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, particularly for 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 and regional servers store frequently requested content, with a web-based interface allowing users to easily search and order content, while maintaining a scalable approach to storage and user access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a large number of content titles are stored at regional servers to provide extensive VOD selection, then content availability and user choice are improved, but data storage costs and system complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the content delivery infrastructure into national servers that store the complete content library and regional servers that store only frequently requested content. This segmentation allows regional servers to provide extensive content availability without storing entire content libraries locally, thereby reducing data storage requirements while maintaining content variety.
Solution Approach 2:
National servers act as intermediaries between content sources and regional servers. When content is requested at regional servers, the system determines whether to deliver from local storage or retrieve from national servers. This intermediary role enables content sharing across regions without duplicating storage at each regional server.
2Speed
If content is pre-stored at regional servers for immediate delivery, then delivery speed and user experience are improved, but storage costs and maintenance complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements local quality by storing different types of content at different locations based on access patterns. Frequently requested content is cached at regional servers for immediate delivery, while less frequently accessed content remains at national servers. This approach optimizes delivery speed for popular content while reducing the overall storage burden and maintenance complexity at regional servers.
3Ease of operation
If standardized protocols are used for content delivery control, then system interoperability and ease of operation are improved, but flexibility in implementing customized VOD services is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs standardized protocols such as ISA and RTSP that enable multiple functions and broad compatibility across different equipment and service providers. These universal protocols form the foundation for content delivery control while allowing customization through application-layer implementations, thus achieving both ease of operation and service flexibility.
Data Source
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.