Distributed Content Encoding for Mobile Streaming Adaptability

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Computing devices with limited resources struggle to encode recorded content in multiple formats for streaming due to constraints such as battery power, compute limitations, and varying network connectivity, especially when users are mobile and require real-time streaming.

Innovation Solution

A distributed encoding system that dynamically discovers and utilizes available computing resources, offloading encoding tasks to nearby devices with greater capabilities, optimizing for factors like compute resources, quality of service, and security to enhance streaming quality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a computing device with limited resources encodes content in multiple formats for streaming, then streaming quality and adaptability improve, but device power consumption increases and processing time extends

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestreaming quality adaptabilityVSAvoiddevice power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the encoding task by dividing content into multiple segments and distributing encoding responsibilities across different computing devices in a network. Each device encodes only specific segments in specific formats, rather than one device handling all formats, thereby reducing individual device power consumption while maintaining overall streaming adaptability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a universal encoding network where multiple computing devices with different capabilities contribute to the same streaming objective. Various device types (mobile phones, tablets, computers, servers) perform encoding tasks based on their available resources, making the system as a whole multi-functional and adaptable to different streaming scenarios

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If a computing device encodes content in multiple formats simultaneously, then streaming compatibility improves, but processing time and computational load increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestreaming format compatibilityVSAvoidencoding processing time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the encoding workload by segmenting content into multiple parts and assigning different format encoding tasks to different computing devices. This parallel segmentation approach reduces the time any single device needs to spend on encoding while ensuring all required formats are produced

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary encoding actions by pre-processing content segments and preparing multiple format versions in advance before streaming begins. This allows the streaming service to quickly adapt to different device requirements without real-time encoding delays

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Speed

If a mobile device with limited resources performs real-time encoding, then streaming responsiveness improves, but battery power depletes faster

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestreaming responsivenessVSAvoidbattery power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the heavy encoding workload from the mobile device and relocates it to more powerful computing devices in the network. The mobile device retains only lightweight tasks such as content capture and initial processing, while format encoding is performed remotely, preserving battery power while maintaining streaming responsiveness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces intermediary computing devices and servers that act as mediators between the mobile content source and the streaming destination. These intermediaries handle the computationally intensive encoding tasks, allowing the mobile device to maintain responsiveness without excessive power consumption

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS12355832B2Methods and systems for encoding and decoding data

Publication Date: 2025.07.08 APPLE INC

AI summary

Techniques are disclosed relating to encoding recorded content for distribution to other computing devices. In some embodiments, a first computing device creates recorded content for transmission to a second computing device configured to present the recorded content. To encode the recorded content, the first computing device detects, via a network interface of the first computing device, one or more computing nodes available to encode the recorded content in one or more formats supported by the second computing device. The first computing device offloads the recorded content via the network interface to the one or more computing nodes for encoding in the one or more formats. In some embodiments, the second computing device receives a request from a user to stream content recorded by a first computing device and requests the content in a first format being encoded by a computing node assisting the first computing device.