Research Foundation News

June 5, 2019

Sharing the stream: New solution to free up digital data plans

video content Purdue University researchers have come up with a video streaming framework for users to download content collaboratively. (Stock photo) Download image

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Sharing a streaming video or watching the big game on a single electronic device can lead to a big fight: whose data plan is going to be used up for the event? Purdue University researchers have come up with technology that could open a new door for video streaming.

The researchers developed a novel video streaming framework that allows users to download content collaboratively. This new technology is an algorithm that allows everyone in that group to share the video stream, which means higher video quality and lower data use per person.

“The key challenge was to develop an efficient streaming algorithm, which allows good user experience when watching high-quality video in challenging network scenarios,” said Vaneet Aggarwal, an assistant professor in Purdue’s College of Engineering and director of the Cloud Computing, Machine Learning, and Networking (CLAN) Research labs.

The Purdue algorithm technology accounts for different user preferences, data limits and provides an efficient streaming of the content with reduced stalls and high quality. Aggarwal said the algorithm uses the different network interfaces provided by different devices and networks to create a seamless connectivity for improved user experiences. With multiple people's data being used, it also creates a higher streaming quality.

Aggarwal data The Purdue algorithm technology accounts for different user preferences, data limits and provides an efficient streaming of the content with reduced stalls and high quality. (Image provided) Download image

“Even though the advances in networking have been helping, the users’ desires for higher quality video is still not met,” Aggarwal said. “This technology is important and has the potential to fix the issues in watching content where the network of multiple devices and interfaces could be used collaboratively with individual preferences.”

Aggarwal also said the technology could improve reception for campers in remote areas who want to share data and watch content.

Aggarwal and the team, including former doctoral student Anis Elgabli, have worked with the Purdue Research Foundation Office of Technology Commercialization to patent the technology. They are looking to license it and are seeking collaborators for further development.

The work aligns with Purdue's Giant Leaps celebration, celebrating the global advancements in artificial intelligence as part of Purdue’s 150th anniversary. It is one of the four themes of the yearlong celebration’s Ideas Festival, designed to showcase Purdue as an intellectual center solving real-world issues.      

About Purdue Research Foundation Office of Technology Commercialization           

The Purdue Research Foundation Office of Technology Commercialization operates one of the most comprehensive technology transfer programs among leading research universities in the U.S. Services provided by this office support the economic development initiatives of Purdue University and benefit the university's academic activities. The office is managed by the Purdue Research Foundation, which received the 2016 Innovation and Economic Prosperity Universities Award for Innovation from the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities. For more information about funding and investment opportunities in startups based on a Purdue innovation, contact the Purdue Foundry at foundry@prf.org. For more information on licensing a Purdue innovation, contact the Office of Technology Commercialization at otcip@prf.org. The Purdue Research Foundation is a private, nonprofit foundation created to advance the mission of Purdue University.

Writer: Chris Adam, 765-588-3341, cladam@prf.org 

Source:
Vaneet Aggarwal, vaneet@purdue.edu

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