Group-Based Multicast Streaming System for Video-on-Demand Resource Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Video-on-demand (VOD) streaming services face high operational costs and resource constraints due to the use of unicast streaming technologies, which are inefficient in managing concurrent requests and vary in user device capabilities, leading to suboptimal user experience and increased costs.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a group-based multicast streaming system that conditionally provides media content to users based on a minimum participation level, utilizing multicast streaming to conserve resources, and offering incentives for participation, while tailoring content delivery to user device capabilities through dynamic routing and layered media coding.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If unicast streaming is used to deliver video streams to each user device, then individual user requests can be fulfilled, but operational costs increase and server resources are consumed excessively

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to fulfill user requestsVSAvoidserver resource consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple individual unicast streams into a single multicast stream that can be received by multiple users simultaneously. The system identifies users requesting the same content and merges their individual stream requirements into one shared stream, thereby reducing server resource consumption while maintaining the ability to fulfill user requests.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates a universal multicast stream that serves multiple user devices simultaneously. Instead of creating separate unicast streams for each user, a single multicast stream is designed to be universally received by all users requesting the same content, making the streaming resource multi-functional and reducing overall resource consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If unicast streaming is used for each user device, then individual content delivery is achieved, but the system cannot handle large numbers of concurrent requests with limited resources

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to handle concurrent requestsVSAvoidavailable server resources

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system merges multiple concurrent request handling into a single multicast transmission process. By combining the stream requirements of multiple users into one multicast stream, the system can handle a large number of concurrent requests with limited server resources, as the same content is delivered to multiple users simultaneously through a single resource allocation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of operation

If individual unicast streams are transmitted to each user device, then user-specific streaming is provided, but operational costs for the service provider increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser-specific service deliveryVSAvoidoperational costs

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system merges the operational costs of serving multiple users by combining their individual stream requirements into a single multicast stream. This maintains user-specific service delivery capabilities while significantly reducing the operational costs associated with transmitting separate unicast streams to each user.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Loss of energy

If multicast streaming is implemented without minimum participation requirements, then resource efficiency is improved, but user participation and revenue may be insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestreaming resource efficiencyVSAvoiduser participation level

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by establishing minimum participation thresholds before initiating multicast streaming. Users are required to register their intent to participate in advance, and the system validates that the minimum participation level is met before launching the multicast stream. This ensures sufficient user participation and revenue generation while maintaining resource efficiency through multicast delivery.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

5Loss of energy

If multicast streaming is used to reduce resource consumption, then operational costs decrease, but the system becomes more complex with dynamic routing and participation management

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational cost reductionVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS8806522B2Group based multicast streaming systems and methods

Publication Date: 2014.08.12 VERIZON PATENT & LICENSING INC

AI summary

Group based multicast streaming systems and methods are disclosed. An exemplary method includes a group based multicast streaming system defines a media multicast streaming event, determines that a group of users satisfies a minimum participation level associated with the media multicast streaming event, and executes, based on the determined satisfaction of the minimum participation level by the group of users, the media multicast streaming event by multicast streaming a media program to the group of users during a timeslot, and provides an incentive to the group of users for participation in the multicast streaming of the media program during the timeslot. Corresponding systems and methods are also disclosed.