Dynamic Multicast Content Transmission Switching

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Content providers face challenges in efficiently managing content transmissions to multiple users without interrupting user consumption, particularly in adjusting or terminating transmissions based on user demand.

Innovation Solution

The system dynamically switches users between different content transmissions, such as multicast content transmissions, by determining parameters like user access numbers and comparing them to thresholds, allowing for adjustments in bit rates or terminating transmissions as needed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If content providers provide content through a single content transmission to save bandwidth, then network resource efficiency is improved, but the ability to adjust or modify content transmission is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebandwidth usageVSAvoidcontent transmission adjustment capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments content delivery into multiple parallel content transmissions (e.g., first content transmission, second content transmission) with different characteristics such as bit rates. This allows the system to maintain network efficiency while providing flexibility to switch between transmissions based on user demand, resolving the contradiction between bandwidth savings and transmission adjustability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamic switching between different content transmissions based on real-time parameters such as user access numbers. The system can transition from a single static transmission to multiple dynamic transmissions, enabling content providers to adjust and modify transmissions without interruption while maintaining efficient bandwidth utilization through conditional switching.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Loss of energy

If content providers terminate or adjust content transmission to optimize resources, then network resource efficiency is improved, but user consumption is interrupted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork resource efficiencyVSAvoiduser consumption continuity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent prepares multiple content transmissions in advance with different characteristics before user demand changes. When optimization is needed, the system can switch to a pre-prepared transmission rather than terminating service. This preliminary preparation ensures both network resource efficiency through selective transmission use and uninterrupted user consumption through seamless switching.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a switching mechanism that acts as an intermediary between content transmissions and users. This mediator enables resource optimization by selecting appropriate transmissions while maintaining consumption continuity through smooth transitions, preventing direct interruption to users when transmissions are adjusted or terminated.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple content transmissions are provided at different bit rates, then adaptability to user demand is improved, but network resource usage increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent transmission flexibilityVSAvoidnetwork bandwidth consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different transmission characteristics (bit rates, qualities) to different content transmissions based on specific user needs and demand conditions. Rather than uniformly increasing resources for all transmissions, the system optimizes each transmission's resource allocation locally, providing high-bit-rate transmissions only when needed while maintaining efficient bandwidth usage through selective deployment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes transmission parameters such as bit rates dynamically based on user access numbers and demand. The system can switch between different parameter configurations (e.g., high bit rate when many users access, low bit rate when few users access), achieving adaptability to user demand while optimizing network resource usage through parameter adjustment rather than constant high-resource allocation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS12212620B2Manipulation and recording of content transmissions

Publication Date: 2025.01.28 COMCAST CABLE COMM LLC

AI summary

Disclosed are methods and systems for providing content. An example method can comprise receiving a first multicast content transmission at a first bit rate and recording at least a portion of a content item from the first multicast content transmission. An example method can comprise receiving a first request for the content item and requesting at least one differential content transmission configured to be combined with the recording of the portion of the content item to form a copy of the content item at a second bit rate.