Gateway Device Caching for ABR Streaming Bandwidth Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional subscriber data networks face challenges in providing adaptive bit rate (ABR) streaming due to exponential bandwidth requirements at the root node, which increase with each additional branch, leading to network congestion and inefficiencies in media content distribution.
Innovation Solution
The system intercepts ABR-related requests and redirects them to gateway devices closer to the client devices, allowing for local caching and redistribution of digital media content, thereby reducing data traffic between the ABR server and the client devices, and sharing media resources to alleviate network congestion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If ABR streaming is provided from a remote ABR server at the root node, then media content can be delivered to client devices, but bandwidth requirements at the root node exponentially increase with each additional branch
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the centralized ABR streaming service into distributed cache servers located at different network nodes (gateway devices, CMCs, OLTs). Each cache server stores portions of media content locally, dividing the bandwidth burden from the root node across multiple distributed locations. This segmentation allows client devices to retrieve content from the nearest cache server rather than all content flowing through the root node, exponentially reducing bandwidth requirements at the root while maintaining service capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-caching media content at distributed cache servers before client devices request it. Cache servers proactively store media content in their local memory based on predicted demand patterns, popularity metrics, or predefined caching policies. When clients request content, it is already available at the distributed cache servers, eliminating the need for real-time bandwidth allocation from the root node and reducing peak bandwidth requirements.
2Productivity
If bandwidth is increased to serve more branches, then more users can be supported, but network congestion and inefficiencies increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by enabling each cache server to independently manage and serve media content to local client devices. Each cache server optimizes content delivery for its specific network segment and client population, rather than all clients competing for resources from a single root node. This localized content delivery reduces network congestion on trunk lines, improves delivery efficiency for each local segment, and allows the network to support more users without proportional increases in overall network congestion.
3Quantity of substance
If media content is stored at multiple gateway devices, then bandwidth requirements at the root node are reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by enabling cache servers to autonomously manage their own content storage, retrieval, and distribution operations. Each cache server independently determines what content to cache based on local demand patterns, automatically serves content requests from local clients, and dynamically adjusts its caching strategy without requiring manual configuration or centralized control. This self-service approach simplifies network management despite the distributed architecture, as each node operates independently based on local conditions rather than requiring complex centralized coordination.
Data Source
AI summary
A system includes one or more network media service devices, with each network media node operably connected upstream to one or more gateway devices. At least one of the network media service devices is configured to intercept an ABR-related request to receive digital media content for a media channel sent from a client set top box to a remote ABR server located upstream from the at least one network media device, identify a second gateway device that is storing the digital media content, the second gateway device having previously received the digital media content from the remote ABR server, and return a network address of the second gateway device to the client set top box for use by the client set top box to receive the digital media content from the second gateway device. In various implementations, the network address is returned in connection with an HTTP response indicating a redirection to the network address.