JP7787692B2 - Communication Information Optimizer - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a communication information optimization device that optimizes communication information such as bit rate.

A method known in live video streaming technology is webRTC SFU (web Real-Time Communication Selective Forwarding Unit). This webRTC SFU is a mechanism for realizing many-to-many mutual video streaming. The webRTC SFU has a function called simultaneous communication. Simultaneous communication is a function in which the video data is encoded based on multiple encoding settings on the distribution server that distributes the video data, and each client terminal selects the encoding setting that is appropriate for the communication conditions in which the client terminal is located. This makes it possible to receive video data from the distribution server that is appropriate for the current communication conditions. Non-Patent Document 1 is standardization material for the webRTC SFU.

Ian Hickson, [online], W3C on GitHub, [Retrieved October 15, 2021], Internet, https://w3c.github.io/webrtc-pc/

However, the webRTC SFU specified in Non-Patent Document 1 and elsewhere does not specify how encoding settings should be optimized for simultaneous communication.

Therefore, for example, even if many users have good communication conditions, there may be video data that is encoded at a low bitrate that no one selects.

To solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention aims to provide a communication information optimization device that can set appropriate encoding settings when distributing data such as video data.

The communication information optimization device of the present invention includes an encoding setting update determination unit that determines whether or not an encoding setting update is necessary based on the throughput information of the client terminal, and an encoding setting calculation unit that calculates the encoding setting based on the determination result.

This invention allows appropriate encoding settings to be made when distributing data such as video data.

1 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration including an encoding setting calculation device 100 that functions as a communication information optimization device in the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of a throughput DB 101. 10 is a flowchart showing the operation of the encoding setting calculation device 100. 10 is a flowchart of processing S102. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of an encoding setting calculation device 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Where possible, identical parts will be designated by the same reference numerals, and duplicate descriptions will be omitted.

Figure 1 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration including an encoding setting calculation device 100 that functions as a communication information optimization device in this disclosure. As shown in the figure, a distribution server 300 encodes source video based on the encoding settings calculated by the encoding setting calculation device 100 and transmits the encoded video data to a webRTC server 200.

The client terminal 400 determines the encoding settings and sends a video data request to the webRTC server 200.

The webRTC server 200 transmits the video data requested by the client terminal 400 to the client.

The encoding setting calculation device 100 collects throughput information for each client terminal 400 from the webRTC server 200 and sends encoding setting information to the distribution server 300 when the encoding settings should be changed (or at all times).

Next, we will explain the functional configuration of the encoding setting calculation device 100. As shown in the figure, the encoding setting calculation device 100 is composed of a throughput DB 101, an encoding setting update determination unit 102, and an encoding setting calculation unit 103.

This encoding setting calculation device 100 calculates encoding settings optimized for the entire client terminal 400 and transmits these encoding settings to the distribution server 300. The distribution server 300 distributes video data according to the optimized encoding. The client terminal 400 plays back and displays the received optimized video data.

The throughput DB 101 stores a user ID that identifies a user, a time, and a throughput, in association with each other. Figure 2 shows a specific example. The time indicates the time when the throughput information was sent from the client terminal 400. The throughput indicates the throughput at each client terminal 400. Figure 2 shows the data transfer rate (kbps), but it may also be possible to show the processing rate per unit time.

The encoding setting update determination unit 102 is a part that determines whether the encoding settings in the distribution server 300 should be changed. This encoding setting update determination unit 102 performs an update if the distance between the throughput distribution p(x) of the currently connected client terminal 400 and the throughput distribution q(x) at the time of the previous update is equal to or greater than a certain value based on the information in the throughput DB 101; otherwise, it does not perform an update.

The distributions p(x) and q(x) may be constructed as empirical distributions based on the throughput DB101, or may be distributions fitted to the empirical distributions. KL divergence or JS divergence is used as the distance index, but other indices may also be used.

This determination process may be performed at regular intervals, or whenever there is a change in the number of connected users (number of communicating client terminals) communicating with the webRTC server 200. When an update is required, an update instruction is issued to the encoding setting calculation unit.

The encoding setting calculation unit 103 operates when instructed by the encoding setting update determination unit 102 and updates the encoding settings. Each encoding setting is represented by a set of video codec (video encoding method), video bitrate, video resolution, frame rate, audio codec (audio encoding method), and audio bitrate. The encoding setting calculation unit 103 determines the video bitrate, and the other elements are fixed or determined according to the video bitrate.

