Client Node Content Delivery Switching Between Unicast and Broadcast
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems face challenges in efficiently handling content delivery in client nodes, particularly when Transport Layer Security (TLS) is activated, as it prevents middleware from interacting with content through HTTP redirects, making it difficult to switch between TLS secured unicast transmission and broadcast transmission.
Innovation Solution
A client node system and method that registers with a Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Services (MBMS) entity to selectively control content reception between encrypted unicast and broadcast transmission, using a trusted entity to steer media players between these modes based on content availability and mobility coverage, enabling efficient switching.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If TLS is activated for secured unicast transmission, then security is improved, but the ability to switch between unicast and broadcast transmission deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism that operates at the application layer to manage switching between unicast and broadcast transmission. This intermediary layer handles the complexity of TLS termination and mode switching, allowing the media player to adapt between transmission types without compromising security. The intermediary translates between secure unicast protocols and broadcast protocols, resolving the contradiction between maintaining security and enabling flexible switching.
2Ease of operation
If middleware interacts with content through HTTP redirects, then content delivery control is improved, but compatibility with TLS secured transmission deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the HTTP redirect functionality from the traditional middleware layer and relocates it to the application layer within the client node. This extraction allows TLS-secured connections to maintain their security properties while still enabling content delivery control through application-layer logic. The middleware no longer needs to intercept or modify TLS traffic, preserving TLS compatibility while maintaining delivery control capabilities through alternative mechanisms.
3Productivity
If broadcast transmission is used for content delivery, then network efficiency is improved, but service availability deteriorates when devices are outside broadcast coverage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic transmission mode selection that automatically adapts between broadcast and unicast modes based on real-time conditions. When devices are within broadcast coverage, the system uses efficient broadcast transmission. When devices move outside coverage areas, the system dynamically switches to unicast transmission to maintain service availability. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by allowing the system to optimize for network efficiency when possible while ensuring reliability when needed.
Data Source
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AI summary
There is provided mechanisms for handling content delivery in a client node. A method being performed by the client node. The method comprises registering, by an application entity of the client node and with an MBMS entity of the client node, for enabling the client node to receive content delivered by encrypted unicast transmission and to receive the content delivered by broadcast transmission. The method comprises selectively controlling, by a trusted entity of the client node, reception of the content in a media player of the client node between reception of the encrypted unicast transmission and broadcast transmission depending on whether the content is available or not for reception on the broadcast transmission.