Hierarchical Content Distribution System for VOD Storage Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current content delivery systems face challenges in providing a large selection of video-on-demand services due to high data storage requirements and limitations in user interfaces, especially when serving geographically dispersed users, leading to increased costs and system complexity.
Innovation Solution
A hierarchical content distribution system where national servers store a large number of titles, with regional servers storing frequently requested content and using a web-based interface for users to easily search and order content, allowing for efficient content delivery and management across the network.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a large number of content titles are stored at all regional servers to provide extensive VOD selection, then content availability and user satisfaction improve, but data storage costs and system complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the content delivery infrastructure into national servers and regional servers. National servers store the complete content library, while regional servers store only frequently requested content. This segmentation allows extensive content availability without requiring every regional server to store all content, thereby reducing overall storage requirements while maintaining service versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
National servers serve multiple regional servers and provide content to multiple regions, functioning as a centralized content repository. This multi-functional approach allows a single national server to support numerous regional operations, reducing the need for redundant storage across all regional locations while ensuring broad content availability.
2Speed
If content is pre-stored at regional servers for fast delivery, then content delivery speed improves, but storage costs and the need for frequent updates increase
Solution Approach 1:
Regional servers store content locally based on regional viewing patterns and preferences, rather than uniformly across all regions. This local quality approach ensures that each regional server has the specific content its local users demand most frequently, optimizing delivery speed for local needs while minimizing redundant storage of content that would not be used in that region.
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-loads frequently requested content into regional server caches before users request it. This preliminary action ensures that popular content is already available at regional servers for immediate delivery, while less popular content remains at national servers. The system dynamically manages what content is pre-stored based on usage patterns, optimizing both speed and storage efficiency.
3Ease of operation
If traditional VOD interfaces are used, then system simplicity is maintained, but user accessibility and ease of content selection are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces a web-based interface as an intermediary layer between users and the content delivery system. This web interface provides enhanced search, browsing, and selection capabilities compared to traditional VOD interfaces, while the underlying content delivery infrastructure remains unchanged. The intermediary interface improves user accessibility without requiring changes to the core system architecture.
Data Source
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AI summary
Methods and apparatus for supporting content delivery service are described. In accordance with the invention content can be supplied to temporary storage of a regional or local server used to supply the content to a customer's premises when the requested content is not already available in the regional or local server. A content server hierarchy may be implemented with servers higher up in the hierarchy including more content, e.g., titles, than the number of titles stored in the lower level servers. By storing less frequently accessed content in servers higher in the hierarchy and frequently requested titles lower in the hierarchy, a vast number of titles can be supported without overburdening the storage available at local and regional servers. In addition, a national or other server high in the hierarchy can be used to store, move, and distribute local or other content as part of an on demand service.