CN102202229A - A real-time video gateway method and device - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention discloses a real-time video gateway method and a device, wherein the method comprises the following steps: according to the video request information of the client terminal, searching a matched video program in a local two-level cache, when the matched video program is not searched, requesting the video program to a video content server, and waiting for receiving the matched video program sent by the video content server; after the matched video program is obtained, when the specification of the matched video program is determined to be different from that requested by the client terminal according to the video request information of the client terminal, the format of the matched video program is converted into the specification requested by the client terminal, then the matched video program is sent to the client terminal to play the video program, and when the specification of the matched video program is determined to be the same as that requested by the client terminal, the matched video program is directly sent to the client terminal to play the video program. According to the technical scheme provided by the invention, the hardware cost and the realization complexity of the video gateway are reduced, and the requirement on the transmission bandwidth of a communication link is also reduced, so that the construction cost of a transmission network is reduced.

Description

A real-time video gateway method and device

technical field

The invention belongs to the field of information technology, in particular to a real-time video gateway method and device for video image format conversion and video data transmission.

Background technique

The transmission of video data and the mutual conversion between multiple different video formats are usually completed by the video gateway. The video format conversion includes the conversion of video encoding protocol, frame rate, bit rate, resolution, etc. Video gateways are generally real-time processing devices.

In terms of application, the client terminal, video gateway, and video content server cooperate with each other to realize the functions of video on demand and real-time video program playback. That is, the client terminal sends a video request; the video gateway forwards the video request to the video content server, and receives the original video code stream of the video program from the video content server; the video gateway completes the conversion between the original video code stream format and the video format requested by the client terminal. converted and sent to the client terminal.

The video gateway and video content server can be located at the same location or at different locations. But no matter how it is deployed, the communication link load between the two will become more and more tense with the explosive growth of video data. The rapid growth of client terminals has brought about a huge increase in video requests, and more and more video data needs to be converted into formats, which affects the real-time performance of the video gateway.

At present, for video gateways that can support real-time video on demand and real-time video program playback, each client terminal must establish an effective connection with the video content server in the operation process for video data transmission. However, this will cause a large number of client terminals to send video requests at the same time during peak hours, so that the transmission pressure on the communication link between the video gateway and the video content server will reach a peak value, and this peak value will directly affect the construction cost of the communication link and operating costs.

Contents of the invention

In view of this, the main purpose of the present invention is to provide a real-time video gateway method and device, which can ensure the real-time performance of video programs watched by users, and reduce the construction and operation costs of communication links.

In order to achieve the above object, technical solution of the present invention is achieved in that way:

The invention provides a real-time video gateway method, comprising the following steps:

According to the video request information of the client terminal, search for a matching video program in the local two-level cache, when no matching video program is found, request the video program from the video content server, and receive the matching video program sent by the video content server;

After obtaining the matched video program, according to the video request information of the client terminal, when it is determined that the specification of the matched video program is different from that requested by the client terminal, the format of the matched video program is converted into the specification requested by the client terminal, and then sent to the client The terminal plays the video program, and when it determines that the specification of the matched video program is the same as that requested by the client terminal, it directly sends the video program to the client terminal to play the video program.

In the above solution, the matched video program is: a video program whose specification is not lower than that requested by the client terminal.

In the above solution, after receiving the matched video program sent by the video content server, the method further includes: storing the matched video program sent by the video content server in the local two-level cache.

In the above scheme, the search for matching video programs in the local two-level cache specifically includes:

Search for matching video programs in the local first-level cache according to the video request information of the client terminal,

If it is found, when it is determined that the specification of the matched video program is different from that requested by the client terminal, the format of the matched video program is converted into the specification requested by the client terminal, and then sent to the client terminal to play the video program to determine the matched video program When the specification of the program is the same as that requested by the client terminal, it will be directly sent to the client terminal to play the video program;

If it is not found, search for a matching video program in the local second-level cache, and if it is found in the local second-level cache, when it is determined that the specification of the matching video program is different from that requested by the client terminal, the matching video program will be The format of the program is converted into the specification requested by the client terminal, and then sent to the client terminal to play the video program, and when it is determined that the specification of the matched video program is the same as that requested by the client terminal, it is directly sent to the client terminal to play the video program; If it is not found in the secondary cache, request the video program from the video content server.

