IPTV Server Pre-buffering for Reduced Channel Change Delay
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing television systems in hospitality lodging establishments experience significant delays, known as 'zap time,' when changing channels due to network and acquisition factors, particularly in digital televisions, leading to guest dissatisfaction.
Innovation Solution
A server system with a network interface controller that receives and prepares internet protocol television signals, buffering and decrypting channels in advance to minimize delays by accessing periodic, sequential signal access points, allowing for near-instant channel changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If digital television systems are used in hospitality lodging establishments, then picture quality and resolution are improved, but channel change delay (zap time) increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-buffering and pre-decrypting channel signals before they are requested. When a channel change is initiated, the previously buffered and decrypted signal can be immediately transmitted, eliminating the need to wait for real-time decryption and buffering operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary buffering and decryption system between the signal source and the television display. This intermediary component pre-processes signals and stores them in buffers, acting as a mediator that decouples the signal transmission from the actual display requirement, thereby reducing channel change delays.
2Device complexity
If real-time signal processing is performed without pre-buffering, then system complexity is reduced, but channel change speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-buffering and pre-decrypting channel signals before they are requested. When a channel change is initiated, the previously buffered and decrypted signal can be immediately transmitted, eliminating the need to wait for real-time decryption and buffering operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements periodic buffering and decryption operations, continuously preparing signals at regular intervals. This periodic pre-processing ensures that signals are ready when needed, improving channel change speed while maintaining manageable system complexity through rhythmic, predictable operations.
3Loss of time
If signals are buffered and decrypted in advance, then channel change delay is reduced, but memory requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality by buffering and decrypting only the specific channel signals that are likely to be requested next, rather than pre-processing all channels. This targeted approach reduces memory requirements while still achieving fast channel changes for the most probable selections.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs partial pre-buffering and decryption operations, preparing signals to the extent necessary for fast channel changes without completely pre-processing all possible channels. This partial action approach balances memory consumption with channel change speed improvements.
Data Source
AI summary
A sever for providing television and system and method for use of the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, the server includes a network interface controller that is configured to receive a source internet protocol television signal, which includes two channels, from an external source and at least partially prepare the source internet protocol signal in order to forward the signal to a television. The server saves in a buffer the at least partially prepared second channel beginning at a recent periodic, sequential signal access point. In response to receiving a channel request instruction from a requesting television when the server is forwarding the at least partially prepared first channel signal, the server forwards the at least partially prepared signal based on the second channel stored in the buffer beginning at the recent periodic, sequential signal access point.