Distributed Server Network for Data Stream Upload Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge in managing the upload of multimedia data streams, such as live video, for online examinations is the vulnerability to upload restrictions and disruptions, particularly the 'first mile' from the test taker's computing device into the network, which causes packet loss and delay due to bandwidth limitations, rendering downstream techniques ineffective.
Innovation Solution
A distributed server network is used to optimize the upload of data streams by estimating performance metrics for different network paths and selecting the best entry servers, ensuring high-quality upload performance and addressing first mile vulnerabilities, allowing real-time transmission of data streams to remote proctors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If real-time video data stream is uploaded from test taker's computing device to remote proctor, then remote proctoring capability is enabled, but packet loss and delay occur due to first mile bandwidth limitations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the video data stream into multiple packets and transmits them through different network paths simultaneously. This segmentation allows the system to bypass bandwidth limitations of any single path, reducing both packet loss and delay while maintaining data stream integrity for remote proctoring
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediary servers that act as mediators between the test taker's device and the remote proctor. These intermediaries receive, buffer, and retransmit data packets, compensating for first mile bandwidth limitations and ensuring reliable delivery without significant delay
2Reliability
If network upload bandwidth is increased to improve data stream quality, then packet loss is reduced, but upload cost and infrastructure complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of increasing bandwidth on a single connection, the patent segments the data stream across multiple existing network connections. This approach achieves improved upload quality and reduced packet loss by utilizing available bandwidth more efficiently without requiring expensive infrastructure upgrades
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes existing network infrastructure multi-functional by using multiple network paths simultaneously for a single data stream. This universal approach allows standard network connections to serve the specialized function of reliable real-time video transmission without additional dedicated infrastructure
Data Source
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AI summary
Systems and methods utilize a distributed server network to allow for the optimization of the upload of a data stream from a computing device. Performance metrics are estimated for different network paths from the computing device to a variety of entry servers in the distributed server network. Based on the estimated performance metrics, one or more entry servers are then selected to receive the data stream from the computing device. As a result, the systems and methods described herein allow for high quality upload performance which addresses the first mile vulnerability issues of the data stream. The distributed server network can then transmit copies of the data stream in real-time to other computing devices.