Global Control Stream for Multi-Decoder Bandwidth Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current broadband communications systems face challenges in simultaneously controlling multiple decoders at a remote location, particularly in managing bandwidth and coordinating program scheduling across satellite broadcast networks, which limits efficient program distribution and regionalization.

Innovation Solution

A system for controlling a plurality of decoders using a global control data stream that includes disaster recovery, live event control, and storage control streams, allowing for simultaneous initialization and management of decoders, with features like group targeting and content management tables to handle program storage, playback, and regionalization.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If multiple decoders are controlled individually through separate control streams, then each decoder can be independently managed, but the bandwidth consumption increases and coordination efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedecoder control efficiencyVSAvoidbandwidth consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple individual decoder control streams into a single global control stream that simultaneously controls multiple decoders. This consolidation reduces the number of separate control signals transmitted over the network, thereby reducing bandwidth consumption while maintaining the ability to independently manage each decoder through targeted control messages within the unified stream.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The global control stream serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides disaster recovery control, live event control, and storage control for multiple decoders through a single transmission medium. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for separate dedicated control streams for each function and decoder, optimizing bandwidth utilization.

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

2Quantity of substance

If a global control stream is used to simultaneously control multiple decoders, then bandwidth efficiency improves and coordination is enhanced, but the complexity of managing different control functions increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebandwidth consumptionVSAvoidcontrol stream management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The global control stream is segmented into distinct control sections for different functions: disaster recovery control, live event control, and storage control. Each section can be independently processed and managed by the decoders, reducing the complexity of handling the overall stream while maintaining the benefits of simultaneous control across multiple devices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces control tables as intermediary structures that mediate between the global control stream and individual decoder requirements. These tables organize and prioritize control messages, making the management of complex control functions more systematic and reducing processing complexity at the decoder level.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If decoders are controlled simultaneously across remote locations, then program distribution efficiency improves, but the difficulty of coordinating control actions across different regions increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprogram distribution efficiencyVSAvoidcoordination difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The global control stream incorporates local quality attributes by allowing different control actions to be applied to different decoders based on their specific regional requirements. The control tables enable regionalization of control logic while maintaining simultaneous execution, thereby coordinating remote control actions without requiring uniform treatment of all decoders.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP1872579B1Control system with global control stream for controlling a plurality of decoders
Publication Date: 2009.11.18 SCI ATLANTA INC
  • EP1872579B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1872579B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP1872579B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Control system with global control stream for controlling a plurality of decoders. The control system simultaneously controls a plurality of decoders at a remote location by using a global control data stream. A global control stream is a collection of data used for global applications. There are currently three global data streams - disaster recovery, live event control, and storage control. The streams may exist on a shared or independent PID. A control server forms a transport stream and the global control stream is injected into the transport stream by the control server.