Conferencing System Bandwidth Reduction via Object Caching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conferencing systems face bandwidth issues and reduced quality due to increased participant numbers, leading to network congestion and processor degradation, as real-time streaming requires high bandwidth and continuous data streams.
Innovation Solution
A method that allows late-joining participants to download a library of presentation objects and receive synchronization commands, enabling them to catch up with the conference without continuous high-bandwidth streaming, and allowing hosts to manage participant synchronization and pace the presentation accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If real-time streaming is used to deliver presentation materials to remote participants, then the quality of presentation is maintained, but the bandwidth requirement increases significantly with the number of participants
Solution Approach 1:
The presentation materials are divided into discrete objects that can be independently downloaded and cached by participants. Instead of streaming continuous data to all participants simultaneously, the system segments the content into manageable units that participants can retrieve on-demand or pre-download, reducing the aggregate bandwidth burden while maintaining access to all presentation materials.
Solution Approach 2:
Participants download and cache presentation objects before they are needed for the live presentation. This preliminary action allows materials to be prepared in advance, reducing the need for real-time streaming during the conference. Late-joining participants can catch up by downloading cached objects from the server or other participants' devices.
2Stability of the object's composition
If real-time streaming is used to ensure all participants receive presentation materials simultaneously, then synchronization is maintained, but network congestion occurs with many participants
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a synchronization mechanism where the host can pause the presentation if participants are not caught up, and automatically resume when they are. This feedback loop monitors participant status and adjusts the presentation pace accordingly, maintaining synchronization without requiring continuous high-bandwidth streaming. The host receives feedback about participant progress and can make real-time adjustments.
Solution Approach 2:
Presentation objects are copied and cached on participants' devices and on intermediate servers. Instead of streaming the same data stream to all participants simultaneously, the system uses multiple copies stored locally, allowing participants to access materials from their local cache or nearby servers, reducing network congestion while maintaining synchronization through coordinate updates.
3Ease of operation
If the host manages communications with all remote participants in real-time, then participant coordination is maintained, but processor performance degrades
Solution Approach 1:
Participants autonomously manage their own presentation object downloads and caching without requiring continuous host intervention. The host's role is reduced to initiating presentations, pausing when needed, and announcing topic changes. Participants self-service by downloading required objects from the server or peer devices, reducing the host's processor burden while maintaining coordination through automated synchronization protocols.
4Productivity
If continuous high-bandwidth streaming is provided to late-joining participants, then they can catch up in real-time, but bandwidth requirements remain excessively high
Solution Approach 1:
Late-joining participants download presentation objects that were cached in advance by the host or other participants. Instead of receiving a continuous real-time stream, they retrieve pre-prepared objects from local caches or the server, significantly reducing bandwidth requirements while enabling them to catch up on missed content at their own pace.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for conducting a conference amongst remote participants. During the conference an object from a library of digital objects is communicated to a participant communications device via a distributed computing network. During the conference the library of digital objects is downloaded to the participant communications device. During the conference a synchronization command is communicated from a host communications device to the participant communications device. The synchronization instructs the participant communications device to present another object from the library of digital objects. A synchronization acknowledgment is received from the participant communications device and confirms a successful presentation of the object on the participant communications device.