Content Provider Switching for Seamless Media Streaming

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Solution Overview

Problem

Consumers face challenges in comparing and switching between content providers due to varying performance affected by network conditions and infrastructure limitations, leading to suboptimal content delivery experiences.

Innovation Solution

A media content application on user devices calculates a Content Consumption Experience (CCE) score based on quality-of-service characteristics, compares it to a predetermined score, and switches to a higher-performing content provider using application programming interfaces (APIs) to ensure seamless content delivery.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a single content provider is used for media content delivery, then the system complexity is reduced, but the content delivery performance and user experience deteriorate due to network conditions and infrastructure limitations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem complexityVSAvoidcontent delivery performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically switches between different content providers based on real-time performance evaluation. The media content application continuously monitors QoS characteristics and automatically selects the optimal content provider, making the system adaptable to changing network conditions while maintaining delivery performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the parameter of content provider selection based on evaluated performance metrics. By calculating CCE scores and comparing them against thresholds, the system selects different content providers (changing the provider parameter) to optimize delivery performance while managing system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If multiple content providers are evaluated and switched between, then the content delivery performance is improved, but the device complexity increases due to multiple applications and APIs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent delivery performanceVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The media content application performs self-service by automatically evaluating content provider performance and making switching decisions without user intervention. The system autonomously monitors QoS, calculates CCE scores, and selects optimal providers, reducing the perceived complexity for users while maintaining high delivery performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms by continuously monitoring QoS characteristics and using this information to adjust content provider selection. The CCE score calculation and comparison against predetermined values create a closed-loop feedback system that optimizes performance while managing complexity through automated decision-making.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Ease of operation

If content provider switching is implemented, then the user experience is enhanced through optimized performance, but interruptions and switching delays may occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser experienceVSAvoidswitching delays

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary evaluation of content provider performance before switching is needed. By continuously monitoring QoS and pre-calculating CCE scores, the system prepares switching decisions in advance, enabling seamless transitions that minimize user-perceived delays and interruptions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system maintains continuity of content delivery by ensuring seamless transitions between content providers. The automated switching mechanism operates in the background without interrupting the user's viewing experience, preserving the continuous playback of media content while optimizing delivery performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

4Productivity

If automated content provider selection is implemented, then the productivity of content delivery is improved, but the difficulty of detecting and measuring performance increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent delivery efficiencyVSAvoidperformance measurement complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The system introduces an intermediary CCE score metric that simplifies the measurement of content provider performance. Instead of directly measuring multiple QoS parameters, the system uses the calculated CCE score as an intermediary indicator that reflects overall delivery performance, making it easier to compare providers and automate selection while improving delivery efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS12495183B2Systems and methods for switching content providers to maintain streaming experience

Publication Date: 2025.12.09 ADEIA GUIDES INC

AI summary

Systems and methods are described herein for selecting content providers based on performance scores of the respective content providers. The system monitors the performance of a content provider, where the performance is based on the quality of service for receiving a media content item from the content provider. Based on the monitored performance, the system may determine if an adequate performance is not achievable. In response to determining that an adequate performance is not achievable, the system compares the performance of the content provider to the performance of a second content provider and provides, on the user device, the media content item from the second content provider.