In the above solution, the local first-level cache is: the local cache of the video playback/caching module of the video gateway; the local second-level cache is: the local cache of the video source request/caching module of the video gateway.

In the above solution, before searching for matching video programs in the local two-level cache according to the video request information of the client terminal, the method further includes: receiving the request information of the client terminal, and authenticating the client terminal according to the identification information therein.

The present invention also provides a real-time video gateway device, including:

The video caching module is used to search for a matching video program in the local two-level cache according to the video request information of the client terminal, and when no matching video program is found, request the video program from the video content server, and receive the video content sent by the video content server Matched video program; after obtaining the matched video program, according to the video request information of the client terminal, when it is determined that the specification of the matched video program is different from that requested by the client terminal, the video program is sent to the video conversion module, and the video conversion module The converted video program sent is sent to the client terminal to play the video program, and when the specification of the received video program is determined to be the same as that requested by the client terminal, it is directly sent to the client terminal to play the video program;

The video conversion module is used to receive the video program sent by the video cache module, convert the format of the video program into the specification requested by the client terminal, and then send it to the video cache module.

In the above solution, the video cache module is further configured to: cache the matching video program sent by the video content server.

In the above scheme, the device further includes: an access control module, configured to receive the request information sent by the client terminal, and authenticate the client terminal according to the identification information therein, and after the client terminal passes the authentication, the video in the request information The request information is sent to the video cache module.

In the above solution, the video caching module includes: a video playback/caching module and a video source request/caching module,

The video playback/caching module is used to search for a matching video program in the local cache according to the video request information of the client terminal; when no matching video program is found, send the video source of the client terminal to the video source request/caching module requesting information, receiving a matching video program; after obtaining the matching video program, according to the video request information of the client terminal, when determining that the specification of the video program is different from that requested by the client terminal, sending the video program to the video conversion module, and Send the converted video program sent by the video conversion module to the client terminal to play the video program, and when it is determined that the specification of the video program is the same as that requested by the client terminal, send it to the client terminal to play the video program;

The video source request/caching module is used to search for a matching video program in the local cache according to the video request information of the client terminal; when no matching video program is found, request the video program to the video content server and receive the video content The matching video program sent by the server; after obtaining the matching video program, according to the video request information of the client terminal, when determining that the specification of the video program is different from that requested by the client terminal, sending the video program to the video conversion module, When it is determined that the specification of the video program is the same as that requested by the client terminal, the video program is sent to the client terminal to play the video program through the video playback/caching module;

The video converting module is specifically used to: convert the format of the video program sent by the video playing/caching module or the video source requesting/caching module into the specification requested by the client terminal, and then send it to the video playing/caching module.

In the above solution, the video playback/caching module is further used to cache received video programs;

The video source request/caching module is further used for caching the video programs sent by the video content server.

Therefore, the real-time video gateway method and device provided by the present invention have the following advantages and characteristics:

Through the local two-level cache mechanism, the computational load of video format conversion processing in the video gateway is reduced, and the hardware cost and implementation complexity of the video gateway are reduced, so that it can meet the multiple video formats requested by the client terminal, and reduce the The demand for the transmission bandwidth of the communication link between the video gateway and the video content server reduces the construction cost of the transmission network; improves the utilization rate of the current network bandwidth and relieves the pressure of the transmission network bandwidth during the peak time period, so as to support more Multiple client terminal video playback requests to ensure real-time viewing of video programs.

Description of drawings

Fig. 1 is the flowchart of real-time video gateway method among the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a schematic structural diagram of a real-time video gateway device in the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic structural diagram of a real-time video gateway device in the present invention.

