Dynamic Content Source Selection for Streaming Latency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing multimedia streaming systems often experience delays and packet loss due to network conditions, leading to poor user experience when the source server has high bandwidth demand or network load, making it necessary to dynamically select a more suitable content source based on performance data.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that involves a destination device and a server exchanging performance data to determine the best content source, using a rules engine to select between the source server and alternative sources based on factors like geographic distance, packet loss, and client load, ensuring a more efficient media stream delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multimedia content is streamed from a central server, then content availability is ensured, but network latency and packet loss increase under high load conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the centralized content delivery system into multiple distributed content sources (edge servers, CDN nodes, peer devices). Instead of relying on a single central server, content is divided and delivered from multiple geographically distributed sources, reducing network latency and packet loss while maintaining content availability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediary devices (edge servers, CDN nodes, and even peer destination devices) between the central server and end users. These intermediaries cache and retransmit content, acting as mediators that reduce the direct load on central servers and minimize network latency for users.
2Device complexity
If a single server provides all multimedia content, then system complexity is minimized, but performance degrades under high network load
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functionality of content storage, caching, and delivery across multiple devices including edge servers, CDN nodes, and peer destination devices. This distributed merging of functions improves content delivery performance by utilizing available bandwidth and resources across the network while maintaining manageable system complexity through standardized protocols.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes content delivery universal by enabling multiple types of devices (edge servers, CDN nodes, peer devices) to perform content delivery functions. Each device type can serve as a content source, providing multi-functionality that improves overall system performance under varying load conditions.
3Loss of energy
If content is delivered from geographically distant servers, then infrastructure costs are reduced, but packet loss and playback quality deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by delivering content from geographically local sources (edge servers, CDN nodes, or nearby peer devices) rather than distant central servers. This localizes content delivery to reduce network latency and packet loss, improving playback quality while maintaining cost efficiency through distributed caching.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods of selecting a content source based on performance data are disclosed. A particular method includes sending, from a device, a first request for a media stream to a server. The method also includes determining, at the device, first performance data. The method further includes receiving, at the device, second performance data from the server. The method also includes selecting, based on the first performance data and the second performance data, a content source that is distinct from the server. The method further includes sending, from the device, a second request for the media stream to the content source. The method also includes receiving the media stream at the device from the content source.