Multicast Channel Segmentation for Live TV Start-Over

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing methods for managing live digital multimedia content, such as televised programs, face bandwidth bottlenecks when users request to 'start over' from the beginning, as they switch from multicast to unicast technology, leading to increased network bandwidth consumption.

Innovation Solution

Creating a set of multicast distribution channels with temporally spaced distribution times allows users to select a channel closest to their access time, enabling 'start over' in multicast mode, which reduces network bandwidth requirements and maintains playback quality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If unicast technology is used for 'start over' function, then access to content is provided, but network bandwidth consumption increases considerably

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent accessVSAvoidbandwidth consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The content distribution is segmented into multiple multicast groups, each handling a specific time window. When a user requests 'start over', the system segments the request by identifying the appropriate multicast group based on the current time, thereby distributing the load across multiple groups rather than consuming bandwidth through a single unicast connection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Multicast distribution channels are pre-configured and made available before content requests occur. The system performs preliminary actions by setting up multiple multicast groups in advance, each ready to handle 'start over' requests for specific time windows, eliminating the need to switch to unicast mode when requests come in.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Loss of energy

If multicast technology is used for live content distribution, then bandwidth is saved, but access to content from beginning is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebandwidth consumptionVSAvoidcontent access flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The multicast distribution is segmented into multiple time-based groups. Each group is configured to distribute content from a specific starting point, allowing users to access content from the beginning by selecting the appropriate segmented group that corresponds to the desired time window.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically selects which multicast group to join based on the user's request timing. When a 'start over' request is made, the system dynamically determines the appropriate multicast group that matches the current time window, providing flexible content access while maintaining multicast efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS20250016424A1Method for managing access to a content item to be read of a multimedia content item

Publication Date: 2025.01.09 ORANGE SA

AI summary

A method for managing access, by a reading device, to a televised content item. The method includes: obtaining, for the same content item, a set of multicast broadcast channels associated with temporally spaced respective broadcast times. A request to access the content item made by the reading device includes selecting a multicast broadcast channel chosen from the set.