Distribution Entity Content Streaming Adaptation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing digital content distribution methods in communication networks face challenges such as queue starvation due to deteriorating network conditions, particularly when client entities are not compatible with adaptive bitrate streaming techniques, making updates costly and difficult.
Innovation Solution
A method where a distribution entity segments content into elementary blocks and selects data segments with transmission durations less than the estimated queue restitution time, ensuring continuous streaming without requiring client entity updates, by using simple processor load management and high-level information from transport protocols like TCP.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If adaptive bitrate streaming technique is implemented to prevent queue starvation, then the quality of content delivery is improved, but the complexity of client entity updates increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of updating client entities to support adaptive bitrate streaming, the patent inverts the approach by implementing adaptive bitrate selection at the distribution entity. The distribution entity monitors network conditions and selects appropriate data segments dynamically, eliminating the need for client updates while maintaining quality adaptation.
Solution Approach 2:
The distribution entity acts as an intermediary between the content source and client entities. It receives content, segments it into elementary blocks with multiple quality levels, monitors network conditions, and selects appropriate segments to transmit, thereby mediating the adaptive bitrate function without requiring client-side changes.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If progressive downloading is used to continue content transmission, then the continuity of content delivery is improved, but the risk of queue starvation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The distribution entity continuously monitors network throughput and uses this feedback to dynamically adjust the selection of data segments. By comparing actual network conditions with required transmission parameters, the system can prevent queue starvation while maintaining continuous content delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the bitrate and quality level of transmitted data segments based on real-time network conditions. The distribution entity adapts its transmission strategy continuously, switching between different quality levels to maintain both continuity and prevent starvation.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a technique for distributing content in a communication network in the form of a continuous stream. The content is segmented into a series of elementary blocks. The communication network comprises at least one client entity capable of receiving data segments and storing them in a queue before their continuous retransmission.The distribution process includes the following steps implemented by a distribution entity: a/ a step of receiving a content access request from the client entity; and to distribute a current elementary block of the required content: b/ a step of estimating the time required to retrieve the data stored in the client entity's queue; c/ a step of selecting a data segment from among a plurality of data segments associated with the current elementary block, respectively encoded at different quality levels, the transmission time of said data segment being less than the estimated time; d/ a step of sending the selected data segment, steps b/ to d/ being repeated until all the data segments respectively associated with the elementary blocks constituting the content have been sent to the client entity.