Content Distribution Server Preloading Strategy

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users often face difficulties in accessing desired content due to size or speed/cost constraints of communication networks, leading to unsatisfactory experiences and lost revenue for content providers, as content cannot be efficiently preloaded on user devices ahead of time.

Innovation Solution

A network system manages content distribution by preloading valued content onto user devices' storage elements over communication networks, using configuration information to place service launch objects in the user interface, allowing immediate access to content when needed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If content is accessed over communication networks at the time needed, then user can access content on demand, but network speed and cost limitations make it impractical for large content

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontent accessibilityVSAvoidnetwork speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by detecting user intent through application hints and static resource lists before the user actually requests the content. This allows the system to preload content into local storage in advance, so that when the user needs the content, it is already available locally without requiring real-time network access. This resolves the contradiction by making content accessible immediately (improving ease of operation) while avoiding the need for fast real-time network transfer (bypassing the speed limitation).

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Quantity of substance

If content is downloaded over expensive communication networks, then content becomes available on user devices, but the cost becomes prohibitive for large content

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontent availabilityVSAvoidcommunication cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system detects user intent in advance through application hints and static resource lists, then preloads the required content into local storage before the user actually needs it. This preliminary action allows content to be made available locally (increasing content availability) while avoiding the need to download large amounts of data over expensive communication networks at the moment of use (reducing communication cost).

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables user devices to serve themselves by storing content locally in advance. Instead of repeatedly accessing expensive communication networks whenever content is needed, the device uses its local storage resources to provide content on-demand without incurring additional network costs. This self-service approach resolves the contradiction by making content available locally while eliminating ongoing communication expenses.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Loss of time

If content is preloaded to storage elements, then immediate access is provided, but communication resources and storage capacity are constrained

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontent access timeVSAvoidstorage capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection of user intent through application hints and static resource lists, then selectively preloads only the specific content that the user is likely to need. This targeted preliminary action reduces the amount of content that needs to be stored (managing storage capacity constraints) while still achieving immediate local access when the user requests the content (minimizing access time).

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically changes the state of content from remote to local based on detected user intent. By using application hints and static resource lists to predict which content will be needed, the system transforms only the necessary portion of content into local storage, optimizing the balance between storage capacity usage and content access speed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Productivity

If service launch objects are placed in user interface, then content can be launched immediately, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontent launch speedVSAvoiduser interface complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system introduces service launch objects as intermediary elements in the user interface that bridge the user and the preloaded content. These service launch objects are configured based on detected user intent and placed strategically in the UI. They act as simple mediators that, when activated, immediately launch the associated preloaded content without requiring complex processing or additional user steps, thus improving content launch speed while maintaining relatively simple UI elements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3525496A1Distributing content and service launch objects to mobile devices
Publication Date: 2019.08.14 HEADWATER PARTNERS I LLC
  • EP3525496A1 patent drawingFigure 1a
  • EP3525496A1 patent drawingFigure 1b
  • EP3525496A1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

Embodiments of methods, systems and apparatuses for distributing content over a communication network are disclosed. One method includes managing, by at least one content distribution server, a plurality of content, assisting in preloading at least a portion of the content to a storage element associated with a wireless device, identifying a portion of a user interface of the wireless device, and sending configuration information to the wireless device, the configuration information configured to assist the wireless device in placing, in the identified portion of the user interface, a service launch object that launches the content.