Content Node Transmuxing for Streaming Media Segments
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Solution Overview
Problem
Content delivery networks face challenges with large digital media files, such as movies and live broadcasts, due to poor performance and unreasonable storage requirements from caching entire files and unsuitable digital formats for streaming, as well as time-consuming transcoding and transmuxing processes.
Innovation Solution
A content node system that retrieves and transmuxes only the required portions of digital media content from an origin server into a streaming format on-demand, caching and delivering them to end-user devices, thereby reducing storage needs and improving delivery efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If entire digital media files are cached at content nodes, then content delivery speed is improved, but storage requirements become unreasonable and system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments digital media files into smaller chunks or segments, caching only these segments at content nodes rather than entire files. This allows the system to deliver content in manageable portions, reducing storage requirements while maintaining delivery speed for commonly requested segments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements partial caching by storing only the necessary portions of digital media files at content nodes, rather than caching complete files. This partial action approach reduces storage burden while still enabling fast delivery of the cached portions, with full files remaining at origin servers when needed.
2Quantity of substance
If digital media content is cached in origin format, then storage efficiency is improved, but streaming compatibility deteriorates due to unsuitable formats
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the format parameters of cached content segments from origin format to streaming-compatible formats. This transformation enables the cached segments to be directly streamed to end users without format incompatibility issues, while the system manages the conversion process efficiently to maintain storage effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a format conversion intermediary process at content nodes that transforms cached segments into streaming-compatible formats. This intermediary step ensures that content can be stored efficiently in origin format while being delivered in appropriate streaming formats, bridging the gap between storage efficiency and streaming compatibility.
3Adaptability or versatility
If full transcoding and transmuxing is performed on digital media files, then streaming format compatibility is improved, but processing time increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial transcoding and transmuxing only to the specific segments that need to be cached and streamed, rather than processing entire files. This partial processing approach significantly reduces the time required while still achieving the necessary format compatibility for streaming delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs transcoding and transmuxing in advance for segments that are cached at content nodes, so that when these segments are requested, they are already in the appropriate streaming format. This preliminary action eliminates the need for real-time conversion during delivery, reducing overall processing time.
4Reliability
If origin servers handle all content requests directly, then content delivery accuracy is maintained, but server overload occurs due to frequent requests
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces content nodes as intermediary elements between origin servers and end users. These content nodes cache and serve frequently requested content segments, acting as mediators that reduce the request load on origin servers while maintaining accurate content delivery through proper caching and format conversion processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the content delivery system into origin servers that hold complete files and content nodes that handle segmented cached portions. This segmentation allows origin servers to focus on providing complete files when needed while content nodes handle frequent segment requests, distributing the load and maintaining delivery accuracy through coordinated operation.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods, apparatuses, and software for provide a digital media caching environment are provided herein. In one example, a method of operating a content node to provide a digital media caching environment is provided. The method includes receiving a request transferred by an end user device for digital media content. Responsive to the request, the method includes retrieving at least a header portion and a content subset of the digital media content from an origin server and transmuxing the content subset of the digital media content from an origin format into a stream format suitable for streaming to the end user device, and streaming the content subset in the stream format for delivery to the end user device.