Detailed ways

The basic idea of the present invention is: the video gateway searches for a matching video program in the local two-level cache according to the video request information of the client terminal, and when no matching video program is found, requests the video program from the video content server and receives the video content The matching video program sent by the server; after obtaining the matching video program, according to the video request information of the client terminal, when it is determined that the specification of the matching video program is different from that requested by the client terminal, the format of the matching video program is converted to the client terminal The requested specification is then sent to the client terminal to play the video program, and when it is determined that the specification of the matched video program is the same as that requested by the client terminal, it is directly sent to the client terminal to play the video program.

Wherein, the matched video program refers to a video program whose specification is not lower than that requested by the client terminal. The matched video program is the matched video program found or received from the video content server.

Further, the video gateway stores the video programs sent by the video content server in the local two-level cache.

The searching for a matching video program in the local two-level cache specifically includes: searching for a matching video program in the local first-level cache according to the video request information of the client terminal, and if found, determining the specification of the matching video program If it is different from that requested by the client terminal, convert the format of the matched video program into the specification requested by the client terminal, and then send it to the client terminal to play the video program. When it is determined that the specification of the matched video program is the same as that requested by the client terminal, directly Send to the client terminal to play the video program; if not found, search for a matching video program in the local second-level cache, if found in the local second-level cache, then determine the specification of the matching video program and the client terminal request When the format of the matched video program is different from that requested by the client terminal, the format of the matched video program is converted to the specification requested by the client terminal, and then sent to the client terminal to play the video program. Play the video program; if it is not found in the local second-level cache, request the video program from the video content server.

The present invention will be further described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

The real-time video gateway method of the present invention is as shown in Figure 1, and concrete steps are as follows:

Step 101: After receiving the request information from the client terminal, the video gateway authenticates the client terminal according to the identification information therein. If the client terminal passes the authentication, proceed to step 102; if the client terminal fails the authentication, end the current process .

The request information includes identification information and video request information. Wherein, the identification information is specifically information such as user identification, password, etc. After the access control module of the video gateway receives the request information from the client terminal, when authenticating the client terminal, it searches for matching user information among the user information stored in itself. , if it exists, the client terminal passes the authentication and sends the video request information in the request information to the video playback/caching module; if it does not exist, the client terminal fails the authentication.

Step 102: The video gateway parses the video request information of the client terminal, and assigns the client terminal a unique client terminal identification number in the entire network.

The video gateway’s analysis of the video request information specifically includes: after the video playback/caching module of the video gateway receives the video request information, it parses the video request information including: video program number, video image resolution, frame rate, bit rate, encoding protocol, etc. .

The video gateway allows each network-wide unique client terminal identification number to request multiple video programs of different specifications, so as to support a single user to use different client terminals to watch the same or different video programs.

Step 103: According to the parsed video program number, video image resolution, frame rate, bit rate, encoding protocol, etc., the video gateway searches in the local first-level cache to see if there is a video program with the same specifications as the client terminal request, if If it exists, go to step 108; if not, go to step 104.

Step 103 can also be: the video gateway searches in the local first-level cache whether there is a video program with the same specification as the client terminal request, if there is a video program with the same specification as the client terminal request, then enter step 108; if not With the same video program of the specification requested by the client terminal, search whether there is a video program higher than the specification requested by the client terminal in the local first-level cache, if yes, then enter step 107, if not, then enter step 104.

In step 103, the local first-level cache of the video gateway specifically refers to the local cache of the video playback/caching module. The video program of the specification that client terminal requests, then send video request information and client terminal identification number to the video source request/cache module of video gateway, then enter step 104; The video program of the specification requested by the terminal sends the video program data and the target specification to the video conversion module of the video gateway, and then enters step 107 .

The target specification specifically refers to the specification requested by the client terminal.

