Media content redundant transmission
A premises based multimedia communication system includes a source device that produces multimedia content, a rendering device that presents the multimedia content, and a premises communication network coupling the source device to the rendering device. The source device receives data packets carrying the multimedia content from the remote content source via at least one remote delivery communication network and transmits at least two copies of the data packets carrying video frames of the multimedia content to the rendering device via the at least one premises communication network. The rendering device decodes video frames carried by first copies of the data packets. Upon an unsuccessful decoding of the video frames carried by the first copies of the data packets, the rendering device decoding video frames carried by second copies of the data packets and upon a successful decoding of the video frames carried by the first copies of the data packets, the rendering device discards video frames carried by second copies of the data packets.
1. A method of operation in a premises based multimedia communication system having a source device that receives multimedia content from a remote content source and that transmits the multimedia content to a rendering device via at least one premises communication network, the method comprising:
the source device receiving data packets carrying video frames of the multimedia content from the remote content source via at least one remote delivery communication network;
the source device transmitting a single copy of the data packets carrying video frames of the multimedia content to the rendering device via the at least one premises communication network utilizing a first encryption technique that includes link layer encryption, when a bit error rate compares favorably to a bit error rate threshold;
the source device transmitting at least two copies of the data packets carrying the video frames of the multimedia content to the rendering device via the at least one premises communication network utilizing a second encryption technique that disables link layer encryption, but uses at least partially enabled content layer encryption, when the bit error rate compares unfavorably to the bit error rate threshold;
the rendering device, when receiving the single copy of the data packets carrying the video frames, decodes the single copy of the data packets carrying the video frames; and
the rendering device, when receiving the at least two copies of the data packets carrying the video frames, decodes a first copy of the video frames and upon successful decoding of the first copy of the video frames discards a second copy of the video frames, but when unsuccessful in decoding the first copy of the video frames, the rendering device decodes the second copy of the video frames.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the source device when transmitting the at least two copies of the data packets carrying the video frames of the multimedia content to the rendering device via the at least one premises communication network, the source device transmits the at least two copies of the data packets irrespective of Automatic Retransmission reQuest (ARQ) operations supported by the source device and the rendering device.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the source device when transmitting the at least two copies of the data packets carrying the video frames of the multimedia content to the rendering device via the at least one premises communication network:
the source device transmits at least two copies of data packets carrying independent (I) video frames of the multimedia content; and
the source device transmits only a single copy of data packets carrying predictive video frames of the multimedia content.
4. A method of operation in a premises based multimedia communication system having a source device that receives multimedia content from a remote content source and that transmits the multimedia content to a rendering device via at least one premises communication network, the method comprising:
the source device receiving the multimedia content from the remote content source via at least one remote delivery communication network, the at least one remote delivery communication network characterized by a first bit error rate;
determining a second bit error rate of the at least one premises communication network between the source device and the rendering device;
when the second bit error rate compares favorably to a bit error rate threshold that is based on the first bit error rate, transmitting a single copy of the data packets carrying the video frames of the multimedia content to the rendering device via the at least one premises communication network utilizing a first encryption technique that includes link layer encryption;
when the second bit error rate compares unfavorably to the bit error rate threshold, the source device transmits at least two copies of the data packets carrying the video frames of the multimedia content to the rendering device via the at least one premises communication network utilizing a second encryption technique that disables link layer encryption, but uses at least partially enabled content layer encryption;
the rendering device, when receiving the single copy of the data packets carrying the video frames, decodes the single copy of the data packets carrying the video frames; and
the rendering device, when receiving the at least two copies of the data packets carrying the video frames, decodes a first copy of the video frames and upon successful decoding of the first copy of the video frames discards a second copy of the video frames, but when unsuccessful in decoding the first copy of the video frames, the rendering device decodes the second copy of the video frames.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the source device when transmitting the at least two copies of the data packets carrying the video frames of the multimedia content to the rendering device via the at least one premises communication network, the source device transmits the at least two copies of the data packets irrespective of Automatic Retransmission reQuest (ARQ) operations supported by the source device and the rendering device.
