Media Server Preloading Client Cache Bandwidth Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing content delivery networks face challenges in optimizing bandwidth during high network congestion, particularly when delivering multimedia content, as techniques like data compression degrade service quality and fail to optimize bandwidth for multimedia traffic.
Innovation Solution
A system and method where a media content item is preloaded into a client device's cache during media program playout periods, allowing for buffering and reducing network load by transmitting content before presentation, with a time stamp for expiration and instructions for buffering during ad avails, thereby optimizing bandwidth usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If data compression is used to reduce bandwidth consumption, then network bandwidth is optimized, but service quality is degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The system preloads media content items into the client device cache before the actual playback time. By performing the content delivery action in advance during low-traffic periods, the system reduces real-time network bandwidth consumption during high-traffic playback periods while maintaining content quality without compression
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a cache memory system as an intermediary between the content delivery network and the client device. This cache acts as a buffer that stores content locally, mediating between network delivery and playback consumption, thereby reducing real-time network load while preserving content quality
2Speed
If content is delivered in real-time during high network congestion, then service immediacy is maintained, but network bandwidth is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs content delivery actions in advance by preloading media items into the client cache before playback is needed. This shifts the delivery timing from real-time during high congestion to advance timing during low congestion periods, ensuring both speed and bandwidth availability
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts content delivery timing based on network conditions. By monitoring network traffic patterns and selecting optimal preload windows during low-traffic periods, the system adapts its delivery schedule to match varying bandwidth availability while maintaining service responsiveness
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method in which a processing system of a media server determines a number of media content playout periods in a media program to be presented at a client device, obtains a media content item for presentation during a playout period, and transmits the media content item for storage in a client device cache prior to presentation of the media program. The method also includes transmitting to the client device a time stamp associated with the transmitting of the media content item, and transmitting an instruction to the client device to perform buffering of streaming media during the playout period. The client device also transmits a first message indicating that the transmitting of the media content item has been performed, and a second message indicating that the presenting of the media content item has been completed. Other embodiments are disclosed.