Cloud-Based Media Transcoding via Segmentation and Mediator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing media content transcoding processes are inefficient, requiring significant time and resources, especially when transferring media content from a local server to a portable playback device, as they often rely on local hardware transcoding resources with limited capabilities, leading to lengthy preparation and download times for users.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a cloud-based transcoding system that offloads the transcoding burden from local media content servers to a cloud-based transcoding system, which divides media content into segments, generates transcoded versions concurrently, and transmits them to playback devices, reducing processing load on local servers and speeding up the transcoding process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If local hardware transcoding resources are used, then transcoding can be performed at the local server, but the transcoding speed is slow and processing time is long
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a cloud-based transcoding server as an intermediary between the local media content server and the playback device. The local server sends transcoding requests to the cloud server, which performs the actual transcoding operations and returns the transcoded content. This mediator approach allows the local system to leverage powerful remote transcoding resources without requiring expensive local hardware upgrades.
2Manufacturing precision
If high-quality data transcoding is performed, then playback quality is improved, but the transcoding process takes significant time (e.g., one hour for one hour of content)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the media content into multiple smaller files and processes them in parallel on the cloud transcoding server. Instead of transcoding one large file sequentially, the system divides the content into chunks that can be transcoded simultaneously across multiple processing cores or even multiple servers, dramatically reducing the total transcoding time while maintaining high quality output.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-processing and segmenting the media content before the actual transcoding operation. The local server prepares the content by dividing it into manageable segments and queues them for parallel processing, so that when transcoding begins, multiple segments are already ready to be processed concurrently, minimizing the user-perceived wait time.
3Device complexity
If local server performs transcoding, then no cloud resources are needed, but the processing load on local server increases and capabilities are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The cloud-based transcoding server provides universal transcoding capabilities that can handle multiple formats, resolutions, and device types through a single remote system. Instead of each local server needing its own specialized transcoding hardware for different scenarios, the cloud server offers a universal solution that adapts to various playback devices and content types, increasing system versatility without adding local complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
An exemplary system for cloud-based media content transcoding includes a local media content server that records a media content program, divides the media content program into a plurality of program segments, generates a program segment playlist including pointers to the plurality of program segments, receives a request for a media content playback device to download the media content program, and transmits the program segment playlist to the media content playback device. The program segment playlist directs the media content playback device to request and download transcoded versions of the program segments from a cloud-based transcoding system located remotely from the local media content server. The cloud-based transcoding system accesses the program segments from the local media content server, and generates and transmits the transcoded versions of the program segments to the media content playback device.