Mobile Edge Cache Network for Streaming Media Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems for delivering streaming media content in mobile environments, such as airplanes, trains, and buses, face challenges due to variable and limited connectivity, which fails to meet customer expectations for continuous network access.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an intelligent caching technique that pre-loads content at strategic locations using Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) and Content Service Providers (CSPs), which manage mobile environments as connected subnetworks, utilizing high-speed access points and intermediate storage devices to ensure timely data transfer and content distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If content is delivered over limited bandwidth connectivity in mobile environments, then network coverage is extended, but delivery speed and reliability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements pre-loading of content at strategic locations along travel routes before users need it. Capacitors at fixed locations pre-fetch content during periods when the mobile device is stationary or has better connectivity, so that content is ready for immediate delivery when the device moves through the area, resolving the contradiction between wide coverage and fast delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces capacitors as intermediary storage devices positioned at strategic locations between content sources and mobile users. These capacitors act as intermediate caching points that store content locally, enabling fast retrieval without requiring continuous high-bandwidth connectivity between users and content servers, thus maintaining delivery speed while extending coverage.
2Reliability
If content is pre-loaded at strategic locations, then content delivery reliability improves, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements autonomous capacitors that automatically detect when mobile devices are in range, self-manage content pre-loading based on predicted user needs, and autonomously transfer content without requiring complex centralized coordination. This self-service approach improves reliability through consistent local availability while minimizing system complexity by eliminating the need for complex real-time negotiation protocols.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the content delivery system into independent, geographically distributed capacitor units that operate semi-autonomously. Each capacitor manages its own content cache and delivery operations independently, which simplifies individual unit design and operation while collectively providing reliable coverage across the entire service area through the distributed architecture.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple capacitors are deployed at fixed locations, then content availability improves, but infrastructure cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent deploys capacitors with locally optimized characteristics at different fixed locations, where each capacitor is configured with appropriate storage capacity and content selection based on the specific traffic patterns and user demands of its local area. This local quality approach improves overall content availability by matching supply to local demand while optimizing infrastructure resource allocation, avoiding uniform over-provisioning across all locations.
Data Source
AI summary
A system comprising: a plurality of mobile edge caches integrated within a corresponding plurality of mobile environments; a local network manager coupled to each edge cache device in each mobile environment to provide network connectivity to client devices; a plurality of network access devices, each network access device to provide local network access to client devices within the mobile environment, and to further perform network address translation on behalf of the client devices within the local network of the mobile environment; and regional configuration logic, responsive to an event indicating that a first mobile environment has moved from a first geographical region to a second graphical region, to modify one or more configuration settings of a first network access device in a first mobile environment and/or client devices in the first mobile environment to align content availability from the edge cache with requirements of the second geographical region.