Local Content Distribution to Shift Peak Streaming Traffic
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing streaming content distribution systems face network bandwidth constraints during peak usage hours, leading to transmission delays, low resolution, and increased costs for multi-service operators and users due to high demand for streaming content.
Innovation Solution
Predicting user content preferences and downloading digital content, such as video on demand programs and software updates, to a local storage device during off-peak hours to reduce network utilization during peak times.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If digital content is streamed during peak hours to meet user demand, then user satisfaction is maintained, but network bandwidth constraints cause transmission delays and increased costs
Solution Approach 1:
The system predicts which digital content users are likely to request and pre-downloads it to local storage devices during off-peak hours. When users request content during peak hours, it is immediately available from local storage, eliminating transmission delays while maintaining user satisfaction.
2Reliability
If network capacity is expanded to handle peak streaming demand, then transmission quality improves, but costs for multi-service operators and users increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates local copies of predicted digital content in user's local storage devices. These copies serve as alternatives to network transmission during peak hours, maintaining high transmission quality without requiring additional network infrastructure capacity.
3Reliability
If digital content is downloaded during peak hours when users select it, then content availability is ensured, but network utilization is high causing congestion
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs content download operations in advance during off-peak hours when network utilization is low. By the time users request content during peak hours, it is already downloaded and stored locally, ensuring availability while avoiding network congestion.
4Manufacturing precision
If streaming resolution is increased to meet quality demands, then user satisfaction improves, but network bandwidth requirements increase causing more congestion
Solution Approach 1:
The system downloads high-resolution digital content in advance during off-peak hours and stores it locally. During peak hours, high-resolution content is streamed from local storage without consuming additional network bandwidth, maintaining quality while avoiding congestion.
Data Source
AI summary
In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, a method of operating a local storage device (“LSD”) in a broadband communication network is disclosed. The LSD is within a local area network of at least one user device. At least one item of digital content is received by the LSD from at least some of a plurality of digital content providers, via the network, during an off peak time period of the network. The item of digital content is selected by a respective content provider for download to a respective user based on the respective user. The received digital content is stored in the local storage device. A selected one of the stored digital content is provided from the LSD to a user device in response to a request from the user device. A system for providing digital content and an LSD, are also disclosed.