ABR Segment Pull DVR Reducing Bandwidth and Resource Usage
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional digital video recorders (DVRs) face inefficiencies in resource usage and bandwidth consumption, particularly in adaptive bit rate (ABR) configurations, limiting their ability to provide efficient playback and storage of media content.
Innovation Solution
The ABR segment pulling DVR system and method, which integrates with a content delivery network (CDN) to dynamically manage and pull ABR segments, allowing for efficient recording and playback of linear and non-linear content by encoding content in adaptive bit rate segments and using TCP/IP protocols for transfer, thereby reducing system overhead and optimizing bandwidth usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional DVR systems use streaming technology to provide playback and special effects, then playback functionality is achieved, but system resource usage and bandwidth consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments video content into discrete media segments that can be independently stored and retrieved. Instead of continuous streaming, the system divides content into manageable units that are pulled from CDN storage, enabling playback without continuous high-bandwidth streaming while maintaining special effects capability through segment manipulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-fetching and storing media segments in local or remote storage before playback is needed. This allows the DVR to have content readily available for playback and special effects without requiring continuous streaming bandwidth, reducing system resource usage during actual playback operations.
2Productivity
If conventional DVR systems convert TV streams to MPEG format for internal transfer and manipulation, then stream management is improved, but device complexity and processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses copying by retrieving pre-encoded media segments from CDN storage rather than performing real-time format conversion. The segments are already in the required format when stored in the CDN, so the DVR simply copies/pulls them for playback, eliminating complex real-time encoding/decoding operations and reducing device complexity.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional DVR systems store content as continuous streams, then storage simplicity is maintained, but bandwidth consumption during playback increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments continuous video streams into discrete media segments during storage in the CDN. This segmentation allows the DVR to pull only the specific segments needed for playback rather than streaming entire continuous streams, significantly reducing bandwidth consumption while maintaining storage organization through segment-based file structures.
4Adaptability or versatility
If conventional DVR systems perform real-time stream manipulation for special effects, then playback flexibility is achieved, but system resource usage increases
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting content into discrete media segments, the system enables playback flexibility through segment selection, reordering, and manipulation without requiring intensive real-time processing. The segments can be assembled and manipulated in various ways for different playback modes and special effects, reducing microprocessor requirements compared to continuous stream manipulation.
Data Source
AI summary
A digital video recorder apparatus, system and method for recording programming material and removing limitations of a storage medium by pulling adaptive bt rate segments from a content delivery network.