Step 104: The video gateway checks in the local second-level cache whether there is a video program not lower than, that is, greater than or equal to the specification requested by the client terminal, and if it exists, proceed to step 107; if not, proceed to step 105.

The video program not lower than, greater than or equal to the specification requested by the client terminal specifically means that the frame rate, bit rate, and resolution of the video program are all greater than the specification requested by the client terminal.

Step 104 may also be: the video gateway searches in the local second-level cache whether there is a video program with the same specification as the client terminal request, if there is a video program with the same specification as the client terminal request, then enter step 108; if not With the same video program of the specification requested by the client terminal, search whether there is a video program higher than the specification requested by the client terminal in the local secondary cache, if yes, then enter step 107, if not, then enter step 105.

In step 104, the local secondary cache of the video gateway specifically refers to the local cache of the video source request/cache module. After the video source request/cache module receives the video request information, it resolves the video program number, video image resolution and rate, frame rate, bit rate, encoding protocol, etc.,

If find the video program not lower than the specification requested by the client terminal in the local cache, then send the video program data and the target specification to the video conversion module of the video gateway, then enter step 107; If the video program is based on the specifications requested by the client terminal, then enter step 105;

or,

If find the same video program with the specification requested by the client terminal in the local cache, then send the video program data to the video playback/caching module, then enter step 108; if find a video program higher than the specification requested by the client terminal in the local cache Video program, then send video program data and target specification to the video conversion module of video gateway, then enter step 107; If do not find the video program higher than the specification requested by the client terminal in the local cache, then enter step 105.

Step 105: The video gateway sends a video request to the video content server, which includes the video request information of the client terminal and the unique gateway identification number (gateway_ID) of the video gateway in the entire network to request the corresponding video program; the video content server receives After the video request to the video gateway, the video program whose specification is not lower than the requested video program is delivered to the video gateway according to the video request information.

If the video content server directly sends the video program of the largest specification to the video gateway when the video gateway requests the video program from it, the video request sent by the video gateway to the video content server may not include the video request information of the client terminal. Among them, the maximum specification refers to: maximum frame rate, maximum bit rate, maximum resolution, and any encoding protocol.

In step 105, it is specifically the video source request/cache module of the video gateway that sends the video request to the video content server.

Step 106: After receiving the video program delivered by the video content server, the video gateway compares it with the specifications requested by the client terminal, and if they are the same, proceed to step 108; otherwise, proceed to step 107.

Further, the video gateway stores the video programs delivered by the video content server in the local second-level cache.

After the video source request/caching module of the video gateway receives the video program delivered by the video content server, it stores it in the local cache, and based on the video request information of the client terminal, compares the specifications of the received video program with the specification requested by the client terminal. Compare, if they are the same, then send the video program data directly to the video playing/buffering module;

Step 107: The video gateway converts the format of the received video program into the specification requested by the client terminal according to the video request information of the client terminal.

The video conversion module of the video gateway converts the format of the video program sent by the video source request/cache module according to the video image resolution, frame rate, bit rate, encoding protocol, etc. in the video request information, so that it meets the specifications requested by the client terminal , and then send the converted video program data to the video playback/caching module of the video gateway.

Step 108: The video gateway sends the video program data to the requesting client terminal, and the client terminal plays the requested video program.

Further, the video gateway stores the converted video programs in the local first-level cache.

Specifically, the video playing/caching module of the video gateway directly stores the received video program in the local cache, and sends it to the requesting client terminal, and the client terminal plays the requested video program.

As shown in FIG. 2 , the real-time video gateway device of the present invention includes: a video cache module 21 and a video conversion module 22 . in,

Video caching module 21, is used for according to the video request information of client terminal, searches for the video program of match in local two-level cache, when not searching for the video program of match, requests video program to video content server, receives video content server to send The matching video program; After obtaining the matching video program, according to the video request information of the client terminal, when determining that the specification of the matching video program is different from that requested by the client terminal, the video program is sent to the video conversion module 22, and the video The converted video program sent by the conversion module 22 is sent to the client terminal to play the video program, and when the specification of the received video program is determined to be the same as that requested by the client terminal, it is directly sent to the client terminal to play the video program;

The video conversion module 22 is configured to receive the video program sent by the video cache module 21 , convert the format of the video program into the specification requested by the client terminal, and then send it to the video cache module 21 .

