Convergence Processor Media Stream Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional media delivery systems are inefficient in handling multiple users requesting the same media content at different start times, as they require separate stream channels for each user, leading to resource wastage and inability to pause or rewind streams simultaneously.
Innovation Solution
A convergence processor identifies and aligns media streams with similar content by microediting frames to converge them into a single multicast stream, allowing multiple users to receive the same content without dedicated stream channels, thereby freeing up resources for other users.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If separate stream channels are allocated to each user receiving the same media content, then user flexibility to pause and rewind is improved, but transmission resource efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the stream delivery into two phases: unicast delivery during the attention window (first time period) when users join at different times, and multicast delivery after the attention window closes (second time period) when all users receive the same content simultaneously. This segmentation allows users to join flexibly initially, then consolidates into resource-efficient multicast for the remainder of the content.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically transitions from unicast to multicast delivery mode based on the closing of the attention window. During the attention window, individual unicast streams are maintained for each user to accommodate flexible joining. After the window closes, the system switches to a single multicast stream for all users, optimizing resource utilization while preserving user flexibility during the critical joining phase.
2Loss of energy
If multicast streams are used to deliver content to multiple recipients, then transmission resource efficiency is improved, but user flexibility to pause and rewind deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system establishes a predetermined attention window (first time period) during which users can join the stream individually via unicast delivery. This preliminary phase allows users to flexibly join and control their playback. After this window closes, the system transitions to multicast delivery for the remainder of the content, maintaining resource efficiency while having already granted users their flexibility needs during the critical joining phase.
3Adaptability or versatility
If dedicated stream channels are allocated to each user, then user control over playback timing is improved, but network bandwidth utilization deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple individual user streams into a single multicast stream after the attention window closes. During the first time period, separate unicast streams are maintained for each user to allow flexible joining and playback control. After the window closes, all users are merged into a single multicast group receiving content from a single stream, dramatically improving bandwidth utilization while having already satisfied user control requirements during the joining phase.
Data Source
AI summary
Multicast groups provide a mechanism to deliver simultaneous media content to a plurality of users. In streaming media systems, such as audio and video systems, each multicast recipient simultaneously receives similar content. Accordingly, each recipient must initiate transmission at the same time. A data communications device delivers multiple media streams of similar content to each of a plurality of users by converging a set of media streams and merging the converged streams onto a single stream for simultaneous delivery to each of the plurality of users from a single media stream resource. A convergence processor identifies a set of streams carrying similar content in a slightly time-shifted manner with respect to the other streams. The convergence processor filters certain streams to augment the streams to converge at a particular point, at which time the streams align respect to media content therein, and merge onto a multicast stream for the duration.