In-Memory Playlist Streaming Eliminates Server Disk Fragmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing video streaming architectures require the creation, storage, and periodic deletion of physical video segments and playlist files on server disks, leading to disk fragmentation and high storage demands, which limits server availability and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for streaming videos where video segments are stored in the user device's memory, and object URLs are created and transmitted to the server to create an in-memory playlist, eliminating the need for physical file storage on the server disk, and allowing streaming using a playlist URL that points to in-memory video segments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If physical video segments and playlist files are stored on server disk, then video streaming can be performed, but disk space is occupied and disk fragmentation occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates object URLs that reference video segments stored in user device memory instead of creating physical copies on the server disk. The playlist contains URLs pointing to segments stored locally in the user's browser memory, eliminating the need for server disk storage while maintaining streaming functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the video segment storage function from the server disk and relocates it to the user device memory. The server only stores metadata (playlist URL and object URLs), while the actual video segments are stored and managed in the user's browser memory, removing the storage burden from the server.
2Reliability
If physical video segments are created and stored on server disk, then video streaming is enabled, but multiple operations consume time and cause disk fragmentation
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of physically creating and storing video segment files on the server disk, the system creates object URLs that reference segments stored in user device memory. This eliminates the time-consuming operations of file creation, storage, and periodic deletion on the server while maintaining the ability to stream video segments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces object URLs as an intermediary between the playlist and the video segments. The playlist contains URLs that point to segments stored in user device memory, eliminating the need for direct physical file operations on the server disk and reducing operational time and fragmentation.
3Reliability
If server disk space is occupied by video segments and playlist files, then streaming can occur, but server availability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the video segment storage function from the server infrastructure and relocates it to user device memory. The server only maintains lightweight metadata (playlist URL and object URLs), freeing up server disk space and increasing server availability for other operations while maintaining streaming service reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses object URLs to reference video segments stored in user device memory rather than storing physical copies on the server. This allows the server to provide streaming service without occupying disk space, maintaining service reliability while improving server availability for other tasks.
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of the invention are directed towards a system and a method for streaming video. One or more embodiments of the invention describe a method comprising steps of transmitting a request to a server by a user device for streaming a video and receiving one or more video segments of the video from the server. One or more embodiments of the invention further describe creating object uniform resource locators (URLs) for each of the one or more video segments and transmitting the created object URLs to the server, wherein an in-memory playlist is created on the server including the object URLs of the one or more video segments. The user device receives the playlist URL of the in-memory playlist from the server and streams the one or more video segments of the video at the user device by using the playlist URL.