Digital Content Distribution System Using Pre-Content Playback
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current video-on-demand systems face challenges in providing seamless access to unlimited content for an unlimited number of users due to bandwidth limitations and the need for proxy servers, leading to reduced throughput and potential delays or lost frames in transmission.
Innovation Solution
A digital content distribution system that calculates the time required for smooth playback based on available network speed, selects pre-content based on user profile and preference information, and validates the percentage of downloaded content to ensure seamless playback, utilizing a distributed hosting architecture with dynamic data structures for content management and protection against misuse.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If proxy servers are used to manage content distribution, then system administration and security are enhanced, but overall bandwidth is reduced and throughput decreases resulting in lost frames or delays
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the proxy server function from the content distribution path by enabling end-user devices to directly access and manage content from the content warehouse. The end-user device downloads content directly using its own credentials and plays it locally, eliminating the intermediary proxy server that was causing bandwidth reduction and throughput loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The end-user device performs self-service by directly authenticating with the content warehouse using its own credentials, downloading content independently, and managing playback locally without requiring proxy server mediation. This self-service approach eliminates the bandwidth overhead and processing delays introduced by proxy servers while maintaining security through direct authentication mechanisms.
2Speed
If content is downloaded and played back in real-time, then user access is immediate, but bandwidth limitations cause delays or lost frames
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by downloading the entire content file to the end-user device before playback begins. The content is stored locally in the device's memory or storage, allowing immediate playback without real-time streaming constraints. This preliminary download ensures that all frames are available locally, eliminating playback delays and frame loss while maintaining high-quality reproduction.
3Device complexity
If a head-end provider distributes content through a distribution network, then content delivery is centralized, but the system cannot scale to unlimited content and unlimited end users
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the centralized head-end provider architecture into distributed end-user devices that each have direct access to the content warehouse. Instead of one central distribution point, multiple end-user devices independently access content, enabling the system to scale to unlimited users and content. Each device operates independently with its own authentication and playback capabilities.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 1a
Figure 1b
AI summary
A method, system, computer program product, and end user device (110) for digital content distribution in a content distribution system (100). When digital content is selected for viewing by a user, the time required for downloading the selected digital content for smooth play based on available network speed is calculated. Pre-content is then selected based on the calculated time and user information, and the selected pre-content is played until the percentage of digital content downloaded is within pre-programmed acceptable limits for subsequent digital content playback.