EP-4740484-A2 - METHOD AND SERVER FOR PRODUCING LIVE VIDEO BROADCASTING FROM A PLURALITY OF VIDEO SOURCES

Abstract

Method and server for producing live video broadcasting from several video sources. The server receives a first raw video signal from a first edge device connected to a first video source. The server processes the first raw video signal to generate a broadcast video signal and an ultra low latency (ULL) video stream, which are respectively transmitted to a video broadcasting equipment and a user device. The server receives a command for switching to a second video source and transmits a command to start transmitting a second raw video signal from a second edge device connected to the second video source. The server receives the second raw video signal from the second edge device and generates the broadcast video signal and the ULL video stream based on the second instead of the first raw video signal. The server transmits a command to stop transmitting the first raw video signal.

Inventors

• Martin, Drew
• LAPOINTE, Jean-Philippe

Assignees

• RIEDEL COMMUNICATIONS INC.
• Riedel Communications Canada Inc.

Dates

Publication Date

20260513

Application Date

20240702

Claims (18)

1. 1. A method for producing live video broadcasting from a plurality of video sources, the method comprising: receiving at a server a first raw video signal from a first edge device connected to a first video source, the first raw video signal being generated by the first edge device based on a first video signal received from the first video source; processing by the server the first raw video signal to generate a broadcast video signal based on the first raw video signal; transmitting by the server the broadcast video signal to a video broadcasting equipment; processing by the server the broadcast video signal to generate an ultra low latency (ULL) video stream based on the broadcast video signal; transmitting by the server the ULL video stream to a user device; receiving by the server from the user device a command for switching to a second video source; transmitting by the server a command to a second edge device connected to the second video source to start transmitting a second raw video signal generated by the second edge device based on a second video signal received from the second video source; receiving by the server the second raw video signal from the second edge device; processing by the server the second raw video signal to generate the broadcast video signal based on the second raw video signal instead of the first raw video signal; and transmitting by the server a command to the first edge device connected to the first video source to stop transmitting the first raw video signal.
2. 2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the server implements a zero-copy networking functionality for transmitting the first raw video signal from the first edge device to the server and for transmitting the second raw video signal from the second edge device to the server.
3. 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the server comprises at least one Network Interface Card (NIC) supporting the zero-copy networking functionality.
4. 4. The method of claim 2, wherein the zero-copy networking is Remote Direct Memory Access (RDMA).
5. 5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the server executes a virtual switch functionality.
6. 6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the server is a cloud-based server located in a cloud infrastructure.
7. 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the first and second edge devices are cloud-based edge devices also located in the cloud infrastructure.
8. 8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising at least one of the following: applying one or more effects to the first raw video signal or to the second raw video signal to generate the broadcast video signal; and applying a video transition between the first raw video signal and the second raw video signal to generate the broadcast video signal.
9. 9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: receiving by the server a plurality of ULL video streams from a plurality of edge devices, each ULL video stream being generated by one of the plurality of edge devices based on a video signal received from a video source connected to the edge device, the plurality of edge devices comprising the first edge device and the second edge device; combining by the server the plurality of ULL video streams into a combined ULL video stream; and transmitting by the server the combined ULL video stream to the user device.
10. 10. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions executable by a processing unit of a server, the execution of the instructions by the processing unit of the server providing for producing live video broadcasting from a plurality of video sources by: receiving by the server a first raw video signal from a first edge device connected to a first video source, the first raw video signal being generated by the first edge device based on a first video signal received from the first video source; processing by the server the first raw video signal to generate a broadcast video signal based on the first raw video signal; transmitting by the server the broadcast video signal to a video broadcasting equipment; processing by the server the broadcast video signal to generate an ultra low latency (ULL) video stream based on the broadcast video signal; transmitting by the server the ULL video stream to a user device; receiving by the server from the user device a command for switching to a second video source; transmitting by the server a command to a second edge device connected to the second video source to start transmitting a second raw video signal generated by the second edge device based on a second video signal received from the second video source; receiving by the server the second raw video signal from the second edge device; processing by the server the second raw video signal to generate the broadcast video signal based on the second raw video signal instead of the first raw video signal; and transmitting by the server a command to the first edge device connected to the first video source to stop transmitting the first raw video signal.
11. 11. A server for live video broadcasting production from a plurality of video sources, the server comprising: at least one Network Interface Card (NIC) for receiving and transmitting data; and a processing unit for: receiving a first raw video signal from a first edge device connected to a first video source, the first raw video signal being generated by the first edge device based on a first video signal received from the first video source; processing the first raw video signal to generate a broadcast video signal based on the first raw video signal; transmitting the broadcast video signal to a video broadcasting equipment; processing the first raw video signal to generate an ultra low latency (ULL) video stream based on the broadcast video signal; transmitting the ULL video stream to a user device; receiving from the user device a command for switching to a second video source; transmitting a command to a second edge device connected to the second video source to start transmitting a second raw video signal generated by the second edge device based on a second video signal received from the second video source; receiving the second raw video signal from the second edge device; processing the second raw video signal to generate the broadcast video signal based on the second raw video signal instead of the first raw video signal; and transmitting a command to the first edge device connected to the first video source to stop transmitting the first raw video signal.
12. 12. The server of claim 11 , wherein the server implements a zero-copy networking functionality for transmitting the first raw video signal from the first edge device to the server and for transmitting the second raw video signal from the second edge device to the server.
13. 13. The server of claim 12, wherein one or more of the at least one NIC supports the zero-copy networking functionality.
14. 14. The server of claim 12, wherein the zero-copy networking is Remote Direct Memory Access (RDMA).
15. 15. The server of claim 11 , wherein the processing unit executes a virtual switch functionality.
16. 16. The server of claim 11 , wherein the server is a cloud-based server located in a cloud infrastructure.
17. 17. The server of claim 11 , wherein the processing unit further performs at least one of the following: applying one or more effects to the first raw video signal or to the second raw video signal to generate the broadcast video signal; and applying a video transition between the first raw video signal and the second raw video signal to generate the broadcast video signal.
18. 8. The server of claim 11 , wherein the processing unit further: receives a plurality of ULL video streams from a plurality of edge devices, each ULL video stream being generated by one of the plurality of edge devices based on a video signal received from a video source connected to the edge device, the plurality of edge devices comprising the first edge device and the second edge device; combines the plurality of ULL video streams into a combined ULL video stream; and transmits the combined ULL video stream to the user device.

