Selective Pre-caching of Media Streams for Edge Server Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional content streaming services face inefficiencies in pre-caching digital media due to limited edge server cache storage capacity, often filling it with rarely-accessed media streams, which wastes resources and does not enhance streaming performance for most clients.
Innovation Solution
A content distribution system that selectively pre-caches media streams by identifying frequently-accessed sections of media items and storing corresponding chunks in edge server caches, allowing for efficient use of limited cache resources and adaptive playback capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If all versions of a media item are pre-cached in the edge server cache, then complete media item availability is improved, but cache storage capacity is exhausted with rarely-accessed files
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating between frequently-accessed and rarely-accessed media streams within the cache. Instead of treating all media streams uniformly, the system identifies and prioritizes caching of specific streams based on access patterns, device types, and network conditions. This selective approach ensures that limited cache space is allocated to the most valuable content while maintaining the ability to serve complete media items when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes parameters by dynamically adjusting which media streams are cached based on varying conditions such as time of day, user behavior patterns, device capabilities, and network bandwidth. The caching strategy adapts its parameters (which streams to cache, for how long, and in what quantities) based on these changing conditions, optimizing the balance between availability and storage utilization.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple versions of digital content are stored for adaptive streaming, then client device compatibility is improved, but memory resources are wasted on rarely-accessed versions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by caching only the necessary portion of media stream versions rather than all possible versions. The system determines which versions are actually needed based on client device characteristics and network conditions, caching only those specific versions that will be useful. This avoids the excessive action of caching all versions, thereby reducing memory waste while maintaining adequate adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system extracts and removes the rarely-accessed media stream versions from the cache, keeping only the frequently-accessed versions. By taking out the unnecessary elements (rarely-used versions), the system frees up memory resources while retaining the essential adaptability needed for most client devices. This extraction approach directly addresses the waste of memory resources on unused content.
3Productivity
If edge server cache is filled with frequently-accessed files, then playback performance is improved, but complete media items cannot be stored
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-caching specific portions or segments of media streams that are most likely to be accessed, rather than waiting for complete media items to be requested. The system proactively identifies and caches high-priority segments based on historical data and predictive algorithms, enabling faster playback initiation while still allowing complete media items to be stored when cache capacity permits.
Data Source
AI summary
Various embodiments set forth a computer-implemented method for selectively caching digital content for streaming, comprising analyzing a set of traffic data associated with streaming of a plurality of media items in a first time period, selecting, based on the set of traffic data, a first media item for storage in a cache during a second time period, and storing in the cache, prior to receiving a request for the first media item in the second time period, at least a portion of a first media stream of a plurality of media streams associated with the first media item, and at least a portion of a second media stream of the plurality of media streams, wherein each media stream in the plurality of media streams is encoded with different characteristics.