Recovery From Packet Loss During Transmission Of Compressed Video Streams

Abstract

A method for recovering errors in video delivered to a client device over a network is disclosed. The method includes generating, by a server, a sequence of video frames. The method includes slicing, by the server, each video frame into a plurality of slices. The method includes encoding, by the server, each of the plurality of slices of each video frame. The encoding is configured to produce a compressed video stream comprising an initial I-frame followed by a plurality P-frames, and the initial I-frame and each of the P-frames is defined by respective said plurality of slices. The method includes transmitting, by the server, the compressed video stream over the network to the client device. The method includes receiving, by the server, a notification of data loss detected in a slice position of a frame received at the client device. The notification is received from the client device. The method includes encoding, by the server, responsive to receiving the notification at the server, a next frame with the slice position of the next frame encoded as an I-slice and all remaining slice positions in the next frame being encoded as P-slices.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for recovering errors in video delivered to a client device over a network, comprising:
 generating, by a server, a sequence of video frames;   slicing, by the server, each video frame into a plurality of slices;   encoding, by the server, each of the plurality of slices of each video frame, wherein the encoding is configured to produce a compressed video stream comprising an initial I-frame followed by a plurality P-frames, the initial I-frame and each of the P-frames defined by respective said plurality of slices;   transmitting, by the server, the compressed video stream over the network to the client device;   receiving, by the server, a notification of data loss detected in a slice position of a frame received at the client device, the notification being received from the client device; and   encoding, by the server, responsive to receiving the notification at the server, a next frame with the slice position of the next frame being encoded as an I-slice and all remaining slice positions in the next frame being encoded as P-slices.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the compressed video stream is transmitted as a stream of data packets. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a single data packet comprising data for no more than a single slice to enable the single slice to be sent for said data loss. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the notification is sent via a feedback loop from the client device to the server, for use by an encoder of the server. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising encoding a subsequent frame immediately after the next frame in the sequence as a P-frame. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the initial I-frame contains only I-slices. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each of the P-frames contain only P-slices. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the client device is configured to decode each slice received as long as no data loss is detected. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein send encoding the next frame to include the I-slice and all remaining slice positions to include the P-slices, retransmission avoids sending a plurality of I-slices for slices that were not associated with data loss. 
     
     
         10 . Computer readable media having program instructions for processing a method for recovering errors in video delivered to a client device over a network, comprising:
 program instructions for generating, by a server, a sequence of video frames;   program instructions for slicing, by the server, each video frame into a plurality of slices;   program instructions for encoding, by the server, each of the plurality of slices of each video frame, wherein the encoding is configured to produce a compressed video stream comprising an initial I-frame followed by a plurality P-frames, the initial I-frame and each of the P-frames defined by respective said plurality of slices;   program instructions for transmitting, by the server, the compressed video stream over the network to the client device;   program instructions for receiving, by the server, a notification of data loss detected in a slice position of a frame received at the client device, the notification being received from the client device; and   program instructions for encoding, by the server, responsive to receiving the notification at the server, a next frame with the slice position of the next frame being encoded as an I-slice and all remaining slice positions in the next frame being encoded as P-slices.   
     
     
         11 . The computer readable media of  claim 10 , wherein a single data packet comprising data for no more than a single slice to enable the single slice to be sent for said data loss. 
     
     
         12 . The computer readable media of  claim 10 , wherein the notification is sent via a feedback loop from the client device to the server, for use by an encoder of the server. 
     
     
         13 . The computer readable media of  claim 10 , further comprising encoding a subsequent frame immediately after the next frame in the sequence as a P-frame. 
     
     
         14 . The computer readable media of  claim 10 , wherein the initial I-frame contains only I-slices. 
     
     
         15 . The computer readable media of  claim 10 , wherein each of the P-frames contain only P-slices. 
     
     
         16 . The computer readable media of  claim 10 , wherein the client device is configured to decode each slice received as long as no data loss is detected. 
     
     
         17 . The computer readable media of  claim 10 , wherein send encoding the next frame to include the I-slice and all remaining slice positions to include the P-slices, retransmission avoids sending a plurality of I-slices for slices that were not associated with data loss.