Live Stream Segment TTL Guidance for Premature Requests
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing techniques for streaming live events result in unnecessary waste of network and processing resources due to premature segment requests, as user devices often re-request segments that have not yet been generated, leading to repeated relay through the CDN to the origin server.
Innovation Solution
The origin server provides re-request guidance by indicating a time-to-live (TTL) in responses to premature segment requests, allowing user devices to delay re-requests until the estimated availability time, reducing futile relays and resource usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If user devices repeatedly re-request segments that have not yet been generated, then the likelihood of obtaining segments increases, but network and processing resources are wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The origin server provides feedback to user devices by including a current segment index in responses, enabling devices to determine whether requested segments are available without repeated futile requests. This feedback mechanism allows devices to adjust their request timing based on the actual generation status of segments.
Solution Approach 2:
User devices perform preliminary checks by comparing requested segment indices with the current segment index received from the origin server before submitting requests. This preliminary action prevents premature requests from being transmitted through the CDN, avoiding unnecessary resource consumption.
2Loss of time
If user devices request segments immediately upon expected availability, then latency is reduced, but requests are made before segments are generated
Solution Approach 1:
The origin server provides real-time feedback about segment generation status through the current segment index included in responses. User devices use this feedback to dynamically adjust their request timing, ensuring requests are made only when segments are actually available while minimizing latency.
Solution Approach 2:
User devices autonomously determine whether to request segments by comparing the requested segment index with the current segment index received from the origin server. This self-service mechanism enables devices to make intelligent requests without requiring additional coordination or control from the origin server.
3Ease of operation
If the CDN relays requests to the origin server for unavailable segments, then request routing is simplified, but processing overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
User devices perform preliminary validation of segment availability by comparing indices before requests reach the CDN. This preliminary action filters out invalid requests, reducing the processing overhead on CDN nodes and origin servers while maintaining simple request routing for valid segments.
Solution Approach 2:
The validation logic for determining segment availability is extracted from the CDN and origin server and implemented at the user device. This extraction reduces the processing burden on the CDN infrastructure while maintaining the simplicity of request routing for legitimate segments.
Data Source
AI summary
In various embodiments, an origin application responds to requests associated with streamed live events. The origin application receives a request from a device for a segment of a stream associated with a live event. The origin application determines at least one of an error condition or a time-to-live (TTL) based on a current index associated with the live event and an index associated with the segment. The origin application transmits to the device a response indicating at least one of the error condition or the TTL.