NAS Secure Region Buffering for Streaming Quality
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Solution Overview
Problem
Network providers throttle streaming data to regulate network traffic and generate revenue, leading to deteriorated display quality due to limited display device buffers and the need for content providers to maintain control over their content.
Innovation Solution
A Network Attached Storage (NAS) device with a secure region is used for buffering streaming content, allowing content providers to maintain control over their media and ensure quality of service by pre-loading content and using encryption, thereby avoiding throttling and buffer limitations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If network providers throttle streaming data to regulate network traffic and generate revenue, then network traffic regulation and revenue generation are improved, but display quality deteriorates due to limited buffer sizes
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-loads streaming content into the buffer before actual playback is needed. This preliminary action ensures that sufficient content is available in the buffer to withstand network throttling, preventing display quality deterioration while allowing network providers to regulate traffic.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a buffer management system as an intermediary between the network provider and the display device. This intermediary layer decouples the throttling action from the display quality, allowing network regulation without direct impact on playback quality by managing buffer contents strategically.
2Reliability
If display devices have larger buffer sizes to avoid throttling impacts, then display quality is improved, but device cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of relying on large buffers in display devices, the system performs preliminary loading of content into smaller buffers before playback. This approach achieves the same quality assurance goal with smaller, more cost-effective buffer hardware in display devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service buffering where content is pre-loaded into the buffer automatically based on predicted playback needs, rather than requiring large buffers to passively hold all necessary content. This dynamic approach allows smaller buffers to achieve the same reliability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If content providers stream content to maintain control over their media, then content control is improved, but content may be misappropriated from limited buffers
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-loads only the specific portions of content that will be needed for upcoming playback into the buffer, rather than loading entire content files. This preliminary and selective loading maintains content provider control while minimizing the window of opportunity for misappropriation.
Solution Approach 2:
The buffer management system applies different quality levels of content loading to different portions of the content stream. Critical portions needed for immediate playback are loaded with high priority, while less critical portions are loaded with lower priority or not at all, optimizing both control and anti-piracy protection.
Data Source
AI summary
A network attached storage device coupled to a local network and including a network interface configured to receive digital content from a remote content provider outside the local network. The network attached storage device includes storage having a first region accessible by a user of the local network and a secure region. The network attached storage device includes a processor coupled to the storage, the processor configured to control access to the secure region of the storage based on instructions received from a remote content provider.