Decentralized Metadata Execution for IPTV Control Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
The IPTV system's centralized execution of media playing policies by the service control function (SCF) results in low processing efficiency, limiting the ability to effectively manage and control media content playback.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that utilize metadata to describe media play control policies, which are distributed to a metadata execution unit for decentralized execution, allowing for improved processing efficiency by enabling the metadata execution unit to control media content playback through a media content control unit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the service control function (SCF) executes media playing policies in a centralized mode, then the control authority and policy management are simplified, but the processing efficiency and execution speed are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the centralized SCF into multiple distributed metadata execution units (MEUs) that are deployed across different network nodes including terminals, media functions, and service control functions. Each MEU independently executes metadata policies locally, transforming the monolithic centralized architecture into a segmented distributed architecture that maintains control simplicity while dramatically improving execution efficiency through parallel processing across multiple nodes.
2Adaptability or versatility
If media playing policies are executed in a centralized mode by SCF, then policy management is unified, but the processing time and system response speed increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-downloading and caching metadata into local storage of metadata execution units before policy execution is needed. When a media playing policy needs to be executed, the MEU can immediately process the pre-cached metadata without waiting for remote retrieval, significantly reducing execution time. This is particularly effective for frequently accessed policies and enables rapid response to user requests while maintaining unified policy management through centralized metadata updates.
3Device complexity
If the SCF directly controls media playing, then the control path is simple, but the system scalability and ability to handle multiple terminals are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces metadata execution units as intermediary components between the SCF and media content delivery. These MEUs act as local agents that receive policy instructions from the SCF, execute them autonomously, and control local media playback. This intermediary layer enables the SCF to maintain simple centralized control logic while the distributed MEUs handle the complexity of multiple terminals and devices, allowing the system to scale horizontally without increasing SCF processing burden.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method and a system for controlling media playing and a metadata execution unit are provided. The metadata execution unit obtains metadata provided by a metadata providing unit, and executes corresponding metadata according to trigger information for executing metadata. The metadata execution unit generates media content control indication information according to an execution result, and sends the media content control indication information. A media content control unit then controls media content playing correspondingly according to the media content control indication information. By using the method and apparatus, metadata is distributed to a suitable network entity to be executed for controlling media playing. In this way, decentralized execution of a policy is achieved. Therefore, processing efficiency is improved.