For example, the video resolution may be set to 360p when the video bitrate is between 100 kbps and 300 kbps, 480p when it is between 300 kbps and 600 kbps, 720p when it is between 600 kbps and 1000 kbps, 1080p when it is between 1000 kbps and 3000 kbps, and 2160p when it is 3000 kbps or higher. The audio bitrate may also be set to 128 kbps when the video bitrate is less than 300 kbps, and 192 kbps when it is 300 kbps or higher.

In the following, video bitrate will be referred to simply as bitrate, and we will explain how to determine the bitrate.

The encoding setting calculation unit 103 determines the number of bit rates N and the bit rates b ₁ , b 2 , . . . b _N to be set in the distribution server 300 by solving an optimization problem to maximize the objective function h(x ₎ shown in the following formula:

As shown in the above formula, the objective function h(x) consists of two terms: the first term is the sum of the utility gained by viewing at a certain bitrate, and the second term represents the loss due to users whose throughput is below the minimum rate.

The utility in the first term is assumed to be obtained through the utility function f(x), which is a monotonically increasing function in the broad sense. This utility function f(x) may be the quality of experience calculated using ITU-T P.1203 mode 3, or may be defined based on an arbitrary index such as the recognition rate of objects captured by the camera.

The second term represents the penalty term for the presence of users who do not meet the set minimum bit rate. The degree of importance given to users with poor communication quality can be adjusted by manipulating the parameter. Here, the parameter λ is a real number greater than or equal to 0.

Here, the constraints are the following two:

The first constraint is a cost constraint. Here, cost refers to the cost required for calculation. A calculation cost g(b _i ) is required for each bit rate b _i , and the sum must be less than or equal to a maximum cost value C. The calculation cost function g(x) is a monotonically increasing function in the broad sense. Encoding is performed in advance at different bit rates x, so that the calculation cost can be calculated for any bit rate x.

The second constraint is a constraint related to the network bandwidth. The upper limit of the upload bandwidth from the distribution source is set to maximum value B, and the sum of the bit rates b _i included in the encoding settings must not exceed maximum value B. Maximum value B may be given in advance, or may be estimated from the most recent throughput history. As an estimation method, a simple average or harmonic average of the most recently measured throughput data may be used, or an ARIMA model (autoregressive integrated moving average model) may be used.

Next, the operation of the encoding setting calculation device 100 of the present disclosure for calculating a solution to an optimization problem will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the encoding setting calculation device 100. The encoding setting calculation unit 103 defines N=2, N _best =N, b _best =0, and s _best =h(b) as initial values (S101). Note that b and b _best are expressed in vector format and are represented by N zeros. For example, b _best = (b ₁ , b ₂ ... b _N ) = (0, 0, 0 ... , 0). b _best is the bit rate b that maximizes the score. N indicates the number of bit rates. _{N best} indicates the maximum number of bit rates. _{b best} indicates the bit rate that maximizes the value of the objective function h(x) among several calculated bit rates. s best indicates the maximum score of the objective function h(x). Note that in FIGS. 3 and 4, the score s = h(x).

The encoding setting calculation unit 103 calculates the score s of the objective function h(x) for the number of bit rates N and the searched bit rate b (S102). Details of this process will be described later.

The encoding setting calculation unit 103 determines whether the calculated score s is greater than s _best (S103). If the encoding setting calculation unit 103 determines that the score is greater than s best (S103: Yes), it updates N _best to N, b _best to b, and s _best to s (S104). If the encoding setting calculation unit 103 does not determine that the score is greater than s best (S103: No), it does not perform the update process.

After completing these steps, the encoding setting calculation unit 103 sets N to N+1 and increments N by one (S105). The encoding setting calculation unit 103 determines whether N> _Nmax (S106). If it determines that N is not greater than Nmax (S106: No), it further calculates the score s and bit rate b with N=N+1 (S102). This _Nmax is the maximum value of the number of bit rates N and is a predetermined value. In this process, the appropriate N is searched for by increasing N until it reaches _Nmax .

If the encoding setting calculation unit 103 determines that it is larger, it ends the process and outputs the updated bit rate b _best and the number of bit rates N in process S104.

In this way, the appropriate bit rate b and number of bit rates N can be determined.

Next, the flowchart of process S102 will be described. Fig. 4 is a flowchart showing the process contents. The encoding setting calculation unit 103 initializes b' _best = 0 and s' _best = h(b' _best ) (S201). The bit rate b' _best is a vector indicating the bit rate for each of the N identifiers, and is expressed as N numerical values (0, 0, 0...).

