Network DVR Format Selection via Playback History
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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, and on-demand transcoding is costly and inefficient, as viewing habits vary among users, making static storage/transcode configurations suboptimal.
Innovation Solution
An enhanced decision-making system that evaluates subscriber playback history to predict which formats are most likely to be watched, allowing for dynamic storage and transcoding decisions based on past viewing behavior, storing only the most relevant formats and using on-demand multi-rate transcoding to adapt to different devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple formats are stored for each subscriber's recordings to support nDVR on multiple screens, then adaptability is improved, but storage costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically determines which formats to store based on real-time analysis of subscriber viewing habits, device types, and content characteristics. Instead of statically storing all possible formats, the system adapts its storage strategy by evaluating factors such as subscriber history, program type, and device capabilities to make intelligent format selection decisions, thereby reducing storage requirements while maintaining multi-screen support
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of format selection based on varying conditions such as subscriber preferences, device types, and content characteristics. By analyzing viewing patterns and adjusting format choices dynamically, the system optimizes the balance between storage costs and adaptability, storing only the formats most likely to be needed based on current subscriber behavior patterns
2Adaptability or versatility
If on-demand transcoding is used to convert content to appropriate formats, then adaptability is improved, but transcoding costs and processing resources increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary format selection and storage decisions before content is actually needed. By analyzing subscriber viewing habits, device types, and content characteristics in advance, the system pre-determines which formats should be stored, avoiding the need for on-demand transcoding and reducing processing resource consumption while maintaining the ability to provide content in appropriate formats
3Device complexity
If a static storage/transcode configuration is used, then device complexity is reduced, but cost optimization is compromised due to varying viewing habits
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors and analyzes subscriber viewing habits, device types, and content consumption patterns to feedback into format selection decisions. This feedback mechanism enables the system to learn from actual usage patterns and adjust its storage strategy dynamically, optimizing costs while adapting to changing viewer preferences without requiring complex manual configuration
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.