Media Server Dynamic Feature Enablement via Network Handshake
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current communication networks struggle to support bandwidth-intensive applications uniformly, limiting streaming media providers' ability to offer enhanced content types and features, especially for users connected to lower-bandwidth networks.
Innovation Solution
A method and system where a web-based media server dynamically enables enhanced features like augmented reality, virtual reality, and watch party functionality for client devices only if the network meets specific criteria, such as being a 5G network or operated by a certain provider, using a modified SIP handshake to assess network capabilities and deliver content accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If enhanced features (AR, VR, watch party) are enabled for all clients, then content functionality is expanded, but network bandwidth consumption increases and service quality degrades for lower-bandwidth networks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by enabling enhanced features selectively for specific clients based on their network capabilities. The server identifies clients with high-bandwidth networks (e.g., 5G, fiber) and enables enhanced features only for them, while standard clients receive basic functionality. This resolves the contradiction by making content functionality adaptive to local network conditions rather than uniformly applied.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamics by making feature availability dynamic rather than static. The server continuously assesses client network capabilities during the SIP handshake process and dynamically adjusts which enhanced features are enabled for each client session. This allows the system to adapt to varying network conditions and client capabilities in real-time.
2Adaptability or versatility
If enhanced features are enabled, then content types are expanded, but network bandwidth requirements increase beyond what lower-bandwidth networks can support
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the feature set parameter based on network bandwidth capability. The server changes the operational parameters of the content delivery system by enabling different feature combinations for different network types. High-bandwidth networks receive bandwidth-intensive enhanced features, while lower-bandwidth networks receive optimized standard features that consume less network resources.
3Ease of operation
If the system supports multiple network types uniformly, then accessibility is improved, but the ability to offer enhanced features is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by creating a multi-functional content delivery system that can serve multiple network types simultaneously. The server is designed to handle both standard and enhanced feature requests from different client types through a unified architecture. This allows the system to maintain broad accessibility while still providing enhanced functionality to capable clients through the same infrastructure.
Data Source
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AI summary
A web server provides media content for playback on client devices that is associated with a set of enhanced features. When enabled, each enhanced feature provides functionality associated with and supplemental to the media content. The web server performs a handshake with each of a plurality of client devices to authenticate a communication channel. The web server enables one or more of the enhanced features while delivering media content for playback on a first device if information exchanged in the handshake with the first device satisfies a first criterion. The web server delivers the media content for playback on a second device, without enabling any of the enhanced features, if information exchanged in the handshake with the second device does not satisfy the first criterion.