The encoding setting calculation unit 103 sets initial values as _b'next = 0, _Snext = -∞, and _Bnb = Φ (empty set) (S202). In this specification, Φ represents an empty set. Note that _Bnb is a set of bit rates b.

The encoding setting calculation unit 103 sets _b'tmp = _b'best , b'tmp _,i = b'tmp _,i + Δ, and _Bnb = _Bnb ∪ _Btmp (S203). Here, i indicates the identifier of the bit rate to be set. In this disclosure, _b'tmp is expressed as a vector, and i = 1 indicates the first bit rate. And, b'tmp _,i = b'tmp _,i + Δ means adding Δ to the bit rate indicated by the identifier i. Δ is the search width for searching for the bit rate and is a predetermined value.

For example, when N is 2, the initial value of b'tmp _,1 is (0,0), and by adding Δ, b'tmp _,1 = (Δ,0). Identifier i = 1 indicates the first vector notation. Similarly, _b'tmp,2 = (0,Δ). This process is performed from i = 1 to N. Then, all b'tmp _,1 to b'tmp _,N and _b'tmp are represented as a set called set _Btmp .

Similarly, the encoding setting calculation unit 103 sets _b'tmp = _b'best , b'tmp _,i = b'tmp _{,i + Δ, b'tmp,} j = _{b'tmp, j} - Δ, and _Bnb = _Bnb ∪ _Btmp (S204). Note that here, b'tmp _,i and b'tmp,j are calculated using all combinations of i and j less than or equal to N (subject to the condition i≠ _j ). Also, b'tmp _,j > 0 is set.

In this way, a plurality of bit rates (a set of bit rates B _nb ) shifted by Δ are obtained by steps S203 and S204.

Then, the encoding setting calculation unit 103 extracts one bit rate x from the set B _nb and removes the bit rate x from the set B _nb (S205), and determines whether the score s′ _next <h(x) is satisfied and whether the constraint is also satisfied (S206).

As mentioned above, the constraints are expressed by the following formula:

Here, if the score s' _next <h(x) is satisfied and further the constraint condition is satisfied (S206: Yes), the encoding setting calculation unit 103 sets the score s' _next =h(x) and b' _next =x (S207).

The encoding setting calculation unit 103 repeats the processes of S205 to S207 until all sets B _nb =Φ, that is, until the scores for the bit rates included in the set B _nb are calculated (S208: No).

After calculating the scores s for all bit rates (S208: Yes), the encoding setting calculation unit 103 determines whether score _s'next > score _s'best (S210). If score _s'next > score _s'best (S209: Yes), _b'best = _b'next and _s'best = _s'next (S210), and the process returns to S202, where a set _Btmp is created by shifting each vector element (bit rate) in _b'tmp by Δ, and the process is repeated.

If the encoding setting calculation unit 103 determines that the score s' _next is not greater than the score s' _best (S209: No), it outputs the scores s' _best and b' _best as the score s and the bit rate b, respectively (S211).

This allows the optimal solution for the objective function h(x) to be calculated. Note that while an algorithm based on hill-climbing is shown here as an example, a solution can also be found using an algorithm that combines simulated annealing.

Next, we will explain the effects of the encoding setting calculation device 100, which is the communication information optimization device disclosed herein. The encoding setting calculation device 100 includes an encoding setting update determination unit 102 that determines whether or not an encoding setting update is required based on throughput information from the client terminal 400, and an encoding setting calculation unit 103 that calculates the encoding setting based on the determination result.

This configuration allows you to update to the appropriate encoding settings, thereby improving the quality of video distribution.

The encoding setting calculation device 100 also includes a throughput DB 101, which corresponds to an acquisition unit that acquires throughput information for one or more client terminals 400 from the webRTC server 200, which is a relay server that receives data from the distribution server 300 and distributes the data to one or more client terminals 400.

The encoding setting update determination unit 102 then determines whether to update the encoding settings based on the current throughput information and the most recently acquired throughput information. More specifically, the encoding setting update determination unit 102 calculates the throughput distribution p(x) from the throughput information, and determines whether to update the encoding settings based on this throughput distribution p(x).

The encoding setting calculation unit 103 performs encoding setting calculations based on the user's utility for data delivery according to the encoding setting and the loss in utility of a user who experiences throughput below the minimum encoding setting.

More specifically, the encoding setting calculation unit 103 performs encoding setting calculations based on the value obtained by maximizing the difference between the output value of a function defining the utility for the user (the first term of the above-mentioned objective function h(x)) and the output value of a function defining the loss relative to the user's utility (the second term of the above-mentioned objective function h(x)).

