Content Steering Using Network Topology and Routing Factors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing content delivery systems fail to optimally determine which content to place on edge nodes and when to change it, as they rely solely on log file analysis, lacking insights into alternative content requests and network routing decisions.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that analyze playback session information, including network topology and steering factors, to identify and transfer multimedia content to the most suitable end nodes for subsequent provisioning, considering factors like health, distance, and ISP agreements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If traditional log file analysis algorithms are used to determine content placement on edge nodes, then content delivery can be maintained with existing simplicity, but the system cannot identify alternative content requests or understand why specific routing decisions were made
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary analysis of playback session information, network topology, and steering factors before content placement decisions are made. By proactively examining these elements in advance, the system can identify optimal content routing decisions and prevent information loss about why certain routes were selected, without requiring complex real-time analysis during content delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms by analyzing playback session information and steering factors to understand why specific routing decisions were made. This feedback loop allows the system to learn from actual routing behavior and improve future content placement decisions, transforming one-way log analysis into a iterative optimization process that recovers lost routing information.
2Adaptability or versatility
If content is placed on edge nodes based solely on log file analysis, then the system maintains operational simplicity, but it cannot determine which content would have been requested had different content been placed on edge nodes
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary evaluation of network topology and steering factors before finalizing content placement decisions. By analyzing these elements in advance, the system can simulate alternative content placement scenarios and determine what content would have been requested under different conditions, enabling adaptability without requiring complex real-time experimentation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system adds new dimensions to content evaluation by incorporating network topology information and steering factor analysis alongside traditional log file analysis. This multi-dimensional approach enables the system to evaluate alternative content placement strategies by considering not just what was delivered, but also the network context and routing decisions that influenced delivery, thereby assessing counterfactual scenarios.
3Productivity
If traditional content delivery without advanced steering analysis is used, then network infrastructure remains simple, but content delivery efficiency is not optimized and unnecessary network hops occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary analysis of playback session information and network topology to identify optimal content routing paths before content delivery begins. By pre-determining the most efficient routes based on steering factors, the system can avoid unnecessary network hops and optimize delivery efficiency without requiring complex dynamic adjustments during the delivery process itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from analyzed steering factors and network topology to continuously optimize content routing decisions. This feedback mechanism enables the system to learn from actual delivery patterns and network conditions, progressively improving content delivery efficiency by selecting optimal paths while maintaining relatively simple infrastructure requirements.
Data Source
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AI summary
The disclosed computer-implemented method includes accessing information related to a playback session in which at least a portion of requested multimedia content is streamed over a network to a client electronic device. The method further includes accessing network topology information for the network to identify which route through the network was used to provide the requested multimedia content during the playback session, including indicating which end node was used to provide the multimedia content. Still further, the method includes accessing network steering factors that indicate why the requested multimedia content was steered through the identified network route, determining, based on the network steering factors, which end node would have been more suited to providing the requested multimedia content for the playback session, and then transferring the requested multimedia content to the determined end node for provisioning during subsequent playback sessions. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.