Multicast OTT Stream Conversion for Cellular Network Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current solutions for delivering over-the-top (OTT) streams over cellular networks are inefficient, particularly for unmanaged OTT content, as they require prior provisioning and collaboration between content owners and network operators, limiting the ability to guarantee high Quality of Experience (QoE) and leading to network congestion and decreased Quality of Service (QoS).
Innovation Solution
A method and system that monitor unmanaged OTT streams in cellular networks, determine if they can be delivered in a multicast format, reformat them accordingly, and deliver them as multicast streams to user edge devices, enabling real-time provisioning of multicast resources and improving network efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If unmanaged OTT streams are delivered using traditional unicast methods, then content delivery is simple to implement, but network resource consumption increases linearly with each added consumer
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple unicast streams into a single multicast stream by detecting duplicate content requests and consolidating them into one shared transmission channel. This combining approach allows multiple consumers to receive content from a single source, dramatically reducing network resource consumption while maintaining delivery effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary component (stream consolidation server or network element) that sits between content sources and consumers to detect, consolidate, and redistribute duplicate streams. This intermediary enables automatic multicast conversion without requiring direct coordination between content providers and network operators, resolving the implementation complexity issue.
2Loss of energy
If unmanaged OTT streams are converted to multicast format, then network resource efficiency improves, but device complexity increases due to real-time monitoring and reformatting requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service mechanisms where network elements automatically monitor stream requests, detect duplicates, and convert to multicast format without external intervention. The system autonomously provisions multicast resources and manages stream consolidation, reducing the perceived complexity for external users while maintaining efficient resource utilization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary monitoring and analysis of stream requests to identify potential multicast opportunities before actual content delivery begins. By pre-detecting duplicate requests and preparing multicast configurations in advance, the system reduces real-time processing complexity and enables smoother transition to efficient multicast delivery.
3Reliability
If multicast resources are provisioned in real-time for unmanaged OTT streams, then Quality of Experience improves through reduced congestion, but provisioning complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic resource provisioning where multicast resources are automatically allocated and adjusted based on real-time demand detection. The system monitors stream requests, identifies when multicast conversion is beneficial, and dynamically provisions resources accordingly. This dynamic approach ensures high QoE by adapting to changing network conditions while automating the complexity of resource management.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates feedback mechanisms that monitor network congestion levels, stream request patterns, and resource utilization to automatically adjust multicast provisioning decisions. This feedback loop enables the system to optimize QoE by converting streams to multicast format when beneficial while avoiding unnecessary complexity in low-demand scenarios, creating an adaptive provisioning system.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for delivery of unmanaged over-the-top (OTT) streams in a cellular network are provided. The method includes monitoring unmanaged OTT streams flow in the cellular network; determining if at least one of the monitored unmanaged OTT streams can be delivered as an OTT stream in a multicast format; reformatting the at least one unmanaged OTT stream into a multicast OTT stream, if the at least one unmanaged OTT stream can be delivered in a multicast format; and delivering the at least one unmanaged OTT stream as a multicast OTT stream to a user edge device over the cellular network.