/video signals and can typically be used on any desired platform. A streaming server 120 can enter into a 1:n relationship, but a client can only take up communication with one particular streaming server 120. Typically, the number of clients per streaming server is limited not by the software but rather by the relevant hardware capacities of the GPU of the streaming server 120.
A communication between streaming server 120 and client 110A is always initially set up via the session management server 130. This undertakes the initial request of the client 110A for connecting to the streaming server and looks for the optimum streaming server 120 for the client 110A. Multiple streaming servers may be operating in parallel in a system. These also do not always have to be in the same computer center or country. After the allocation of a streaming server 120 by the session management server 130 for the client 110A, the streaming server 120 undertakes the direct communication with the client 110A.
A further element is the content server 195. This server is responsible for the delivery of particular parts in the interactive layer of the client 110A. As such, it controls, inter alia, the display of advertising in accordance with the application that is displayed on the thin client. The necessary information is made available to the content server 195 or via the session management server 130.
The communication takes place primarily via the WAN (Wide Area Network) 115. This includes various types of transmission and is not restricted to particular areas.
Client session manager 410, communicates with the streaming server 120 and session management server and is initially responsible for the authentication and management of the client.
Network module 420 is responsible for setting up the connection and maintaining it. This module also undertakes the sending and receiving of various packets.
The controller 430 undertakes delivery of the supplied frames and audio packets as a visual image in the client.
Decode render video 440 and decode render audio 450 receive the packets that have previously been received from the network module 420 and have been forwarded by the controller 430.
The elevator module 460 is responsible for collecting statistical data and transmits said data to the session management server. Accordingly, the session management server can also optimize the connection. A feedback loop is thus produced, which makes this module very important.
The recovery module 470 rates arriving data packets. Should a data packet be erroneous, the module chooses a recovery strategy and if need be requests a new packet from the streaming server or undertakes other measures in order to compensate for the loss without arriving at a loss in latency or quality.
The client UI contains the interactive layer and content of the content server 195. There, the input of the user is intercepted and sent to the streaming server 120.
The content administration is used for presetting the advertising, e.g. that is to be displayed, within the interactive layer in the client 110. The content administration 510 is intended to be used to stipulate both the frequency and the content.
The module content streaming 520 undertakes the display of the content and serves as a central interface for all clients.
The application layer 610 reproduces the received frames and is responsible for the visual depiction of the application.
Above the application layer 610, there is the UI layer 620. This layer can be configured individually but is fundamentally definitively responsible for the input of the user in the client.
Besides the two aforementioned layers, there is the possibility of loading content from the content server 195. This then takes place in the area of the content layer 630.
Once the decision has been made concerning whether blocking 730, not blocking 740, intrarefresh 750 or frame validation 760 has been chosen, the recovery request 770 is sent to the streaming server 120. The streaming server accordingly sends a new packet and the task of the recovery module 470 has been performed.
The features described in the patent claims and in the description and evident from the drawing can be essential to realizing the invention either individually or in any combinations.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2015/001535 | 7/24/2015 | WO | 00 |
