Mid-Stream CDN Steering via Manifest Manipulation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional CDN steering methods often falter during peak demand, leading to performance issues such as buffering or latency, which compromise the user experience.
Innovation Solution
Implementing mid-stream CDN steering by using a CDN decision server to monitor the primary on-premise CDN for issues, and dynamically modifying manifest files to redirect clients to a third-party CDN without disrupting ongoing content streams.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional CDN steering methods are used, then client compatibility is improved, but dynamic response to CDN issues deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a manifest manipulator as an intermediary component that sits between the client device and the CDN. This manifest manipulator dynamically modifies manifest files to redirect content requests from a primary CDN to a secondary CDN when issues are detected, without requiring changes to the client device itself. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining client compatibility while enabling dynamic response to CDN issues through the intermediary manifest manipulator.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic CDN steering by continuously monitoring CDN performance metrics and automatically adjusting manifest file URLs based on real-time conditions. The system can switch between primary and secondary CDN providers dynamically without requiring client reconfiguration, thus achieving both client compatibility and adaptability to changing CDN conditions.
2Ease of operation
If DNS-based CDN steering is used, then widespread compatibility is improved, but dynamic response capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of relying on DNS-based steering, the patent uses a manifest manipulator as an intermediary that directly modifies content delivery URLs in manifest files. This approach maintains widespread compatibility since no special client software is needed, while achieving faster dynamic response by bypassing DNS caching mechanisms and directly updating content source references in the manifest.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring multiple CDN URLs in the manifest file and having the manifest manipulator ready to switch between them. When CDN issues are detected, the system can immediately activate a backup URL without waiting for DNS resolution or client reconfiguration, thus improving dynamic response capability while maintaining compatibility.
3Adaptability or versatility
If client-side steering is used, then dynamic adaptation to network conditions is improved, but client-side compatibility requirements deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of placing the steering logic in the client device, the patent inverts the approach by implementing the manifest manipulator on the server side. The manifest manipulator dynamically adapts to network conditions and CDN performance, then serves modified manifest files to clients. This achieves dynamic adaptation to network conditions while eliminating client-side compatibility requirements, as the adaptation logic resides entirely on the server.
Solution Approach 2:
The manifest manipulator serves as an intermediary that handles all dynamic adaptation logic, shielding client devices from complexity. The manipulator monitors network conditions, evaluates CDN performance, and automatically adjusts manifest file URLs accordingly. Clients simply receive pre-optimized manifest files without needing to implement any steering logic, thus achieving dynamic adaptation while maintaining universal client compatibility.
4Reliability
If CDN steering is implemented during peak demand, then service reliability is improved, but system complexity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements CDN steering selectively during peak demand periods or when CDN issues are detected, rather than maintaining complex steering logic under all conditions. The manifest manipulator monitors CDN performance and only activates alternative routing when necessary, thus improving service reliability during critical periods while minimizing system complexity during normal operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms by continuously monitoring CDN performance metrics and automatically triggering manifest file modifications when thresholds are exceeded. This feedback-driven approach ensures service reliability during peak demand by dynamically responding to actual CDN conditions, while keeping system complexity manageable through automated decision-making based on predefined performance criteria.
Data Source
AI summary
Various embodiments include systems and methods for performing mid-stream content delivery network (CDN) steering. A processing system in a manifest manipulator may receive a content request from a client device that is directed to obtain content from a uniform resource locator (URL) associated with a primary on-premise CDN. The processing system may also receive an event notification from a CDN decision server that indicates that there is an issue with the primary on-premise CDN. The processing system may modify a manifest file associated with the received content request in response to receiving the event notification from the CDN decision server, and send the modified manifest file to the client device to cause the client device to obtain the requested content from a third-party CDN.