Media Streaming System Benchmark Profile Optimization

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Media streaming service providers face high operational costs and delays due to the need to maintain multiple versions of media content for various access devices with different technical specifications, whether by storing unique versions or performing on-the-fly conversions.

Innovation Solution

The system maintains benchmark versions of media content for an optimal set of benchmark media profiles, allowing for efficient streaming of 'best fit' versions to access devices, reducing storage and conversion burdens by defining a subset of media profiles as benchmark profiles based on statistical distribution and user input.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple unique versions of media content are maintained for each access device specification, then the quality of service is improved, but the operational cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvequality of serviceVSAvoidoperational cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a universal media content version that can serve multiple access device specifications. Instead of maintaining separate versions for each device type, a single media content version is designed to be compatible with and adaptable to various device specifications, reducing storage and operational costs while maintaining service quality across different devices

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes parameter changes by dynamically adjusting media content parameters (such as resolution, bitrate, format) based on the specific access device specifications. This allows a single base version to be transformed into appropriate formats for different devices through parameter modification rather than maintaining completely separate versions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Quantity of substance

If a single version of media content is maintained, then the operational cost is reduced, but the quality of service deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational costVSAvoidquality of service

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary actions by pre-processing media content into a standardized base version that contains all necessary information and is optimized for subsequent adaptation. This preliminary preparation ensures that when the media content needs to be delivered to different devices, the base version can be efficiently transformed without compromising quality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary processing step that acts as a mediator between the single stored media content version and the various access devices. This intermediary layer performs on-the-fly conversion and optimization, ensuring that the single stored version can be appropriately adapted for any target device while maintaining service quality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Quantity of substance

If on-the-fly conversion is performed to create best fit versions, then the operational cost is reduced, but the delay increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational costVSAvoiddelay

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary conversion and optimization of media content before it needs to be delivered. By pre-processing the media content into appropriately formatted versions based on predicted device specifications or most common device types, the system avoids time-consuming on-the-fly conversions while maintaining cost efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamic adaptation where the conversion process is optimized based on real-time conditions such as device specifications, network conditions, and user preferences. This dynamic approach allows the system to perform conversions more efficiently by adjusting processing parameters and selecting appropriate conversion paths based on current requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS9118935B2Media profile based optimization of media streaming systems and methods

Publication Date: 2015.08.25 VERIZON PATENT & LICENSING INC

AI summary

An exemplary media streaming system 1) maintains media profile data representative of a plurality of media profiles supported by technical specifications of access devices included in a population of access devices, 2) defines, based on a statistical distribution of the access devices across the plurality of media profiles, a subset of the plurality of media profiles as benchmark media profiles, 3) maintains, for only the subset of the plurality of media profiles defined as the benchmark media profiles, media content data representative of different versions of a media content program, the different versions of the media content program corresponding to the media profiles included in the subset, and 4) uses the media content data representative of the different versions of the media content program corresponding to the media profiles included in the subset to stream the media content program. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.