Network DVR Segment Copying for Storage Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cloud or network DVR systems face significant data management challenges, including excessive storage resource usage due to discrete write operations for multiple users recording the same program, leading to inefficiencies in storage and delivery of recorded content.
Innovation Solution
A network digital video recorder system that segments recorded programs into multiple segments, allowing a single access and sequential copying of each segment for multiple users, optimizing storage and delivery by leveraging recording agents and storage management strategies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If discrete write operations are performed for each user request to record the same program, then each user receives their recorded program, but storage resources are excessively consumed and write efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments a program into multiple segments and processes write operations at the segment level. When multiple users request to record the same program, the system identifies common segments and performs a single write operation for each segment, then distributes copies to the requesting users. This segmentation approach eliminates redundant write operations and significantly reduces storage resource consumption while maintaining service quality for all users.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple write operations into a single operation by identifying that multiple users may request the same program segments. Instead of performing separate write operations for each user, the system combines these requests and executes one write operation to create a master copy, then efficiently distributes copies to all requesting users. This merging strategy dramatically improves write efficiency and reduces storage resource usage.
2Ease of operation
If multiple copies of the same program segment are created and stored for each user request, then user delivery requirements are met, but storage overhead increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a smart copying mechanism where program segments are copied only when necessary and only for the specific users who requested them. The system first performs a single write operation to create a master copy of each segment, then efficiently distributes copies to requesting users. This approach ensures that each user receives their required program while minimizing unnecessary storage overhead by avoiding redundant copies of the same content.
3Reliability
If conventional cloud DVR systems perform separate write operations for each user, then individual user requests are fulfilled, but system performance and resource utilization deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments programs into manageable units and processes user requests at the segment level. This segmentation enables the system to identify common segments across multiple user requests and handle them efficiently through a single write operation, thereby maintaining reliable fulfillment of individual user requests while significantly improving overall system performance and resource utilization.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for managing the storage and delivery of recorded content in a network digital video recorder (DVR) system are disclosed. A plurality of requests to record a program may be received, wherein the program may comprise a plurality of segments. A segment from the plurality of segments may be determined to be copied to a first storage. A copy of the segment may be received from a second storage and a plurality of copies of the segment may be created in the first storage from the copy of the segment received from the second storage. The quantity of the plurality of copies of the segment may be equal to the quantity of the plurality of requests to record the program.