The video caching module 21 is further used for caching the matching video programs sent by the video content server.

The video gateway also includes an access control module 23, configured to receive the request information sent by the client terminal, authenticate the client terminal according to the identification information therein, and send the video request information in the request information to the client terminal after passing the authentication. To the video cache module 21.

The video caching module 21 may include a video playback/caching module 211 and a video source requesting/caching module 212, as shown in FIG. 3 , wherein,

Video playback/caching module 211, used for searching for matching video programs in the local cache according to the video request information of the client terminal; when no matching video program is found, sending the video source request/caching module 212 of the client terminal request information, receive the matching video program, and send it to the client terminal to play the video program; after obtaining the matching video program, according to the video request information of the client terminal, when it is determined that the specification of the video program is different from that requested by the client terminal, the The video program is sent to the video conversion module 22, and the converted video program sent by the video conversion module 22 is sent to the client terminal to play the video program, and when it is determined that the specification of the video program is the same as that requested by the client terminal, it is sent to the client terminal play the video program;

Video source request/cache module 212, is used for according to the video request information of client terminal, searches for the video program of match in local cache; When not finding the video program of match, request video program to video content server, receive The matching video program that sends; After obtaining the matching video program, according to the video request information of the client terminal, when determining that the specification of the video program is different from that requested by the client terminal, the video program is sent to the video conversion module 22, When determining that the specification of the video program is the same as that requested by the client terminal, the video program is sent to the client terminal to play the video program through the video playback/caching module 211;

The video converting module 22 is specifically used to convert the format of the video program sent by the video playing/caching module 211 or the video source requesting/caching module 212 into a specification requested by the client terminal, and then send it to the video playing/caching module 211 .

The above-mentioned matched video program specifically refers to a matched video program found or received.

The video playing/caching module 211 is further used for caching the received video programs.

The video source request/caching module 212 is further used for caching the matching video programs sent by the video content server.

In addition, the video conversion module 22 may include a plurality of video conversion sub-modules, which are used to complete the format conversion tasks of different video programs respectively.

Because video source requests/cache module 212 to the specification of the video program of video play/cache module 211 also may pass through the conversion of video conversion module 22, can find out, the specification of the video program stored in the video source request/cache module 212 is not The number of video programs stored in the video playing/caching module 211 is lower than that of the video programs stored in the video playing/caching module 211. Therefore, in the specific embodiment of the present invention, the number of times of requesting video programs to the video content server is reduced through a two-level caching mechanism.

The present invention can be applied to systems with real-time video format conversion requirements, such as IPTV systems, broadcast digital TV VOD video-on-demand systems, integrated video service systems after triple network integration, and the like. For example, when the method and the video gateway of the invention are applied to an IPTV system, the bandwidth pressure of the transmission network during the peak period can be relieved.

The above descriptions are only preferred embodiments of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims (11)

1. A real-time video gateway method, comprising the steps of:

searching matched video programs in the local two-level cache according to the video request information of the client terminal, requesting the video programs from the video content server when the matched video programs are not searched, and receiving the matched video programs sent by the video content server;

after the matched video program is obtained, when the specification of the matched video program is determined to be different from that requested by the client terminal according to the video request information of the client terminal, the format of the matched video program is converted into the specification requested by the client terminal, then the matched video program is sent to the client terminal to play the video program, and when the specification of the matched video program is determined to be the same as that requested by the client terminal, the matched video program is directly sent to the client terminal to play the video program.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the matched video program is: a video program having a specification not lower than that requested by the client terminal.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein after receiving the matched video program transmitted by the video content server, further comprising: and storing the matched video programs sent by the video content server in a local two-level cache.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein searching for a matching video program in the local two-level cache specifically comprises:

