Federated Content Distribution Broker Architecture

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing methods for establishing content distribution federations are limited by the need for critical information exchange between content providers and CDN players, lack of visibility into emerging CDNs, and simplistic decision-making processes, which are not suitable for complex scenarios with numerous and distributed CDNs having varying storage and streaming capacities.

Innovation Solution

A method and system where an intermediate entity collects and utilizes parameters from content providers and distributors to pre-select and select CDN partners based on technical indicators, coverage, and cost criteria, forming a federation that reconciles the needs of providers and distributors without direct information exchange, and optimizes content distribution and routing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If content providers and CDN players exchange critical information directly (capacity, billing model), then decision-making can be made, but information confidentiality and competitive security are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedecision-making capabilityVSAvoidinformation confidentiality

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a broker entity that acts as an intermediary between content providers and CDN players. The broker collects parameters from both parties, performs matching based on technical indicators and coverage criteria, and establishes federations without requiring direct information exchange between competitors. This resolves the contradiction by enabling decision-making through the broker while preserving information confidentiality through indirect communication channels.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Area of stationary object

If content providers choose multiple CDN actors and place all content in all CDNs, then global coverage is achieved, but information exchange requirements and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice coverage areaVSAvoidfederation establishment complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The broker autonomously performs the complex task of matching content providers with appropriate CDN actors based on predefined parameters and criteria. Instead of requiring content providers to manually select and configure multiple CDNs, the broker automatically analyzes technical indicators, coverage areas, and compatibility requirements to establish optimal federations, thereby achieving global coverage while reducing complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of manufacture

If static decision-making methods are used (place all content in all CDNs, redirect to closest CDN), then implementation is simple, but adaptability to complex scenarios with distributed CDNs and varying capacities is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimplementation simplicityVSAvoidscenario adaptability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The broker implements dynamic matching that adapts to complex scenarios by continuously evaluating technical indicators, coverage areas, and capacity constraints of distributed CDN actors. Rather than using static rules, the broker dynamically determines optimal content placement and federation structures based on current system state and requirements, enabling adaptability while maintaining automated decision-making.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Speed

If upstream CDN chooses downstream CDNs by coverage area, then routing can be optimized, but visibility of emerging CDNs and comprehensive candidate selection is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverouting efficiencyVSAvoidvisibility of candidate CDNs

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The broker serves multiple functions: it acts as an information aggregation point for all CDN actors including emerging players, performs comprehensive matching based on diverse criteria (technical indicators, coverage, capacity), and optimizes routing decisions. This universal role enables the system to maintain routing efficiency while having complete visibility of all candidate CDNs, including emerging players that upstream CDNs alone would not discover.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP2984786B1Centralized architecture for establishing federations of content distributors

Publication Date: 2022.01.19 ORANGE SA

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AI summary

The invention relates to a method of establishing one or more federations for content distribution in a system comprising a plurality of content providers (CSPm) and a plurality of content distributors (CDAj), the method comprising a step (130), implemented by an intermediate entity (INT) distinct from said content providers and from said content distributors, of associating at least one of said content providers with at least one of said content distributors as a function of parameters provided to the intermediate entity by said content providers and of parameters provided to the intermediate entity by said content distributors.