Persistent Media Server Control Session Bypassing Firewalls
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for remotely controlling network-enabled media devices like set-top boxes and digital video recorders face challenges due to firewalls and security mechanisms, leading to processing delays and limited control options, as they often rely on intermittent polling rather than real-time communication.
Innovation Solution
Establishing a real-time or semi-real-time communication session between a server host and a media server using a messaging server that maintains a pre-existing connection, allowing for immediate and direct control of media devices via a web interface, enabling a wide range of control actions such as recording, channel changes, and preference adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If polling schemes are used to communicate with media devices over networks, then device control is achieved, but processing delays occur and real-time interaction is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-establishes a persistent connection between the media device and the server before control operations are needed. This connection is maintained in a ready state, allowing immediate command transmission and response reception without the delays associated with establishing connections on-demand or using periodic polling intervals.
Solution Approach 2:
The persistent connection maintains a continuous communication channel between the media device and server, eliminating the intermittent nature of polling schemes. This continuous channel ensures that control commands and status updates can be transmitted immediately without waiting for the next polling cycle, thereby reducing processing delays and enabling real-time interaction.
2Reliability
If firewalls and security mechanisms are implemented to protect media devices, then device security is improved, but direct remote access and control capabilities are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces a server as an intermediary between the user's client device and the media device. The persistent connection is established between the server and the media device, while user interactions occur through the server. This intermediary architecture allows firewalls to remain in place for security protection while still enabling comprehensive remote control capabilities through the mediated communication channel.
3Adaptability or versatility
If periodic polling is used to check for commands, then basic control functionality is achieved, but the range of available actions is severely limited
Solution Approach 1:
The persistent connection enables continuous bidirectional communication between the server and media device, allowing for a wide range of control actions to be executed immediately without the limitations of periodic polling. This continuous channel supports complex operations, real-time status monitoring, and immediate feedback, thereby expanding control versatility while maintaining high operational efficiency.
4Speed
If persistent connections are maintained for real-time communication, then immediate access and control are achieved, but network resource consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system maintains a persistent connection at a minimal level continuously, using just enough resources to keep the channel open for immediate communication. Full-duplex data transmission only occurs when actually needed, rather than continuously maximizing bandwidth usage. This approach provides real-time access capabilities while consuming network resources only when necessary, rather than wasting resources on continuous high-bandwidth transmission.
Data Source
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AI summary
Systems and methods are described for remotely controlling a personal or digital video recorder (PVR/DVR), a set top box (STB), a placeshifting device, or any other media server. A communications session is established between a server host and the media server in response to a connection request received from the client. Information about the content processed at the media server is received via the session and provided to the client. In response to subsequent instructions received from the client, the media server can be controlled, or other actions can be taken, by providing directions to the media server from the host via the communications session. Additional or alternate features may be provided as desired.