6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the second bit error rate is greater than the first bit error rate.
7. The method of claim 4 , wherein the source device when transmitting the at least two copies of the data packets carrying the video frames of the multimedia content to the rendering device via the at least one premises communication network:
the source device transmits at least two copies of data packets carrying independent (I) video frames of the multimedia content; and
the source device transmits only a single copy of data packets carrying predictive video frames of the multimedia content.
8. A method of operation of a rendering device in a premises based multimedia communication system having a source device that receives multimedia content from a remote content source and that transmits the multimedia content to the rendering device via at least one premises communication network, the method comprising:
the rendering device receiving a single copy of data packets carrying video frames of the multimedia content from the source device via the at least one premises communication network utilizing a first encryption technique that includes link layer encryption, when a bit error rate compares favorably to a bit error rate threshold for the at least one premises communication network;
the rendering device receiving at least two copies of the data packets carrying the video frames of the multimedia content from the source device via the at least one premises communication network utilizing a second encryption technique that disables link layer encryption, but uses at least partially enabled content layer encryption, when the bit error rate compares unfavorably to the bit error rate threshold for the at least one premises communication network;
the rendering device decoding the single copy of the data packets carrying the video frames when received; and
the rendering device, when receiving the at least two copies of the data packets carrying the video frames, decodes a first copy of the video frames and upon successful decoding of the first copy of the video frames discards a second copy of the video frames, but when unsuccessful in decoding the first copy of the video frames, the rendering device decodes the second copy of the video frames.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein when the rendering device receives the at least two copies of the data packets carrying the video frames of the multimedia content from the source device via the at least one premises communication network:
the rendering device receives at least two copies of data packets carrying independent (I) video frames of the multimedia content; and
the rendering device receives only a single copy of data packets carrying predictive video frames of the multimedia content.
10. A source device of a premises based multimedia communication system that includes the source device, a rendering device, and at least one premises communication network, the source device comprising:
a communications interface communicatively coupled to the at least one premises communication network and to at least one remote delivery communication network;
a memory; and
processing circuitry coupled to the communications interface and to the memory, the processing circuitry, in conjunction with the memory and communications interface is operable to:
receive data packets carrying video frames of the multimedia content from a remote content source via the at least one remote delivery communication network;
transmit a single copy of the data packets carrying the video frames of the multimedia content to the rendering device via the at least one premises communication network utilizing a first encryption technique that includes link layer encryption, when a bit error rate compares favorably to a bit error rate threshold, wherein the single copy of the data packets carrying the video frames is transmitted to the rendering device for decoding by the rendering device; and
transmit at least two copies of the data packets carrying the video frames of the multimedia content to the rendering device via the at least one premises communication network utilizing a second encryption technique that disables link layer encryption, but uses at least partially enabled content layer encryption, when the bit error rate compares unfavorably to the bit error rate threshold, wherein the at least two copies of the data packets carrying the video frames is transmitted to the rendering device for the rendering device to decode a first copy of the video frames and upon successful decoding of the first copy of the video frames to discard a second copy of the video frames, but when unsuccessful in decoding the first copy of the video frames, the second copy of the video frames is decoded.
11. The source device of claim 10 , wherein when the processing circuitry transmits the at least two copies of the data packets carrying the video frames of the multimedia content to the rendering device via the at least one premises communication network, the processing circuitry, in conjunction with the memory and communications interface, is operable to transmit the at least two copies of the data packets irrespective of Automatic Retransmission reQuest (ARQ) operations supported by the source device.
12. The source device of claim 10 , wherein when the processing circuitry transmits the at least two copies of the data packets carrying the video frames of the multimedia content to the rendering device via the at least one premises communication network, the processing circuitry, in conjunction with the memory and communications interface, is operable to:
transmit at least two copies of data packets carrying independent (I) video frames of the multimedia content based upon the bit error rate; and
transmit only a single copy of data packets carrying predictive video frames of the multimedia content based upon the bit error rate.
13. The source device of claim 12 , wherein the processing circuitry of the source device is operable to encrypt the independent video frames differently from the predictive video frames.
