Hybrid Stream Mode Switching for Uninterrupted Content Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Streaming content delivery technologies require a constant connection, which can be disrupted by changes in location or network conditions, leading to interruptions or termination of content delivery sessions.
Innovation Solution
A client compute node and computer-implemented method that employ multiple stream content presentation, switching between hybrid and client stream modes to ensure continuous content delivery. In hybrid mode, both client and content provider streams are combined, while in client stream mode, only the client stream is used when the content provider stream is unavailable, allowing temporary continuation of content presentation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a constant connection to the provider is maintained for content delivery, then content delivery quality is improved, but the system becomes vulnerable to interruptions when client location changes or network conditions deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The content delivery system is segmented into two independent streams: a provider stream delivered from the content provider and a client stream generated locally at the client device. This segmentation allows the system to operate with partial functionality even when one stream becomes unavailable, thereby maintaining content delivery continuity while supporting client mobility.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically switches between hybrid mode (combining both streams) and client stream mode (using only local stream) based on real-time connection status. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to maintain reliability during location changes while preserving client mobility flexibility.
2Reliability
If hybrid stream mode is used combining client and content provider streams, then content presentation quality is improved, but the system requires constant provider connection
Solution Approach 1:
A stream combiner component acts as an intermediary that automatically manages the complexity of combining and switching between provider stream and client stream. This intermediary handles the complex logic of mode switching and stream integration, reducing the perceived complexity for other system components while maintaining high content presentation quality.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the system switches to client stream mode during connectivity issues, then content delivery resilience is improved, but content presentation quality may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The client device generates and buffers a client stream in advance, containing essential content elements that can be presented independently. This preparatory measure ensures that when network connectivity deteriorates, the system can immediately switch to client stream mode with pre-prepared content, maintaining delivery resilience while preserving acceptable content quality through the use of locally generated stream data.
Data Source
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AI summary
A client may, for example, initiate presentation of the content item in a hybrid stream mode in which both a client stream and a content provider stream are combined to form a resulting hybrid stream for presentation. The client may then, at some point during presentation of the content item, detect that the content provider stream has become unavailable. In response to such a determination, the client may continue to present the content item in a client stream mode, in which the client stream is used for presentation of the content item without use of the content provider stream.