Reducing Video Glitches from Lost Network Packets
This patent describes a method for video streaming to reduce visual errors caused by lost network packets by cleverly identifying specific recovery points within the video data stream.
Original patent title: “Network device and error handling”
This patent describes a method for video streaming to reduce visual errors caused by lost network packets by cleverly identifying specific recovery points within the video data stream. Granted in 2026.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
The patent aims to reduce the number of video packets that are negatively affected when some packets are lost during network transmission. It achieves this by analyzing the 'error resilience' built into the video packets. When one or more packets are lost, the system identifies a special 'first packet' that arrives after the loss. This 'first packet' must carry the start of a 'tile' within the video data stream and also contain a 'slice' whose header is found in a packet that was successfully received. This targeted recovery point helps reconstruct the video efficiently, as stated in the abstractabstractA short summary at the front of the patent describing the invention. Not legally binding.Read more →, with low 'side information overhead'. For example, if you're watching a video call and your internet briefly cuts out, this method tries to quickly find a good spot in the incoming video data to restart showing a clear picture, minimizing the frozen or distorted frames.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover error handling for general data streams that are not specifically video data streams.
- Does not cover error recovery methods that do not rely on identifying 'tiles' or 'slices' within the video data.
- Does not cover techniques where the 'slice header' for the recovery point is also contained in a lost packet.
- Does not cover error resilience methods that incur high 'side information overhead' compared to the reduction in affected packets.
- Does not cover error correction techniques that retransmit lost packets rather than recovering from subsequent data.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The noveltynoveltyThe requirement that an invention be different from anything publicly known before its priority date.Read more → lies in precisely identifying a recovery point after packet loss by looking for a packet that simultaneously starts a video 'tile' and has a 'slice header' from an unlost packet. This specific combination allows for efficient video reconstruction with minimal extra data needed for error resilience.
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Video conferencing platforms like Zoom or Google Meet
Video streaming services such as Netflix or YouTube
Live broadcasting over IP networks
Cloud gaming services that stream video to users
Video surveillance systems transmitting over unreliable networks
Why it matters
The bigger picture
Packet loss is a common issue in network communication, especially for real-time video streaming over the internet. This patent addresses a core problem of delivering smooth, high-quality video even when network conditions are imperfect. By reducing visual artifacts and interruptions caused by lost data, it contributes to a better user experience in video conferencing, online entertainment, and other video-intensive applications.
Filed
January 14, 2022
Granted
September 15, 2026
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Companies specializing in video codecs and streaming technologies, such as Google (with VP9/AV1), Apple, and Microsoft, are continually working on improving video quality over variable network conditions. Major streaming platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video also invest heavily in robust streaming protocols. Network equipment manufacturers like Cisco and Juniper Networks develop hardware and software to manage packet loss and ensure quality of service for video traffic.
Market impact
This type of technology directly impacts the quality and reliability of video streaming services, which have become central to modern communication and entertainment. By enabling smoother video playback with fewer glitches, it supports the growth of high-definition and real-time video applications. It helps service providers deliver a more consistent user experience, potentially reducing customer complaints related to video quality and enabling new services that require robust video delivery.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
The patent aims to reduce the number of video packets that are negatively affected when some packets are lost during network transmission. It achieves this by analyzing the 'error resilience' built into the video packets. When one or more packets are lost, the system identifies a special 'first packet' that arrives after the loss. This 'first packet' must carry the start of a 'tile' within the video data stream and also contain a 'slice' whose header is found in a packet that was successfully received. This targeted recovery point helps reconstruct the video efficiently, as stated in the abstract, with low 'side information overhead'. For example, if you're watching a video call and your internet briefly cuts out, this method tries to quickly find a good spot in the incoming video data to restart showing a clear picture, minimizing the frozen or distorted frames.
The clever bit
The novelty lies in precisely identifying a recovery point after packet loss by looking for a packet that simultaneously starts a video 'tile' and has a 'slice header' from an unlost packet. This specific combination allows for efficient video reconstruction with minimal extra data needed for error resilience.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover error handling for general data streams that are not specifically video data streams.
- Does not cover error recovery methods that do not rely on identifying 'tiles' or 'slices' within the video data.
- Does not cover techniques where the 'slice header' for the recovery point is also contained in a lost packet.
- Does not cover error resilience methods that incur high 'side information overhead' compared to the reduction in affected packets.
- Does not cover error correction techniques that retransmit lost packets rather than recovering from subsequent data.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Patent officially issued
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Early stage
Citation count
0/40
No citations yet
Claim breadth
0/20
Narrow claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
20/20
Granted within 5 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$17K – $54K
Midpoint $34K · 15.3 yr remaining · industry ×1.4
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Claim text not yet imported for this patent
Concepts involved
Cite this patent
(2026). Reducing Video Glitches from Lost Network Packets (U.S. Patent No. 12,739,411). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12739411/network-device-and-error-handling
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Reducing Video Glitches from Lost Network Packets cover?
This patent describes a method for video streaming to reduce visual errors caused by lost network packets by cleverly identifying specific recovery points within the video data stream.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on September 15, 2046, when the invention enters the public domain.
What problem does this patent solve?
Packet loss is a common issue in network communication, especially for real-time video streaming over the internet. This patent addresses a core problem of delivering smooth, high-quality video even when network conditions are imperfect. By reducing visual artifacts and interruptions caused by lost data, it contributes to a better user experience in video conferencing, online entertainment, and other video-intensive applications.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover error handling for general data streams that are not specifically video data streams.
Patent monitoring