Network Recording System Transport Stream Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Multimedia content distribution networks face limitations in the number of transport streams available to users, preventing simultaneous recording of multiple high definition multimedia programs due to bandwidth constraints in traditional systems.

Innovation Solution

A network recording system that allows users to store and record multimedia programs on a network server when transport streams are not available, using pointers to indicate recording start and end frames, and seamlessly transferring stored content to user devices when streams become available, enabling recording of additional programs beyond the allotted number of streams.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the number of transport streams is limited to maintain network bandwidth capacity, then network stability is improved, but the number of programs that can be simultaneously recorded decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork stabilityVSAvoidnumber of simultaneously recordable programs

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent moves the recording function from the client device to the network server, transitioning from a two-dimensional client-side solution to a three-dimensional network-based solution. This allows the system to bypass client transport stream limitations by utilizing network-wide resources for recording while maintaining the same transport stream allocation for playback.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The network recording server acts as an intermediary between the content distribution network and the client device. It receives transport streams from the network, performs recording operations, and delivers recorded content back to clients, thereby decoupling the recording capability from client-side transport stream constraints.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If more transport streams are allocated to users to enable simultaneous recording of multiple programs, then the recording capability is improved, but network bandwidth capacity is exceeded

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverecording capabilityVSAvoidnetwork bandwidth capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the recording function with the network infrastructure by implementing a network recording server that consolidates recording resources at the network level. This allows multiple users to share the same recording resources simultaneously, achieving improved recording capability without proportionally increasing network bandwidth allocation to individual users.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Device complexity

If traditional PVR systems are used with limited transport streams, then device complexity is reduced, but the number of available recording slots is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem simplicityVSAvoidnumber of recording slots

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the recording function from the client PVR device and relocates it to a dedicated network recording server. This separation allows client devices to maintain their simple playback functionality while the network server handles the complex recording operations, enabling unlimited recording slots without increasing client device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS9667918B2Network recording system

Publication Date: 2017.05.30 AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I L P

AI summary

A network recording system records multimedia programs responsive to transport streams being unavailable. A first portion of a multimedia program may be stored on a customer premises equipment and a second portion stored on the network recording system. The network recording system may transport the multimedia program via file download or real-time streaming.