The encoding setting calculation unit 103 generates multiple encoding settings based on the encoding cost g(x) for a certain encoding setting (certain bit rate) and the maximum bandwidth B in the network.

Encoding settings refer to bitrate settings, but also include one or more combinations of video encoding method, audio encoding method, video bitrate, audio bitrate, resolution, and FPS.

The block diagrams used to explain the above embodiments show functional blocks. These functional blocks (components) are realized by any combination of hardware and/or software. Furthermore, there are no particular limitations on how each functional block is realized. That is, each functional block may be realized using a single device that is physically or logically coupled, or may be realized using two or more physically or logically separated devices that are connected directly or indirectly (e.g., using wires, wirelessly, etc.) and these multiple devices. A functional block may also be realized by combining software with the single device or multiple devices.

Functions include, but are not limited to, judgment, determination, assessment, calculation, computation, processing, derivation, investigation, search, confirmation, reception, transmission, output, access, resolution, selection, election, establishment, comparison, assumption, expectation, regard, broadcasting, notifying, communicating, forwarding, configuring, reconfiguring, allocating, mapping, and assignment. For example, a functional block (component) that performs transmission functions is called a transmitting unit or transmitter. As mentioned above, there are no particular limitations on how these functions are implemented.

For example, the encoding setting calculation device 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may function as a computer that performs processing of the encoding setting calculation method of the present disclosure. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the encoding setting calculation device 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The encoding setting calculation device 100 described above may be physically configured as a computer device including a processor 1001, memory 1002, storage 1003, a communication device 1004, an input device 1005, an output device 1006, a bus 1007, etc.

In the following description, the term "apparatus" can be interpreted as a circuit, device, unit, etc. The hardware configuration of the encoding setting calculation apparatus 100 may be configured to include one or more of the devices shown in the figure, or may be configured to exclude some of the devices.

Each function of the encoding setting calculation device 100 is realized by loading specific software (programs) onto hardware such as the processor 1001 and memory 1002, causing the processor 1001 to perform calculations, control communications via the communication device 1004, and control at least one of reading and writing data from and to the memory 1002 and storage 1003.

The processor 1001, for example, runs an operating system to control the entire computer. The processor 1001 may be configured as a central processing unit (CPU) that includes an interface with peripheral devices, a control unit, an arithmetic unit, registers, etc. For example, the encoding setting update determination unit 102 and encoding setting calculation unit 103 described above may be realized by the processor 1001.

The processor 1001 also reads programs (program code), software modules, data, etc. from at least one of the storage 1003 and the communication device 1004 into the memory 1002 and executes various processes in accordance with these. The programs used are those that cause a computer to execute at least some of the operations described in the above-described embodiments. For example, the encoding setting calculation unit 103 may be implemented by a control program stored in the memory 1002 and running on the processor 1001, and similar implementations may be made for other functional blocks. While the above-described various processes have been described as being executed by a single processor 1001, they may also be executed simultaneously or sequentially by two or more processors 1001. The processor 1001 may be implemented on one or more chips. The programs may also be transmitted from a network via telecommunications lines.

Memory 1002 is a computer-readable recording medium and may be composed of, for example, at least one of ROM (Read Only Memory), EPROM (Erasable Programmable ROM), EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM), RAM (Random Access Memory), etc. Memory 1002 may also be referred to as a register, cache, main memory (primary storage device), etc. Memory 1002 can store executable programs (program code), software modules, etc. for implementing an encoding setting calculation method according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

Storage 1003 is a computer-readable recording medium, and may be composed of at least one of an optical disk such as a CD-ROM (Compact Disc ROM), a hard disk drive, a flexible disk, a magneto-optical disk (e.g., a compact disk, a digital versatile disk, a Blu-ray® disk), a smart card, a flash memory (e.g., a card, a stick, a key drive), a floppy disk, a magnetic strip, etc. Storage 1003 may also be referred to as an auxiliary storage device. The above-mentioned storage medium may be, for example, a database, a server, or other suitable medium that includes at least one of memory 1002 and storage 1003.

The communication device 1004 is hardware (transmission/reception device) for communicating between computers via at least one of a wired network and a wireless network, and is also referred to as a network device, network controller, network card, or communication module. The communication device 1004 may be configured to include a high-frequency switch, duplexer, filter, frequency synthesizer, etc. to realize at least one of frequency division duplex (FDD) and time division duplex (TDD).