14. A source device of a premises based multimedia communication system that includes the source device, a rendering device, and at least one premises communication network, the source device comprising:
a communications interface communicatively coupled to the at least one premises communication network and to at least one remote delivery communication network;
a memory; and
processing circuitry coupled to the communications interface and to the memory, the processing circuitry, in conjunction with the memory and communications interface is operable to:
receive the multimedia content from a remote content source via at least one remote delivery communication network, the at least one remote delivery communication network characterized by a first bit error rate;
determine a second bit error rate of the at least one premises communication network between the source device and the rendering device;
when the second bit error rate compares favorably to a bit error rate threshold that is based on the first bit error rate, transmit a single copy of the data packets carrying the video frames of the multimedia content to the rendering device via the at least one premises communication network utilizing a first encryption technique that includes link layer encryption, wherein the single copy of the data packets carrying the video frames is transmitted to the rendering device for decoding by the rendering device; and
when the second bit error rate compares unfavorably to the bit error rate threshold, transmit at least two copies of the data packets carrying the video frames of the multimedia content to the rendering device via the at least one premises communication network by utilizing a second encryption technique that disables link layer encryption, but uses at least partially enabled content layer encryption, wherein the at least two copies of the data packets carrying the video frames is transmitted to the rendering device for the rendering device to decode a first copy of the video frames and upon successful decoding of the first copy of the video frames to discard a second copy of the video frames, but when unsuccessful in decoding the first copy of the video frames, the second copy of the video frames is decoded.
15. The source device of claim 14 , wherein when the processing circuitry transmits the at least two copies of the data packets carrying the video frames of the multimedia content to the rendering device via the at least one premises communication network, the processing circuitry, in conjunction with the memory and communications interface is operable to transmit the at least two copies of the data packets irrespective of Automatic Retransmission reQuest (ARQ) operations supported by the source device.
16. The source device of claim 14 , wherein the second bit error rate is greater than the first bit error rate.
17. The source device of claim 14 , wherein when the processing circuitry transmits the at least two copies of the data packets carrying the video frames of the multimedia content to the rendering device via the at least one premises communication network, the processing circuitry, in conjunction with the memory and communications interface is operable to:
transmit at least two copies of data packets carrying independent (I) video frames of the multimedia content; and
transmit only a single copy of data packets carrying predictive video frames of the multimedia content.
18. The source device of claim 17 , wherein the processing circuitry of the source device is operable to encrypt the independent video frames differently from the predictive video frames.
19. A rendering device in a premises based multimedia communication system having the rendering device, a source device and at least one premises communication network, the rendering device comprising:
a communications interface communicatively coupled to the at least one premises communication network and to at least one remote delivery communication network;
a memory; and
processing circuitry coupled to the communications interface and to the memory, the processing circuitry, in conjunction with the memory and communications interface is operable to:
receive a single copy of data packets carrying video frames of multimedia content from a source device via the at least one premises communication network utilizing a first encryption technique that includes link layer encryption, when a bit error rate compares favorably to a bit error rate threshold for the at least one premises communication; and
receive at least two copies of the data packets carrying the video frames of multimedia content from the source device via the at least one premises communication network utilizing a second encryption technique that disables link layer encryption, but uses at least partially enabled content layer encryption, when the bit error rate compares unfavorably to the bit error rate threshold for the at least one premises communication;
decode the single copy of the data packets carrying the video frames when received; and
decode a first copy of the video frames, when receiving the at least two copies of the data packets carrying the video frames, and upon successful decoding of the first copy of the video frames discard a second copy of the video frames, but when unsuccessful in decoding the first copy of the video frames, decode the second copy of the video frames.
20. The rendering device of claim 19 , wherein when the processing circuitry receives the at least two copies of the data packets carrying the video frames of the multimedia content from the source device via the at least one premises communication network, the processing circuitry, in conjunction with the memory and communications interface is operable to:
receive at least two copies of data packets carrying independent (I) video frames of the multimedia content; and
receive only a single copy of data packets carrying predictive video frames of the multimedia content.