Media Converter Caching for Content Distribution Network Congestion
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Solution Overview
Problem
The hierarchical tree network arrangement in content distribution systems leads to network congestion when multiple simultaneous unicast transmissions occur, particularly during adaptive bit rate (ABR) streaming, as seen in high-population-density areas where fiber optic network endpoints are concentrated.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a content distribution system with media converters and gateway devices that cache content items ahead of time, using local caches and intercepting requests to reduce upstream traffic by providing cached content directly to user devices, thereby alleviating network congestion. This involves coordinating content distribution and caching across multiple network nodes, including media converters and gateway devices, to manage bandwidth and cache space effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a hierarchical tree network arrangement is used for content distribution, then broadcast transmissions from headend to user devices are efficient, but network congestion occurs when multiple simultaneous unicast transmissions are made
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by having gateway devices and media converters cache content items ahead of time in local storage. When a user requests content, the cached copy is immediately available at the local level, eliminating the need for real-time upstream retrieval from the headend and preventing network congestion during peak demand periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality by enabling each gateway device and media converter to store and serve content locally rather than relying on centralized headend delivery. This distributed caching approach allows content to be delivered from the nearest available node, reducing upstream traffic and eliminating network congestion while maintaining efficient broadcast capabilities.
2Reliability
If content is delivered from headend to all user devices, then content availability is ensured, but bandwidth usage increases and network congestion occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements local quality by distributing content storage across multiple gateway devices and media converters in the network. Each node maintains local copies of frequently accessed content, allowing users to retrieve content from the nearest cached location rather than requiring continuous upstream bandwidth from the headend, thus ensuring availability while minimizing bandwidth consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies copying by creating and distributing duplicate copies of content items to multiple gateway devices and media converters throughout the network. These cached copies enable local content delivery without requiring repeated upstream transmissions from the headend, significantly reducing bandwidth usage while maintaining content availability across all user devices.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple simultaneous unicast transmissions are made from headend, then user demand is met, but network congestion and latency increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-caching content items at gateway devices and media converters before user requests arrive. When multiple users simultaneously request content, the locally cached copies are immediately available for rapid delivery, eliminating the need for multiple simultaneous upstream transmissions and reducing latency while fully meeting user demand.
Data Source
AI summary
A content distribution system may include a headend server and media converters, the headend server being configured to distribute content items to user devices via the media converters and gateway devices. Each of the media converters may include a media converter cache and may be coupled to the headend server and a subset of the gateway devices, where each of the user devices is communicatively coupled to one of the gateway devices. The headend server may be further configured to determine one of the content items that is expected to be requested by a group of the user devices, determine one of the media converters that is coupled, via the subset of the gateway devices, to a largest number of user devices in the group of the user devices, and coordinate storing the one of the content items in the media converter cache of the one of the media converters.