Media Content Burst Distribution for Bandwidth Efficiency

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current media content distribution methods, such as Unicast and Multicast, face inefficiencies in bandwidth usage and adaptive bit rate management, leading to network congestion and disruption in video services.

Innovation Solution

The method involves segmenting media content services into bursts with staggered start times and window periods, allowing for dynamic bit rate adjustment without disrupting the service, by transmitting segments at higher bit rates and using multicast protocols to manage client demands efficiently.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If Unicast is used to deliver media content services, then each receiver gets a dedicated path allowing adaptive bit rate streaming, but network capacity is wasted and congestion occurs due to multiple simultaneous copies

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptive bit rate streamingVSAvoidnetwork capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The media content service is divided into segments that are transmitted as separate bursts. Each segment can be independently received and assembled by the client, allowing efficient use of multicast for distribution while maintaining the ability to adapt bit rates by selecting different segment representations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Media content is transmitted in periodic bursts rather than continuous streams. The window period between bursts allows clients to join or leave the service without disrupting other clients, enabling adaptive bit rate changes while using efficient multicast transmission during active burst periods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

2Quantity of substance

If Multicast is used to share content streams among several receivers, then bandwidth efficiency is improved, but control and management complexity increases due to multiple receivers with different bit rate needs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebandwidth efficiencyVSAvoidcontrol function complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting media content into discrete bursts with standardized formats, the system simplifies multicast control. Each burst is self-contained with synchronization information, allowing receivers to independently join or leave without complex coordination with other receivers or the source server.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

All necessary control information, synchronization data, and segment metadata are embedded in advance within each burst transmission. This preliminary inclusion of control information eliminates the need for real-time control signaling between receivers and servers, reducing management complexity while maintaining bandwidth efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Stability of the object's composition

If media content is transmitted as continuous streams, then seamless playback is achieved, but bit rate adaptation requires interrupting the service

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice continuityVSAvoidbit rate adaptation

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The transmission uses periodic bursts with window periods between them. During these window periods, clients can change bit rate representations without interrupting the overall service continuity. The periodic structure provides natural transition points for adaptation while maintaining stable, uninterrupted playback.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The segmented burst transmission maintains continuous useful action by ensuring that window periods are timed to allow seamless transitions. Clients can switch between bit rate representations during window periods without perceptible interruption to the media playback, preserving service continuity while enabling adaptation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentEP2912817B1A method and apparatus for distributing media content services

Publication Date: 2019.12.04 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)

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AI summary

A method of distributing a plurality of media content services (S1-S5) across a distribution network comprising dividing each of the plurality of media content services (S1-S5) into segments and transmitting the segments of each of the plurality of media content services as a sequence of bursts (305), wherein there is a window period (303) between successive bursts (305) during which media content is not transmitted. Each of the media content services (S1-S5) has a respective bit rate and the transmitting comprises transmitting each of the segments at a higher bit rate to create the window periods (303) between successive bursts (305). Starts of bursts (305) of the plurality of media content services (S1-S5) are staggered in time with respect to one another. At least one of the media content services (S1-S5) can comprise a plurality of media content service representations of different bit rate. The media content services and media content service representations can be transmitted as multicasts.