MVPD Stream Controller for ABR Session Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing MVPD systems are limited in their ability to control, manage, and monitor ABR linear stream-MPEG conversion stream sessions, lacking support for start, stop, restart operations, and configuration settings for URLs targeting IP Multicast addresses, which affects the reliability and flexibility of streaming services.
Innovation Solution
A multichannel video programming distributor controller system that includes an outbound IP address inventory system, conversion engine and network elements inventory system, and a multichannel video programming distributor stream controller, enabling the management and monitoring of ABR linear stream-MPEG conversion stream sessions, with capabilities for start, stop, restart operations, and configuration settings for URLs targeting IP Multicast addresses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If existing MVPD systems are used without a dedicated stream controller, then the system structure is simpler, but the ability to control, manage, and monitor ABR linear stream-MPEG conversion stream sessions is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into distinct functional modules: a stream controller separate from conversion engines, an inventory system for tracking resources, and monitoring components. This segmentation allows independent control and management of streaming sessions while maintaining modular system architecture that balances complexity with operational capability.
2Reliability
If the system lacks automatic monitoring and restart capabilities, then the system structure is simpler, but the reliability of streaming sessions decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The stream controller implements continuous monitoring of conversion stream sessions and automatically detects when sessions need restarting. This feedback mechanism ensures high availability by maintaining awareness of stream status and triggering appropriate restart operations without manual intervention, thereby improving reliability through automated closed-loop control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring the stream controller with inventory data and restart parameters before streaming sessions begin. This allows the controller to proactively manage sessions and execute restart operations immediately when needed, ensuring minimal disruption and maintaining high availability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the system does not maintain inventory of outbound IP addresses and conversion engines, then the system is less complex, but the flexibility and adaptability of stream management decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The inventory system automatically tracks and manages outbound IP addresses, conversion engine status, and stream configuration data without external intervention. This self-service approach provides real-time visibility into system resources, enabling flexible stream management and adaptive routing decisions while the inventory maintains itself through automated updates from conversion engines.
Data Source
AI summary
A multichannel video programming distributor controller is provided for use with an adaptive bitrate stream provider, a HTML code repository and a plurality of conversion engines. The multichannel video programming distributor controller includes an outbound IP address inventory system, conversion engine and network elements inventory system, and an MVPD stream controller. The MVPD stream controller is operable to provide a stream instruction, based on one of a plurality of outbound IP addresses, one of a plurality of ABR identification data and HTML identification data so as to instruct one of the plurality of conversion engines to output a first MPEG transport stream.