Asset Streaming via Cloud Server Mediation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for distributing electronic content across devices are limited in their ability to efficiently stream and manage assets, such as digital photographs and videos, across network-based storage systems, particularly in securing access and ensuring seamless downloading and uploading processes.
Innovation Solution
A network-based system that enables devices to stream assets by utilizing cloud storage, where servers manage asset availability, access, and streaming processes, including account-level and asset-level security, and allows for automatic or user-initiated downloads, using metadata to filter and manage asset chunks stored across multiple devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If cloud storage servers are used to stream assets across devices, then accessibility and availability of assets are improved, but security risks and access control complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces cloud storage servers as intermediary components between devices, enabling secure asset streaming while maintaining centralized control. The servers act as trusted mediators that manage authentication, authorization, and data transmission, resolving the contradiction by providing both wide accessibility and enhanced security through centralized management.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where devices notify servers of asset availability and servers respond with availability notifications to authorized devices. This bidirectional communication ensures secure access control while maintaining asset accessibility, allowing the system to dynamically manage permissions and data flow based on device authentication status.
2Ease of operation
If automatic download and streaming is implemented, then ease of operation is improved, but system complexity and resource management difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service functionality where devices automatically notify servers of their asset availability and receive automatic download notifications from servers to authorized devices. This automation eliminates manual intervention for asset distribution while the server centrally manages the complexity of coordination, resource allocation, and communication protocols.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by having devices pre-notify servers of asset availability before actual streaming or downloading occurs. This advance preparation allows the server to pre-process authentication, generate appropriate notifications, and prepare download resources, thereby simplifying the overall operation while managing system complexity through proactive coordination.
3Adaptability or versatility
If asset streaming to multiple devices is enabled, then adaptability and sharing capability are improved, but access control and permission management complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal access control framework where the same server-based authentication and authorization mechanisms serve all devices in the network. The server provides multi-functional services including asset notification, download coordination, and unified permission management, thereby enabling broad device compatibility and sharing capability while managing access control complexity through a single centralized system.
Data Source
AI summary
A device streams assets to network-based storage, and servers administering the network-based storage operate to notify other authorized devices that the assets are available to download, including initiating the download of assets automatically or in response to user input. With streaming enabled on their device, a user is able to make assets, such as digital photograph, video or other type of media file, data file, or other type of electronic content, available immediately to all of their other devices and to other users having permission to follow assets streamed by their device. Servers secure access to the stream of assets, on both an account level and an asset level in accordance with asset metadata registered for the assets during streaming.