Media File Fragmentation for Instant Playback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current multimedia delivery systems over the Internet fail to provide instantaneous media-on-demand due to insufficient communication capacity, unreliable networks, and high costs associated with scaling to meet increasing subscriber demand, resulting in limited and inconvenient access to video content.
Innovation Solution
A distributed network system where media files are fragmented into headers and segments, with headers cached locally and segments distributed across multiple devices, allowing for instant playback and dynamic library updates using a gossip protocol, enabling efficient bandwidth utilization and scalable content delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a centralized server stores all movies for video on demand, then customers can select from a complete library, but network bandwidth requirements become insufficient and unreliable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the movie library into multiple segments and distributes them across many customer premises devices (set-top boxes) instead of storing all movies on a centralized server. Each device stores a portion of the library, and customers can access movies by receiving segments from their local device and any additional segments needed from the network. This segmentation allows the system to provide comprehensive movie selection while reducing the bandwidth burden on any single network path.
2Speed
If cable providers deploy fiber optics to enable true video on demand, then communication capacity and speed improve, but costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-loads movie segments onto customer premises devices during off-peak hours or when the movie is first released. By anticipating future playback needs and storing segments locally in advance, the system reduces the need for high-speed real-time streaming over the network. This preliminary action allows standard broadband connections to suffice, eliminating the need for expensive fiber optic infrastructure while still enabling on-demand playback.
3Reliability
If movie channels offer limited titles at pre-selected times, then network bandwidth requirements are reduced, but customer satisfaction decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic system where the movie library available to each customer is not fixed but can be updated and expanded over time. As new movies are released, segments are distributed to customer devices, automatically expanding their local library. The system dynamically adapts to customer needs and network conditions, allowing customers to access a growing selection of movies on demand rather than being limited to a static channel schedule.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques for fragmenting a file or a collection of media data are disclosed. According one aspect of the techniques, a file pertaining to a title is fragmented into a header and several tails or segments. The header is a continuous portion of the file while the segments are respective parts of the remaining portion of the file. The header is seeded substantially in all boxes, and none, one or more of the segments are distributed in each of the boxes in service. When a title is ordered, the header is instantly played back while the segments, if not locally available, are continuously fetched respectively from other boxes that have the segments.