nDVR Storage Optimization via Playback History Prediction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Network-based digital video recorders (nDVRs) face high storage costs due to the need to store multiple formats for each subscriber's recordings, exacerbated by support for multiple screens, and incur costly on-demand transcoding to convert content into appropriate formats for different devices, with static approaches failing to optimize storage and transcoding costs effectively.
Innovation Solution
An nDVR system that utilizes a subscriber playback history database to predict which content formats are most likely to be watched and when, allowing for dynamic storage and transcoding decisions, such as recording in standard formats and transcoding on demand using an on-demand multi-rate transcoder, and deleting less likely formats to reduce storage costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple formats are stored for each subscriber's recordings to support multiple screens, then content availability for different devices is improved, but storage costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary analysis of subscriber playback history to predict which content formats are most likely to be requested. Based on this prediction, the system pre-stores only the most probable formats in the recorder, avoiding unnecessary storage of all possible formats while ensuring availability of likely-needed formats.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of storing all possible content formats for each subscriber, the system creates a simplified copy strategy where only the most likely formats are stored. When a subscriber requests content, the system checks what is stored and uses that information to make intelligent decisions about whether to transcode or stream from the recorder.
2Adaptability or versatility
If on-demand transcoding is used to convert content into appropriate formats for different devices, then format flexibility is improved, but processing resources and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors and analyzes subscriber playback history to identify patterns in format requests. This feedback loop enables the system to improve its predictions over time, becoming more accurate about which formats subscribers actually request, thereby reducing unnecessary transcoding operations.
Solution Approach 2:
By predicting which formats are most likely to be requested based on playback history, the system pre-stores those formats in the recorder. This preliminary preparation reduces the need for on-demand transcoding, as the required formats are already available for direct streaming.
3Device complexity
If static configuration modes are used to handle recordings, then system simplicity is maintained, but optimization of storage and transcoding costs is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from static configuration modes to a dynamic decision-making approach. The recorder manager analyzes playback history and makes adaptive decisions about which formats to store and when to transcode, allowing the system to optimize costs based on actual subscriber behavior patterns rather than fixed rules.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically analyzes playback history and makes intelligent decisions about storage and transcoding without requiring manual configuration. The recorder manager self-adjusts based on observed patterns, eliminating the need for complex static configuration while achieving optimal cost performance.
Data Source
AI summary
A method includes: storing, via a network storage device, information related to the playback history of a content playing device; receiving, via a network digital video recorder scheduler, a request to record requested content; receiving, via a network digital video recorder, the requested content in a first format and the requested content in a second format; and storing, via the network digital video recorder, only one of the requested content in the first format or the requested content in a second format based on the information related to the playback history.