Media Stream Management via Program Map Table Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for managing media streams, such as those used in television broadcasting, often result in program duplication for users tuned to the same channel due to temporal mismatches, leading to inefficient bandwidth utilization.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that associate different program map tables with user devices scheduled to filter the same program, allowing each device to receive tailored streams by generating and updating Program Association Tables (PAT) and Program Map Tables (PMT) based on user requests and metadata, enabling distinct filtering of elementary streams.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the same program is transmitted to multiple user devices tuned to the same channel, then all users can receive the program content, but program duplication occurs leading to inefficient bandwidth utilization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the program transmission by creating user-specific program map tables (PMTs) that identify different elementary streams for different users. Each user device receives a customized PMT that maps to streams tailored to their specific scheduling needs, allowing the system to deliver personalized content without duplicating entire programs. This segmentation enables efficient bandwidth utilization while maintaining program integrity for each user.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by providing different program map tables to different user devices based on their individual scheduling requirements. Instead of uniform program distribution, each user receives a customized mapping that reflects their specific temporal schedule and content preferences. This localized customization eliminates unnecessary program duplication while ensuring each user receives appropriate content streams.
2Productivity
If different program map tables are associated with different user devices, then program duplication is eliminated and bandwidth is optimized, but system complexity increases due to multiple PMT management
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements universality by designing a centralized controller that performs multiple functions: generating program map tables, associating them with user devices, monitoring user scheduling profiles, and managing elementary stream distribution. This multi-functional controller simplifies the overall system architecture by consolidating PMT management operations in a single entity, reducing the complexity burden on individual user devices while maintaining optimized bandwidth utilization.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs feedback mechanisms where user devices report their scheduling requirements and content preferences to the controller. The controller uses this feedback to dynamically generate and update program map tables, ensuring optimal bandwidth utilization while adapting to changing user needs. This feedback loop automates the PMT management process, reducing manual intervention and simplifying system operation despite the complexity of managing multiple user-specific tables.
Data Source
AI summary
A method, system and computer readable medium for managing media streams, the computer readable medium has computer-readable code embodied therein for sharing media content, the computer-readable code comprising instructions for: associating different program map tables with devices of different users that are scheduled to filter, at a certain point of time, streams that form a same program; wherein the different program map tables reflect streams that should be filtered by devices of the different users.