The input device 1005 is an input device (e.g., a keyboard, mouse, microphone, switch, button, sensor, etc.) that accepts input from the outside. The output device 1006 is an output device (e.g., a display, speaker, LED lamp, etc.) that outputs to the outside. Note that the input device 1005 and the output device 1006 may be integrated into one device (e.g., a touch panel).

Furthermore, each device, such as the processor 1001 and memory 1002, is connected by a bus 1007 for communicating information. The bus 1007 may be configured using a single bus, or may be configured using different buses between each device.

The encoding setting calculation device 100 may also be configured to include hardware such as a microprocessor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a programmable logic device (PLD), or a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), and some or all of the functional blocks may be realized by this hardware. For example, the processor 1001 may be implemented using at least one of these pieces of hardware.

The notification of information is not limited to the aspects/embodiments described in the present disclosure and may be performed using other methods. For example, the notification of information may be performed using physical layer signaling (e.g., Downlink Control Information (DCI), Uplink Control Information (UCI)), higher layer signaling (e.g., Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling, Medium Access Control (MAC) signaling, broadcast information (Master Information Block (MIB), System Information Block (SIB))), other signals, or a combination of these. Furthermore, RRC signaling may be referred to as an RRC message, such as an RRC Connection Setup message or an RRC Connection Reconfiguration message.

The order of the procedures, sequences, flowcharts, etc. of each aspect/embodiment described in this disclosure may be changed unless inconsistent. For example, the methods described in this disclosure present elements of various steps using an example order, and are not limited to the particular order presented.

Input and output information may be stored in a specific location (e.g., memory) or managed using a management table. Input and output information may be overwritten, updated, or added to. Output information may be deleted. Input information may be sent to another device.

The determination may be made based on a value represented by a single bit (0 or 1), a Boolean value (true or false), or a numerical comparison (e.g., comparison with a predetermined value).

Each aspect/embodiment described in this disclosure may be used alone, in combination, or switched depending on the implementation. Furthermore, notification of specified information (e.g., notification that "X is true") is not limited to being done explicitly, but may also be done implicitly (e.g., not notifying the specified information).

Although the present disclosure has been described in detail above, it will be clear to those skilled in the art that the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described herein. The present disclosure can be implemented in modified and altered forms without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure, which are defined by the claims. Therefore, the description of the present disclosure is intended for illustrative purposes only and does not have any limiting meaning on the present disclosure.

Software shall be construed broadly to mean instructions, instruction sets, code, code segments, program code, programs, subprograms, software modules, applications, software applications, software packages, routines, subroutines, objects, executable files, threads of execution, procedures, functions, etc., whether referred to as software, firmware, middleware, microcode, hardware description language, or otherwise.

Software, instructions, information, etc. may also be transmitted or received via a transmission medium. For example, if software is transmitted from a website, server, or other remote source using wired technologies (such as coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, or Digital Subscriber Line (DSL)) and/or wireless technologies (such as infrared or microwave), these wired and/or wireless technologies are included within the definition of transmission media.

The information, signals, etc. described in this disclosure may be represented using any of a variety of different technologies. For example, data, instructions, commands, information, signals, bits, symbols, chips, etc. that may be referred to throughout the above description may be represented by voltages, currents, electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or magnetic particles, optical fields or photons, or any combination thereof.

Note that terms explained in this disclosure and terms necessary for understanding this disclosure may be replaced with terms having the same or similar meanings. For example, at least one of a channel and a symbol may be a signal (signaling). Furthermore, a signal may be a message. Furthermore, a component carrier (CC) may be called a carrier frequency, a cell, a frequency carrier, etc.

Furthermore, the information, parameters, etc. described in this disclosure may be expressed using absolute values, relative values from a predetermined value, or other corresponding information. For example, radio resources may be indicated by an index.

The names used for the parameters described above are not intended to be limiting in any way. Furthermore, the mathematical formulas using these parameters may differ from those explicitly disclosed in this disclosure. The various channels (e.g., PUCCH, PDCCH, etc.) and information elements may be identified by any suitable names, and therefore the various names assigned to these various channels and information elements are not intended to be limiting in any way.

In this disclosure, terms such as "Mobile Station (MS)," "user terminal," "User Equipment (UE)," and "terminal" may be used interchangeably.

A mobile station may also be referred to by those skilled in the art as a subscriber station, mobile unit, subscriber unit, wireless unit, remote unit, mobile device, wireless device, wireless communication device, remote device, mobile subscriber station, access terminal, mobile terminal, wireless terminal, remote terminal, handset, user agent, mobile client, client, or some other suitable terminology.

