Content Fabric Overlay Routing for Low-Latency Media Delivery
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing 'client-server-edge-cache' architecture is inadequate for efficiently delivering large form digital content due to high traffic demands, storage requirements, and latency issues, particularly with the rise of live content and video streaming, which is not supported by the open and scalable Internet infrastructure designed for web data.
Innovation Solution
A decentralized content fabric using an overlay network on top of the IP layer for efficient content routing, distribution, and storage, incorporating blockchain for secure content access and smart contracts, machine learning for path optimization, and just-in-time transcoding to deliver high-quality digital content with low latency and high bandwidth.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the client-server-edge-cache architecture is used to deliver digital content, then content can be distributed through existing Internet infrastructure, but traffic demands and storage requirements become excessively high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments digital content into discrete content objects that can be independently routed and cached throughout the network. Each content object is identified by a unique hash, allowing granular distribution and caching at multiple network levels, reducing the burden on any single path or node
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a content-centric routing dimension overlaying the traditional IP network. Instead of routing based on host addresses, content is routed based on its hash identifier, creating a new dimensional space for content delivery that optimizes paths based on content popularity and network conditions
2Speed
If edge caching is implemented to reduce latency, then content delivery speed improves, but the push model becomes too slow to keep pace with live and interactive content
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic content routing that adapts in real-time to changing content and network conditions. For live content, the system continuously updates routing paths based on current network state and content changes, enabling the fabric to keep pace with dynamic content while maintaining low latency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces content fabric nodes as intermediaries between content sources and clients. These nodes pre-fetch and cache content objects based on predicted demand, acting as a buffer that reduces latency for both cached and live content by positioning content closer to users before it is requested
3Productivity
If CDN infrastructure is used to handle high traffic volumes, then content distribution capacity increases, but the legacy architecture becomes overheated and inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a self-organizing content fabric where nodes automatically discover content objects and their locations through distributed hashing. The system self-regulates content routing and caching without centralized control, eliminating the inefficiencies of legacy CDN management while scaling capacity organically
Solution Approach 2:
The patent fundamentally changes the routing parameter from IP addresses to content hashes. This parameter transformation enables direct content-to-node routing, bypassing the inefficient hop-by-hop IP routing through overloaded CDN infrastructure, and allows content to be delivered through the most efficient available path
4Ease of operation
If packet routing traverses the link between domain server and ISP millions of times, then content can be delivered through standard Internet protocols, but routing opacity prevents efficient content-specific optimization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges content-centric routing with standard IP networking by implementing the content fabric as an overlay network. Content objects are encapsulated in IP packets that carry content hash identifiers, allowing standard IP infrastructure to transport content while the overlay layer provides content-aware routing optimization
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are examples of systems, apparatus, devices, computer program products, and methods implementing aspects of a decentralized content fabric. In some implementations, one or more processors are configured to execute a software stack to define a fabric node of a plurality of fabric nodes of an overlay network situated in an application layer differentiated from an internet protocol layer. The defined fabric node is configured to: obtain a request for digital content from a client device; obtain, from one or more of the plurality of fabric nodes, a plurality of content object parts of a content object representing, in the overlay network, at least a portion of the digital content; generate consumable media using: raw data stored in the content object parts, metadata stored in the content object parts, and build instructions stored in the content object parts; and provide the consumable media to the client device. In some instances, the consumable media is further generated using a digital contract stored in a blockchain.