Multi-CDN Video Streaming Through Segmented Parallel Retrieval
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems struggle to efficiently stream video content from multiple Content Distribution Networks (CDNs) concurrently, leading to suboptimal performance and user experience.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for streaming video content from multiple servers simultaneously, utilizing techniques to manage and coordinate data transfer across multiple Content Distribution Networks (CDNs) to enhance performance and user experience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If video content is streamed from multiple CDNs concurrently, then user experience and performance are improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a manifest file as an intermediary that coordinates content delivery across multiple CDNs. The manifest file contains metadata about available content segments and their locations, allowing the system to manage multiple CDN sources without direct complex interactions between them. This mediator approach resolves the contradiction by simplifying the coordination mechanism while maintaining multi-CDN streaming capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides video content into discrete segments that can be independently retrieved from different CDNs. By segmenting the content delivery process, the system can parallelize downloads from multiple sources while managing complexity through standardized segment handling. This segmentation allows reliable content assembly from multiple sources without requiring complex inter-CDN coordination.
2Reliability
If multiple CDNs are used for content delivery, then streaming reliability improves, but coordination difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The manifest file serves as a centralized coordination mechanism that simplifies multi-CDN management. It provides a single source of truth for content segment locations across different CDNs, eliminating the need for complex real-time coordination between multiple CDN systems. This intermediary approach maintains streaming reliability while significantly improving operational ease.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables client-side autonomous content retrieval by providing the manifest file with all necessary information about content segments and their locations. The client can independently coordinate downloads from multiple CDNs without requiring complex server-side orchestration, improving ease of operation while maintaining reliability through distributed content delivery.
3Productivity
If content is retrieved from multiple sources simultaneously, then download speed increases, but resource management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing content into standardized segments with uniform naming conventions and location patterns described in the manifest file, the system enables parallel retrieval from multiple sources. This segmentation approach increases download speed while keeping resource management manageable through consistent segment handling and assembly procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The manifest file is prepared in advance with complete information about all content segments and their locations across multiple CDNs. This preliminary organization allows the client to efficiently coordinate simultaneous downloads without complex runtime resource management, achieving high download speeds with simplified resource handling.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and a method for media streaming from multiple sources are disclosed. A content requesting client device accesses a server to receive a list of available sources that may include multiple Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) and independent servers. Based on a pre-set criteria, such as the source delivery performance and cost, the client device partitions the content into parts, allocates a source to each part, and simultaneously receives media streams of the content parts from the allocated sources. The server may be a Video-on-Demand (VOD) server, and the content may be a single file of a video data, such as a movie. The delivery performance of the used sources is measured during the streaming for updating the partition or the allocation. The updated measured performance may be stored locally at the client device, or at a server for use by other clients. The client actions may be implemented as a client-side script.