Service Provider Network Media Server for DLNA
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional DLNA media server systems require customers to manage and store media content locally, which can be burdensome and costly, especially when sharing media across devices, as they need to copy content onto physical storage devices and may require additional hardware or software support for playback on different devices.
Innovation Solution
A media server hosted in a service provider's network that allows media content to be stored and rendered within a DLNA network, enabling direct upload, secure storage, and delivery of media content, reducing the need for local storage and supporting seamless device compatibility through virtual address mapping and tunneling protocols.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If media content is stored locally on customer premises with traditional DLNA media servers, then media sharing within the local network is enabled, but customer burden and cost increase due to needing to manage storage and support additional hardware/software
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the media server functionality from the customer's local network and relocates it to the service provider's network infrastructure. This removes the burden of local server management and physical storage device maintenance from customers, while preserving media sharing capabilities through virtual address mapping and tunneling protocols.
Solution Approach 2:
The service provider's network acts as an intermediary between media sources and DLNA media players. By implementing a media server in the service provider's network that supports DLNA protocols, the system enables media sharing without requiring direct local server infrastructure at customer premises.
2Adaptability or versatility
If media content is copied to physical storage devices for sharing across DLNA network devices, then media accessibility is improved, but cost and device complexity increase due to needing multiple storage devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the media server environment in the service provider's network, allowing multiple DLNA media players to access media content simultaneously without requiring physical duplication of storage devices. The virtual address mapping enables each device to access the same centralized media repository as if it were locally stored.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a local DLNA media server is deployed at customer home for playing media on multiple devices, then device compatibility is improved, but hardware and software support requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The service provider's network infrastructure is enhanced to universally support multiple DLNA media players from different manufacturers and device types. By implementing DLNA protocol support in the service provider's media server, the system provides multi-functionality without requiring customers to deploy and configure separate local server solutions.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A media server (107) is hosted in a service provider's network so that media content can be stored from or rendered to a private network (151) such as a Digital Living Network Alliance, DLNA, network. Media content may be stored directly by accessing the media server (107) or by downloading the media content to the media server (107). The media server (107) supports discovery of media content in a local DLNA network, media content fulfillment from a service provider network, and content delivery for a device on the DLNA network. The media server (107) further routes regional traffic to the DLNA network from a media source such as a video on demand, VOD (115), server or an Internet media server (113). No further DLNA media servers will be needed in the local network (151).