Network Recorder Digest Matching for Duplicate Content Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing digital video recorders (DVRs) face challenges in managing recorded content efficiently, particularly in avoiding duplicates and optimizing bandwidth usage when multiple users record the same content, especially without access to metadata.
Innovation Solution
A network recorder utilizes digests generated at user devices to identify and manage duplicate content, reducing bandwidth usage by selecting different portions from various devices and ensuring resilient content delivery, even with potential misalignment in recording times.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If multiple users record the same content locally, then each user has access to their recorded content, but bandwidth is wasted transmitting duplicate content over the network
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses digests (hash values) as copies of content identifiers to detect duplicates. Instead of comparing entire content files, the system transmits and compares only small digest representations, enabling efficient duplicate detection with minimal bandwidth consumption while maintaining content identification accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The network recorder acts as an intermediary between multiple user devices. It receives digests from various devices, compares them against stored digests, and coordinates content transmission by identifying which devices already have content and which need it, thereby reducing overall network bandwidth usage.
2Reliability
If the network recorder stores all recorded content, then content availability is improved, but storage costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system stores only digest representations of content in the network recorder rather than full content copies. These digests serve as lightweight references that enable the system to track which content exists on which devices without consuming significant storage capacity, while still ensuring content availability through coordinated distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical approach of storing physical content copies with a digital hash-based identification system. By substituting content storage with digest storage and using cryptographic hash functions, the system achieves content tracking and availability management with minimal storage requirements.
3Adaptability or versatility
If users start recording at different times, then recording flexibility is improved, but content alignment becomes difficult for duplicate detection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the content identification approach by applying cryptographic hash functions to convert variable-length content into fixed-length digests. This parameter transformation allows accurate duplicate detection regardless of when recording started, as the digest depends only on content data, not timing information.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces time-based content alignment mechanisms with hash-based fingerprinting. Instead of attempting to synchronize recording times or align content based on temporal references, the system uses cryptographic digests that are independent of recording timing, thereby maintaining identification accuracy across flexible recording schedules.
Data Source
AI summary
A network device can manage the storing of content. In one aspect, the content may be managed to prevent the storing of multiple versions of the same content. Digests generated at user devices may be compared. Based on the comparison of the digests, the network device can efficiently and effectively manage the retrieving and storing of content.