Multimedia Content Chunking for Instant Playback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional video on demand systems face challenges in delivering multimedia content efficiently, including high bandwidth requirements, limited storage capabilities on user devices, and the need for continuous interaction between server facilities and user receptors, which restricts immediate viewing and scalability.
Innovation Solution
A system that divides multimedia content into data chunks transmitted and recorded on user devices just in time for viewing, allowing for instantaneous start-up and reduced bandwidth usage, with the ability to handle multiple users without increasing bandwidth per signal, and enabling efficient storage and playback on user devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If conventional video on demand systems transmit complete multimedia content to user devices, then users can view content immediately, but bandwidth requirements become excessively high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments multimedia content into discrete data chunks that are transmitted separately. Each chunk represents a portion of the complete content (e.g., individual video segments, audio tracks, or subtitle files). This segmentation allows the system to transmit only necessary portions of content rather than complete files, significantly reducing bandwidth consumption while enabling incremental playback.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-processing content into reusable data chunks and storing them on server facilities before user requests. These pre-segmented chunks are organized and ready for rapid transmission, eliminating the need to process and transmit complete content files when users make playback requests.
2Ease of operation
If the system stores complete multimedia content on user devices, then playback is seamless, but storage requirements on user devices become excessive
Solution Approach 1:
Content is divided into smaller data chunks that can be stored incrementally on user devices. Instead of requiring complete content storage, the system stores only the chunks needed for current and near-future playback, reducing device storage requirements while maintaining playback continuity through efficient chunk management.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a temporal dimension to content storage by implementing a sliding window approach where only recent or upcoming content chunks are stored locally. Older chunks are retained on server facilities and can be retrieved on-demand, transforming the storage problem from a static capacity constraint to a dynamic temporal management solution.
3Productivity
If the system handles multiple user requests simultaneously, then user scalability increases, but bandwidth requirements per signal increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges multiple user requests by transmitting identical data chunks to multiple users simultaneously through a single signal. When multiple users request the same content portions, the server transmits the chunks once and distributes them to all requesting users, reducing redundant bandwidth consumption while maintaining the ability to handle multiple concurrent requests.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a universal chunk transmission mechanism where a single data chunk can serve multiple purposes and multiple users. The same segmented chunks are reused across different user sessions and requests, allowing the system to handle unlimited user scalability without proportionally increasing bandwidth requirements per signal.
4Reliability
If the system transmits complete multimedia streams to each user, then content quality is maintained, but the cost of adding new users increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates and transmits copies of data chunks only when needed for specific user requests, rather than maintaining complete content copies for all potential users. The segmented chunk architecture allows efficient replication and distribution of only the necessary content portions, maintaining delivery quality while reducing the complexity and cost of accommodating new users.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for providing multimedia content through a cable, satellite television or other content server system. A server facility which provides multimedia content divides formatted multimedia content into data chunks (e.g., collections of data corresponding to one minute lengths) prior to transmission to a user/subscriber receptor unit, and sends the divided data chunks according to a schedule which permits instantaneous starting and viewing of the multimedia content, such as movies, upon user/subscriber request. The user/subscriber receptor unit includes a cable box, video game device, or the like having a digital video recording capability and at least a memory capacity or disk space sufficient to store a complete unit of media content, such as full-length feature film. The invention does not require intensive interaction between the server facility and the receptor unit, but rather, only requires sending of content signals in the form of an interleaved media stream from the server facility to the receptor unit. Further, the invention requires the use of no more than six times the bandwidth of the original signal for operation.