Media Streaming Seek Synchronization via Segment Redirection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing media streaming technologies consume significant bandwidth when multiple users view the same content at different times, and there is no efficient mechanism to perform seek operations while minimizing bandwidth usage, especially in multicast and P2P environments, and custom advertisements are challenging to stream effectively.
Innovation Solution
The system synchronizes multiple users by redirecting their seek requests to compatible streams, allowing users to view media content at specific points like scenes or frames, reducing bandwidth consumption through multicast and incorporating advertisements based on the synchronized stream, ensuring seamless viewing experiences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If multicast addressing is used to deliver media content to multiple users, then bandwidth consumption is reduced, but the ability to perform seek operations efficiently is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The media content is divided into multiple segments or chunks that can be independently addressed. When a user performs a seek operation, the system identifies the specific segment containing the requested timestamp and delivers only that segment rather than the entire content, enabling efficient seeking within multicast environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-processes the media content into segmentable units with embedded metadata indicating timestamp ranges. This preliminary segmentation allows the system to quickly identify and deliver the appropriate content segment in response to seek requests without requiring full content retransmission.
2Ease of operation
If unicast addressing is used to enable seek operations, then user control is improved, but bandwidth consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the advantages of unicast (individual user control) and multicast (efficient content delivery) by using a hybrid approach. Multiple users seeking to similar timestamp locations are grouped together, and their requests are fulfilled through a single multicast transmission of the required content segment, thereby reducing overall bandwidth consumption while maintaining user control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes the delivery parameter from full-content unicast to segmented multicast based on the temporal proximity of user seek requests. When multiple users seek to nearby timestamps, the system adjusts to deliver a unified segment covering the requested range, optimizing bandwidth usage while satisfying user control requirements.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple users view the same media program at different timestamps, then user viewing flexibility is improved, but bandwidth consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates a universal content delivery mechanism that serves multiple users with different viewing requirements simultaneously. By segmenting content and using intelligent request routing, a single multicast transmission can serve multiple users seeking at different timestamps, making the system universally applicable to diverse viewing patterns while minimizing bandwidth usage.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of creating separate full-content copies for each user seeking at different timestamps, the system uses a single copied segment that serves multiple users. The content is copied into manageable segments that can be efficiently distributed to multiple users who need access to specific timestamp ranges, reducing the total number of copies required.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer-implemented method, apparatus, system, article of manufacture, and computer readable storage medium provide the ability to stream media content to multiple users. A first stream of/for the media content is streamed from a first location in the media content to a first user. A request is received from the first user to seek to a seek location (e.g., forward or backward) in the media content. A second location in the media content compatible with the seek location is determined. The second location is based on a second stream being streamed to one or more second users. The second stream is then streamed to the first user and the second user.