Edge Cache System for Local Content Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current content distribution methods for television content, such as those using 4G/LTE systems, often face limitations in speed and availability, especially in areas where high-bandwidth Internet access is not readily available, such as airports or sports venues.
Innovation Solution
Implementing an edge cache system with a satellite receiver and high-speed wireless transceiver, which selects and stores content based on location and user request history, and transmits it via short-range wireless protocols like IEEE 802.11ac or 802.11n, allowing for faster and more localized content delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If 4G/LTE systems are used for content distribution, then wide coverage is achieved, but transfer speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments content distribution into two parts: a central server handling wide coverage and content storage, and local edge caches handling high-speed delivery to nearby devices. This segmentation allows the system to achieve both wide coverage and high transfer speed by distributing content from the nearest available cache.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a spatial dimension to content distribution by deploying multiple edge caches at different locations. Instead of relying on a single centralized system, content can be delivered from the geographically nearest cache, adding a spatial optimization layer that improves speed without sacrificing coverage.
2Speed
If edge cache is deployed, then content transfer speed increases, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The edge cache devices are designed to perform multiple functions: storing content, receiving requests, determining optimal delivery methods, and acting as both clients and servers. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate specialized components, thereby managing system complexity while enabling high-speed local content delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
The edge cache autonomously determines whether to deliver content locally or redirect to remote servers based on its own state and the client's needs. This self-service capability eliminates the need for complex centralized control logic, simplifying the overall system architecture while maintaining high-speed delivery capabilities.
3Speed
If content is stored locally at edge cache, then access speed improves, but storage requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of uniformly caching all content types, the system applies local quality by caching content selectively based on location characteristics and user behavior patterns. Each edge cache stores content that is most relevant to its local user base, optimizing storage utilization while maintaining fast access for locally-relevant content.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-caching content that is predicted to be requested by local users, based on historical data and location characteristics. This anticipatory caching ensures that popular local content is already available at high speed without requiring excessive storage capacity for all possible content.
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a content distribution device that receives a signal stream from a satellite including items of media content. The device selectively stores a first subset of the media content items at a storage device, according to a characteristic of a location proximate to the device. The device selectively stores a second subset of the items according to a history of user requests for content transmitted in proximity to the content distribution device. The device receives a request from a consumer device for an item in the first subset or the second subset, retrieves the item, and transmits the item to the consumer device via a wireless access channel. The transmitting is performed according to a short range wireless protocol without utilizing a long range wireless protocol. Other embodiments are disclosed.