Description

METHOD AND SERVER FOR PRODUCING LIVE VIDEO BROADCASTING FROM A PLURALITY OF VIDEO SOURCES CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/525,015, filed on July 5, 2023, titled “METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PRODUCING LIVE VIDEO BROADCASTING FROM A PLURALITY OF REMOTE VIDEO EQUIPMENT,” the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein. TECHNICAL FIELD [0002] The present disclosure relates to the field of live video broadcasting. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a method and server for producing live video broadcasting from a plurality of video sources. BACKGROUND [0003] The video broadcasting industry is an industry in which multiple technological developments and innovations have been occurring in the past years. One of the most significant trends is the transition from proprietary technologies which have been developed specifically for the video broadcasting industry, to more generic technologies which have been deployed and validated in other industries. In particular, proprietary communication protocols are replaced with Internet based protocols. One advantage of using Internet based protocols is that the cost of deployment is generally lower. Another advantage is the capability to benefit from evolutions and development of new functionalities (e.g. evolution of existing communication protocols and I or development of new communication protocols). In particular, innovations in a domain not related to the video broadcasting industry may still be applicable and useful to the video broadcasting industry. Still another advantage is the high level of standardization in the development of Internet protocols, which ensures interoperability between equipment of different manufacturers. [0004] One major challenge for implementing a live video broadcasting system is to provide the capability to transmit a large amount of data in real-time (or at least quasi real-time). For instance, in a typical live video broadcasting setup, a plurality of cameras is operating in parallel, providing different views of an event being filmed. An operator in charge of controlling in real-time the live video broadcast needs to have access to and control the video signals generated by the multiple cameras. More specifically, the operator needs to have information (e.g. images) representative of the video signals generated by each camera, so as to select in real-time which camera should be used for the live broadcast. Furthermore, the video signal generated by the selected camera needs to be transmitted to a video broadcasting equipment in an efficient manner (to minimize latency, avoid data loss, etc.). Thus, the video signal generated by a given camera shall always be available and ready to be effectively transmitted to the live video broadcasting equipment, upon selection by the operator. [0005] There is therefore a need for a new method and server for producing live video broadcasting from a plurality of video sources. SUMMARY [0006] According to a first aspect, the present disclosure relates to a method for producing live video broadcasting from a plurality of video sources. The method comprises receiving at a server a first raw video signal from a first edge device connected to a first video source, the first raw video signal being generated by the first edge device based on a first video signal received from the first video source. The method comprises processing by the server the first raw video signal to generate a broadcast video signal based on the first raw video signal. The method comprises transmitting by the server the broadcast video signal to a video broadcasting equipment. The method comprises processing by the server the broadcast video signal to generate an ultra low latency (ULL) video stream based on the broadcast video signal. The method comprises transmitting by the server the ULL video stream to a user device. The method comprises receiving by the server from the user device a command for switching to a second video source. The method comprises transmitting by the server a command to a second edge device connected to the second video source to start transmitting a second raw video signal generated by the second edge device based on a second video signal received from the second video source. The method comprises receiving by the server the second raw video signal from the second edge device. The method comprises processing by the server the second raw video signal to generate the broadcast video signal based on the second raw video signal instead of the first raw video signal. The method comprises transmitting by the server a command to the first edge device connected to the first video source to stop transmitting the first raw video signal. [0007] According to a second aspect, the present disclosure relates to a non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions executable by a processin