Media Stream Segmentation for Broadcast-Unicast Transition

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current network-based content provisioning systems face inefficiencies in bandwidth usage and data delivery when switching between broadcast and unicast media streams, often resulting in redundant network usage and potential data loss or delay in content rendering.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a method that identifies and generates segment metadata for media content, allowing seamless transitions between broadcast and unicast streams by segmenting content into manageable parts, enabling user devices to switch between the two without delay by using segment identifiers and metadata for efficient retrieval and rendering.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If content is transmitted via broadcast stream to multiple users simultaneously, then network bandwidth efficiency is improved, but flexibility in timing of user consumption is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork bandwidth efficiencyVSAvoidflexibility in timing of user consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The media content is divided into multiple segments with segment metadata including identifiers and timing information. This segmentation allows the system to efficiently manage broadcast segments for multiple users while enabling individual users to access specific segments via unicast streams, thus maintaining bandwidth efficiency while providing consumption flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If content is transmitted via unicast stream to a particular user, then flexibility in timing of user consumption is improved, but network bandwidth efficiency is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflexibility in timing of user consumptionVSAvoidnetwork bandwidth efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically switches between broadcast and unicast transmission modes based on user behavior and content requirements. Users can transition from receiving broadcast segments to requesting specific segments via unicast streams, allowing the system to adapt to individual user needs while optimizing overall network bandwidth utilization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If switching between broadcast stream and unicast stream is implemented, then user flexibility is improved, but data loss or delay in content rendering occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser flexibilityVSAvoiddata delivery accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Segment metadata is generated and associated with each media segment in advance, including identifiers and timing information. This preliminary organization enables seamless transitions between broadcast and unicast streams by providing users with the necessary information to retrieve and synchronize segments without data loss or rendering delays.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses segment identifiers and metadata to track and synchronize content delivery across different transmission modes. This feedback mechanism ensures that when users switch between broadcast and unicast streams, the content is delivered accurately and rendered without interruption or data loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

4Device complexity

If broadcast stream and unicast stream are treated independently, then system simplicity is maintained, but redundant network bandwidth usage occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem simplicityVSAvoidnetwork bandwidth usage

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

Segment metadata serves multiple functions simultaneously: it organizes content for broadcast transmission, enables unicast segment retrieval, and provides synchronization information for seamless transitions. This multi-functionality allows the system to optimize bandwidth usage across both broadcast and unicast streams while maintaining a unified, simple architecture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS11375258B2Transitioning between broadcast and unicast streams

Publication Date: 2022.06.28 TRITON US VP ACQUISITION CO

AI summary

In one embodiment, a method includes identifying a plurality of segments of media content, each of the plurality of segments including a plurality of media frames, generating segment metadata for each of the plurality of segments, the segment metadata including a segment identifier, transmitting a broadcast stream including the plurality of segments and the segment metadata for each of the plurality of segments, and making the plurality of segments available for retrieval via a unicast stream using the segment identifiers.