Bandwidth Management System Defers Media Delivery

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The increasing demand for high-definition content and interactive services in communications networks leads to bandwidth bottlenecks, particularly during peak hours, as consumers often record and view high-bandwidth content simultaneously, necessitating efficient bandwidth conservation methods to avoid service degradation.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a system that detects media recording and scheduling, defers content delivery to periods of lesser demand, compares available bandwidth to required bandwidth, and reschedules or alters delivery methods such as reducing bit rates or using alternative streaming techniques to conserve bandwidth, while allowing customers to resolve bandwidth conflicts by canceling requests or selecting lower bandwidth options.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If media content is delivered in real-time during peak periods, then customer viewing needs are met, but bandwidth consumption increases causing network congestion

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecustomer viewing accessVSAvoidbandwidth consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by detecting recording schedules in advance and pre-deferring content delivery to off-peak periods before bandwidth congestion occurs. The bandwidth management system proactively reschedules delivery of recorded content away from peak viewing periods, preventing network overload before it happens.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts content delivery timing based on real-time bandwidth conditions and recording schedules. Delivery times are flexible and adaptable, shifting from fixed real-time delivery to variable timing that optimizes bandwidth utilization while maintaining service quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If high-definition content is delivered at full bit rate, then content quality is maintained, but bandwidth requirements exceed available capacity during peak periods

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent qualityVSAvoidavailable bandwidth

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies different quality levels to different content streams based on delivery timing. Recorded content delivered during off-peak periods can maintain full HD quality, while allowing flexibility to adjust quality parameters for different delivery scenarios, optimizing bandwidth usage without permanently degrading content quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes delivery parameters including timing and bit rate based on network conditions. By adjusting when content is delivered and at what quality level, the system optimizes bandwidth consumption while maintaining acceptable service quality, allowing full quality delivery during off-peak periods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS9432710B2Methods systems, and products for conserving bandwidth

Publication Date: 2016.08.30 BELLSOUTH INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORPORATION(US)

AI summary

Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for conserving bandwidth. A notification is received from a customer's device that indicates media will be recorded/saved to memory. The available bandwidth is compared to required bandwidth to deliver the media to the customer's device. When the required bandwidth exceeds the available bandwidth, then delivery of the media is deferred to a period of lesser demand.