Live Streaming Optimizer Server Bandwidth Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing demand for live streaming video content over HTTP protocols leads to network congestion due to the inefficiencies of unicast-based content delivery, which replicates content flows for each user, consuming excessive bandwidth and requiring extensive infrastructure, while multicast solutions are limited by their architecture and inability to handle third-party content delivery.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a Live Streaming Optimizer (LISTO) server within the transport network, acting as a proxy to request and distribute live media content on behalf of users, reducing the number of unicast flows by interacting with CDN endpoints and instructing users to redirect their requests through a LISTO server, thereby minimizing bandwidth consumption and infrastructure needs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If unicast-based content delivery is used to support HTTP live streaming, then user access flexibility and device compatibility are improved, but network bandwidth consumption and infrastructure complexity increase dramatically
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the content delivery function by introducing an intermediate server that separates the CDN endpoint from end users. The server receives unicast requests from users and retrieves content from CDN endpoints, creating a two-stage delivery process that optimizes both flexibility and bandwidth efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
An intermediate server acts as a mediator between end users and CDN endpoints. This server receives HTTP unicast requests from users, translates them into content retrieval operations from CDN endpoints, and delivers content to users, thereby reducing direct unicast flow replication across the network while maintaining HTTP compatibility.
2Loss of energy
If multicast-based content delivery is used to reduce bandwidth consumption, then network efficiency is improved, but the system loses flexibility in handling third-party content and direct user access
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adapts the delivery mechanism based on content source and user requirements. For third-party content accessed via HTTP, it uses unicast through the intermediate server, while for operator-controlled content, it can leverage multicast capabilities, thus achieving both efficiency and flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The intermediate server provides universal content delivery capability by supporting both unicast HTTP requests from any device and multicast distribution to multiple users simultaneously. This multi-functional approach allows the system to handle diverse content sources and delivery scenarios through a single infrastructure.
3Ease of operation
If direct unicast connections are established between users and CDN endpoints, then user access simplicity is improved, but network congestion and infrastructure requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts the content retrieval function from the end user device by introducing an intermediate server that handles content requests. Users simply access the server via standard HTTP protocols, while the server manages the complex interactions with CDN endpoints, thereby simplifying user access while reducing infrastructure burden.
4Reliability
If multiple unicast flows are created for each user request, then user-specific content delivery is improved, but network capacity requirements and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges multiple user requests for the same content into a single retrieval operation from the CDN endpoint. The intermediate server maintains state information about active requests and content delivery status, allowing it to serve multiple users from a single content source without creating redundant network flows, thus reducing overall network capacity requirements while maintaining reliable user-specific delivery.
Data Source
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AI summary
The system, comprising: - at least one user provided with a computing device requesting a live media content; and - a controller located in the distribution network of a content delivery network being adapted to receive said requesting and to transmit said requested live media content to said at least one user, the system comprising a live streaming optimizer (LISTO) server located in the transport network of said content delivery network and adapted to request said live media content to an identified content delivery network end point in a certain domain and adapted to transmit said live media content to said at least one user. The method of the invention for implementing the system of the invention. The live streaming optimizer server for optimal distribution of live media content.