searching the local first-level cache for a matching video program according to the video request information of the client terminal,

if the matched video program is searched, when the specification of the matched video program is determined to be different from that requested by the client terminal, converting the format of the matched video program into the specification requested by the client terminal, then sending the specification to the client terminal to play the video program, and when the specification of the matched video program is determined to be the same as that requested by the client terminal, directly sending the specification to the client terminal to play the video program;

if the matched video program is not searched, searching the matched video program in the local second-level cache, if the matched video program is searched in the local second-level cache, converting the format of the matched video program into the specification requested by the client terminal when the specification of the matched video program is determined to be different from that requested by the client terminal, then sending the converted video program to the client terminal to play the video program, and directly sending the converted video program to the client terminal to play the video program when the specification of the matched video program is determined to be the same as that requested by the client terminal; if not, a video program is requested from the video content server.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the local first level cache is: local caching of a video playing/caching module of the video gateway; the local second-level cache is: the video source of the video gateway requests/caches local caching of the module.

6. The method of claim 1, 2, 4 or 5, wherein before searching for a matching video program in the local two-level cache according to the video request information of the client terminal, further comprising: and receiving request information of the client terminal, and authenticating the client terminal according to the identification information.

7. A real-time video gateway apparatus, comprising:

the video cache module is used for searching matched video programs in the local two-level cache according to the video request information of the client terminal, requesting the video programs to the video content server when the matched video programs are not searched, and receiving the matched video programs sent by the video content server; after the matched video program is obtained, when the specification of the matched video program is determined to be different from that requested by the client terminal according to the video request information of the client terminal, the video program is sent to a video conversion module, the converted video program sent by the video conversion module is sent to the client terminal to play the video program, and when the specification of the received video program is determined to be the same as that requested by the client terminal, the video program is directly sent to the client terminal to play the video program;

and the video conversion module is used for receiving the video program sent by the video cache module, converting the format of the video program into the specification requested by the client terminal and then sending the specification to the video cache module.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the video caching module is further configured to: and caching the matched video programs sent by the video content server.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 or 8, wherein the video gateway further comprises: and the access control module is used for receiving the request information sent by the client terminal, authenticating the client terminal according to the identification information in the request information, and sending the video request information in the request information to the video cache module after the client terminal passes the authentication.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the video buffering module comprises: a video playing/caching module and a video source requesting/caching module,

the video playing/caching module is used for searching matched video programs in a local cache according to the video request information of the client terminal; when the matched video program is not searched, sending video request information of a client terminal to a video source request/cache module, and receiving the matched video program; after the matched video program is obtained, when the specification of the video program is determined to be different from that requested by the client terminal according to the video request information of the client terminal, the video program is sent to a video conversion module, the converted video program sent by the video conversion module is sent to the client terminal to play the video program, and the specification of the video program is determined to be the same as that requested by the client terminal, and the video program is sent to the client terminal to play the video program;

the video source request/cache module is used for searching matched video programs in a local cache according to the video request information of the client terminal; when the matched video program is not searched, requesting the video content server for the video program, and receiving the matched video program sent by the video content server; after the matched video program is obtained, when the specification of the video program is determined to be different from that requested by the client terminal according to the video request information of the client terminal, the video program is sent to a video conversion module, and when the specification of the video program is determined to be the same as that requested by the client terminal, the video program is sent to the client terminal through a video playing/caching module to play the video program;

the video conversion module is specifically configured to: the format of the video program sent by the video playing/caching module or the video source requesting/caching module is converted into the specification requested by the client terminal and then sent to the video playing/caching module.

11. The apparatus of claim 10,

the video playing/caching module is further used for caching the received video programs;

the video source request/cache module is further used for caching the video programs sent by the video content server.

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