BM-SC Node Progressive File Block Encoding for On-Request Delivery

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current multimedia broadcast multicast services face delays in delivering on-request content due to queuing, processing, and congestion issues, leading to increased hardware and software costs for operators, as well as the need for extensive local storage and involvement in content delivery operations.

Innovation Solution

A method for a broadcast multicast service center node that involves obtaining file size, determining encoding parameters for virtual partitioning into source blocks, downloading and encoding these blocks, and providing encoding symbols for delivery, allowing for progressive broadcast and reduced storage needs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the BM-SC node caches the entire file before delivery, then the content can be delivered to multiple users efficiently, but the local storage requirements and hardware costs increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontent delivery efficiencyVSAvoidlocal storage requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the file into multiple source blocks and applies segmentation by processing and delivering these blocks progressively rather than caching the entire file. The BM-SC node receives, processes, and forwards file blocks in a pipelined manner, eliminating the need to store the complete file in local memory before delivery begins.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements preliminary action by performing encoding and processing operations on file blocks as they arrive from the content delivery node, before the complete file is received. This allows the BM-SC to begin delivering content to users progressively while continuing to receive and process additional blocks, avoiding the need for full file caching.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Loss of energy

If the BM-SC node waits for notification events to trigger content delivery, then resource usage is optimized, but the delivery delay increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource usage efficiencyVSAvoiddelivery delay
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements continuous useful action by establishing a persistent data flow from the content delivery node through the BM-SC to end users without interruption or waiting for notification events. The BM-SC node continuously receives, processes, and forwards file blocks as they arrive, eliminating idle waiting periods and reducing delivery delay while maintaining efficient resource utilization through streamlined processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Reliability

If retransmission of missed data is implemented, then data reliability is improved, but the processing complexity and delays increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata delivery reliabilityVSAvoidprocessing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism in the form of FEC encoding that simplifies the retransmission problem. Instead of implementing complex retransmission protocols, the BM-SC node applies forward error correction encoding to file blocks, generating redundant data that allows users to recover from packet losses without requiring complex retransmission logic or increasing processing complexity significantly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3127327B1Method and broadcast multicast service center, BM-SC, node for providing an on-request service
Publication Date: 2019.07.31 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)
  • EP3127327B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3127327B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3127327B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a method 100 performed in a broadcast multicast service center, BM-SC, node 10 for providing an on-request service to an end-user device 5. The method 100 comprises obtaining 101, from a content delivery node 4, the size of a file of the on-request service; determining (102), based on the obtained file size, one or more parameters related to encoding of the file, thereby establishing a virtual partitioning of the file into a number Z of source blocks; downloading 103, from the content delivery node 4, a source block of the file according to the determined one or more parameters; encoding 104 the source block of the file into encoding symbols according to the determined one or more parameters; and providing 105 the encoding symbols for delivery to the end-user device 5. The disclosure also relates to a BM-SC node 10, computer programs and computer program products.