Edge Content Streaming With Cached Assets for Low-Latency Delivery

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing content streaming systems for interactive content, such as videogames, suffer from high latency due to geographical separation between primary servers and users, as edge servers simply relay live content without reducing the data volume or optimizing data paths.

Innovation Solution

Implementing an edge server system that caches pre-recorded or non-interactive content components, reduces data streaming from primary servers by sending metadata or cached data, and optimizes data paths to minimize latency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If edge servers are deployed to cache content from primary servers, then latency for users is reduced, but for interactive content the edge servers merely relay live content without reducing data volume

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovelatencyVSAvoiddata volume
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the content delivery process by separating static/cached content from dynamic/interactive content. The system divides the data stream into portions that can be served from edge server caches (reducing bandwidth) and portions that require real-time generation from primary servers. This segmentation allows the edge server to handle cached portions locally while maintaining low latency for interactive portions through optimized relay mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements preliminary action by pre-caching static and predictable content components at edge servers before they are needed. Game assets, level data, and other non-dynamic content are prepared and stored in advance at edge locations, so that when users access interactive content, only the dynamic portions need to be transmitted in real-time, significantly reducing the data volume that must be relayed from primary servers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If primary servers are geographically located close to service providers, then content delivery is efficient, but users at significant distances experience unwanted latencies

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontent delivery efficiencyVSAvoidlatency for distant users
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dimensionality change by transitioning from a single centralized content delivery model to a multi-dimensional distributed architecture. Instead of relying solely on geographical proximity of single primary servers, the system creates multiple delivery dimensions: local edge servers provide regional caching, while optimized relay paths provide real-time interactive content. This multi-dimensional approach allows users anywhere in the network to access content with minimal latency regardless of their distance from the original service provider.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Ease of manufacture

If edge servers act as passive stores for cached content, then they work well for non-interactive content, but they are not appropriate for interactive content where content is generated in real time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveedge server operation simplicityVSAvoidsuitability for interactive content
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements multi-functionality by designing edge servers that perform multiple roles: they act as passive caches for static content, optimized relays for real-time interactive content, and intelligent routing nodes that determine which function to apply in each situation. This universal edge server architecture maintains the simplicity of passive caching operations while adding the adaptability to handle interactive content through conditional routing and collaboration with primary servers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4697729A1Content streaming system and method
Publication Date: 2026.02.18 SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT LLC
  • EP4697729A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4697729A1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4697729A1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

An interactive content distribution system comprises an edge server configured to receive interactive content streamed from a primary server, and stream it to a client device, the edge server being configured to receive data streamed from the client device, the edge server being configured to have the interactive content stream and the video camera feed stream composited together to generate a sharing stream, and the edge server being configured to have the sharing stream distributed to one or more spectator devices.