Hybrid Electronic Program Guide for Broadcast and OTT Content
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Solution Overview
Problem
Broadcast providers face challenges in adding new content due to limitations in spectrum, bandwidth, and satellite capacity, while open networks like the Internet face issues with high bandwidth costs and network connectivity, making it difficult to efficiently deliver hybrid electronic programming guides (EPGs) that include both broadcast and over-the-top (OTT) content.
Innovation Solution
A hybrid communications system that integrates broadcast and OTT content delivery, using a secure processor to determine access rights and construct a hybrid EPG without requiring multiple network connections, allowing for the inclusion of both broadcast and OTT channels in a single interface, leveraging DVB standards for conditional access and DRM systems for authentication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If broadcast providers add new content through traditional broadcast methods, then content diversity is improved, but bandwidth consumption and satellite capacity requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments content delivery into two paths: broadcast delivery for popular content and OTT delivery for niche content. The EPG is segmented to indicate which content is available through which delivery method, allowing the system to diversify content offerings without proportionally increasing broadcast bandwidth consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
Different content types are assigned different delivery qualities - widely watched content receives broadcast delivery with high reliability, while niche content uses OTT delivery. The EPG provides localized information about content availability and delivery method, optimizing resource allocation based on content-specific requirements.
2Loss of information
If the system requires active connections to OTT servers to construct the EPG, then content availability information is improved, but system complexity and connection requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by receiving and processing EPG data during broadcast transmissions, before any OTT connection is needed. Service information including OTT content availability is embedded in the broadcast stream, allowing the device to construct the EPG using only broadcast connection, eliminating the need for subsequent OTT server connections.
Solution Approach 2:
The broadcast transmission acts as an intermediary that carries service information about OTT content availability. Instead of directly querying OTT servers, the system receives pre-packaged EPG data through the broadcast medium, which mediates the information transfer and simplifies the overall system architecture.
3Loss of energy
If the system uses only broadcast content delivery, then bandwidth efficiency is improved, but content accessibility and viewer choice are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges broadcast and OTT delivery mechanisms into a unified hybrid platform. The EPG integrates content from both delivery methods, allowing the system to maintain bandwidth efficiency for popular content while expanding content accessibility through OTT-delivered niche content, achieving both goals simultaneously.
4Measurement precision
If the system constructs EPG by querying multiple OTT servers, then content information accuracy is improved, but connection time and processing overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs the information gathering action in advance during the broadcast transmission, when EPG data is delivered as part of the regular broadcast stream. This preliminary delivery of service information eliminates the need for time-consuming queries to multiple OTT servers at EPG construction time, reducing connection time while maintaining information accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
The various examples described herein generally provide systems and methods for generating a hybrid electronic programming guide (EPG) that includes both broadcast content and other types of content, such as over-the-top (OTT) content. In examples, broadcast content may be content provided by a satellite, terrestrial, or cable television provider. Other types of content, e.g., the OTT content, may be content that is delivered over an open network, such as the Internet. In examples, a secure processor may be employed to determine if a subscriber is authorized to access the OTT content based on subscription information received via a broadcast transmission.