Broadcasting Server Signaling for Seamless Network Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing broadcasting systems fail to allow continuous reception of live events across different networks, leading to interruptions in viewing experiences for users who want to watch events from start to finish, especially for long or scheduled events like baseball games, golf matches, and Olympic games.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that utilize signaling information to seamlessly switch between broadcast signals from different networks, allowing users to continue watching events through a single terminal by analyzing service guides and transmitting alternate program information before an event ends or starts, using a broadcasting server to provide continuous playback.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single terminal receives live broadcasting through one broadcasting network, then the broadcasting service is simple, but the continuous reception of live events across different networks is not possible
Solution Approach 1:
A broadcasting server acts as an intermediary between multiple broadcasting networks and the terminal. The server receives broadcast signals from different networks, generates signaling information containing service guides, and transmits this information to the terminal. This allows the terminal to access and switch between multiple networks without direct complex connections to each network, thereby enabling continuous reception capability while managing system complexity through a centralized coordination approach.
Solution Approach 2:
The broadcasting server generates and transmits signaling information containing service guide data before the user needs to switch networks. This preliminary provision of metadata about available services and their locations allows the terminal to prepare for seamless switching, storing the information and positioning itself to quickly transition between networks when needed, thus enabling continuous reception without real-time complexity.
2Duration of action of moving object
If the terminal switches between different broadcast signals, then continuous watching is possible, but the switching process causes interruption
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal receives and stores signaling information containing service guide data before the actual switching event. This preliminary retrieval and caching of metadata about alternative broadcast signals allows the terminal to quickly locate and transition to the appropriate signal without time-consuming real-time searching or processing during the switching moment, thereby minimizing interruption time while maintaining continuous watching capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The broadcasting server continuously provides feedback in the form of signaling information and service guides to the terminal. This feedback mechanism keeps the terminal informed about available broadcast services and their current status, enabling the terminal to make informed switching decisions and transition smoothly between signals based on real-time information, thus reducing switching interruptions.
3Ease of operation
If the broadcasting server provides signaling information for alternate programs, then seamless switching is enabled, but the information transmission increases system load
Solution Approach 1:
The broadcasting server extracts only the necessary signaling information and service guide data from the complex broadcast system and transmits only this condensed metadata to the terminal. By taking out and transmitting only the essential information needed for switching decisions rather than the complete broadcast stream, the server reduces the information transmission load while still enabling seamless switching functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The broadcasting server performs preliminary processing to generate compact signaling information and service guides before transmission to the terminal. This preliminary condensation and preparation of only the essential switching metadata reduces the amount of data that needs to be transmitted and processed in real-time, thereby reducing system load while maintaining ease of seamless switching operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and an apparatus for playing broadcast content in a broadcasting system are provided. The method and the apparatus enable a viewer to watch an entire event by broadcasting the event through different networks in a condition that the event may not be broadcast from start to finish over a single broadcasting network.