As used in this disclosure, the terms "determining" and "determining" may encompass a wide variety of actions. "Determining" and "determining" may include, for example, judging, calculating, computing, processing, deriving, investigating, looking up, searching, inquiring (e.g., searching a table, database, or other data structure), and ascertaining something that is considered a "determination." Also, "determining" and "determining" may include receiving (e.g., receiving information), transmitting (e.g., sending information), input, output, accessing (e.g., accessing data in memory), and other actions that are considered a "determination." Furthermore, "judgment" and "decision" can include regarding actions such as resolving, selecting, choosing, establishing, and comparing as having been "judgment" or "decision." In other words, "judgment" and "decision" can include regarding some action as having been "judgment" or "decision." Furthermore, "judgment (decision)" can be interpreted as "assuming," "expecting," "considering," etc.

The terms "connected," "coupled," or any variation thereof, refer to any direct or indirect connection or coupling between two or more elements, and may include the presence of one or more intermediate elements between two elements that are "connected" or "coupled" to each other. The coupling or connection between elements may be physical, logical, or a combination thereof. For example, "connected" may be read as "access." As used in this disclosure, two elements may be considered to be "connected" or "coupled" to each other using one or more wires, cables, and/or printed electrical connections, as well as electromagnetic energy having wavelengths in the radio frequency range, microwave range, and optical (both visible and invisible) range, as some non-limiting and non-exhaustive examples.

As used in this disclosure, the phrase "based on" does not mean "based only on," unless expressly stated otherwise. In other words, the phrase "based on" means both "based only on" and "based at least on."

As used in this disclosure, any reference to an element using a designation such as "first," "second," etc. does not generally limit the quantity or order of those elements. These designations may be used in this disclosure as a convenient method of distinguishing between two or more elements. Thus, a reference to a first and a second element does not imply that only two elements may be employed or that the first element must in some way precede the second element.

When the terms "include," "including," and variations thereof are used in this disclosure, these terms are intended to be inclusive, similar to the term "comprising." Furthermore, when the term "or" is used in this disclosure, it is not intended to be an exclusive or.

In this disclosure, where articles are added by translation, such as a, an, and the in English, this disclosure may include the noun following these articles being plural.

In this disclosure, the term "A and B are different" may mean "A and B are different from each other." It should be noted that the term may also mean "A and B are each different from C." Terms such as "separate" and "combined" may also be interpreted in the same way as "different."

100...Encoding setting calculation device, 200...WebRTC server, 300...Distribution server, 400...Client terminal, 101...Throughput DB, 102...Encoding setting update determination unit, 103...Encoding setting calculation unit.

Claims (7)

an encoding setting update determination unit that determines whether or not an encoding setting needs to be updated based on throughput information of the client terminal;
an encoding setting calculation unit that calculates encoding settings based on the determination result;
Equipped with
The encoding setting calculation unit:
A communication information optimization device that performs encoding setting calculations based on a user's utility for data delivery according to the encoding setting and a loss of utility for a user who experiences throughput below the minimum encoding setting . an acquisition unit that acquires throughput information of one or more client terminals from a relay server that receives data from a distribution server and distributes the data to the one or more client terminals;
The communication information optimization device according to claim 1 , further comprising: the encoding setting update determination unit determines whether to update the encoding setting based on current throughput information and most recently acquired throughput information.
The communication information optimization device according to claim 2 . the encoding setting update determination unit obtains a throughput distribution from the throughput information, and determines whether to update the encoding setting based on the throughput distribution.
The communication information optimization device according to claim 3 . The encoding setting calculation unit:
An encoding setting calculation is performed based on a value obtained by maximizing a difference between an output value of the function that defines the utility and an output value of the function that defines the loss.
The communication information optimization device according to claim 1 . an encoding setting update determination unit that determines whether or not an encoding setting needs to be updated based on throughput information of the client terminal;
an encoding setting calculation unit that calculates encoding settings based on the determination result;
Equipped with
The encoding setting calculation unit:
A communication information optimization device that performs a plurality of encoding setting calculations based on an encoding cost for a certain encoding setting and a maximum bandwidth in a network. The encoding settings include at least bit rate settings, and settings for at least one or a combination of a video encoding method, an audio encoding method, a video bit rate, an audio bit rate, a resolution, and a frame rate.
The communication information optimization device according to any one of claims 1 to 6 .