On-Board Media System for Dynamic Linear Channel Production

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing communications systems for mobile transport craft struggle to provide a seamless, bandwidth-efficient in-transit media consumption experience for passengers, particularly when streaming linear media channels, due to limited network capacity and connectivity issues.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of an on-board media system that dynamically produces linear media channels by combining broadcast channels received via off-board communications networks with pre-positioned content segments stored on-board, according to a linear channel schedule that defines broadcast and pre-positioned programming time slots.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If streaming linear media channels is provided to all passengers, then media consumption experience is improved, but network capacity is exceeded

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemedia consumption experienceVSAvoidnetwork capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the media delivery system into on-board media servers that cache and manage content locally, dividing the network load from the satellite connection. This allows multiple passengers to access media content simultaneously without overwhelming the network capacity, as content is served from local servers rather than streamed directly from the satellite for each device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-fetching and caching media content on on-board servers before passengers need to consume it. This advance preparation allows the system to serve content from local storage during the flight, eliminating the need for continuous high-bandwidth streaming and thus preserving network capacity while maintaining full media availability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Quantity of substance

If conventional streaming approaches are used, then network resources are conserved, but linear channel availability is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork resource usageVSAvoidlinear channel availability

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments content delivery into two parts: control and scheduling signals are received via satellite, while actual media content is cached and distributed locally. This segmentation allows the system to support many more linear channels than would be possible with direct satellite streaming, as the bottleneck of bandwidth is removed from the content delivery path.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The on-board media servers act as intermediaries between the satellite network and passenger devices. These servers receive channel schedules and content descriptors via satellite, then locally manage and stream content from cached storage, thereby expanding channel availability without proportionally increasing network resource consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If continuous satellite connectivity is assumed, then seamless streaming is possible, but connectivity interruptions cause service degradation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestreaming continuityVSAvoidconnectivity dependence

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary content fetching and caching during periods when connectivity is available, storing media content on on-board servers. This advance preparation ensures that content is available locally even when satellite connectivity is interrupted, maintaining seamless streaming without dependence on continuous connection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a cushioning mechanism by maintaining local content caches that serve as a buffer against connectivity interruptions. When satellite connection is lost, the system seamlessly transitions to serving content from local storage, protecting the user experience from the harmful effect of connectivity loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Data Source

PatentUS20250159273A1Dynamic production of linear media channels for mobile transport craft

Publication Date: 2025.05.15 VIASAT INC

AI summary

Techniques are described for dynamic production of linear media channels for delivery to passenger devices disposed on mobile transport craft while the transport craft are in transit. For example, each transport craft has an on-board media system. In accordance with a linear channel schedule, the on-board media system can generate a dynamically produced linear media (DPLM) channel that can be streamed as a continuous media channel to passengers on-board the transport craft. The linear channel schedule defines a sequence of programming time slots, including multiple broadcast programming time slots and multiple pre-positioned programming time slots. Dynamically producing the DPLM channel involves, for each upcoming broadcast programming time slot, obtaining a corresponding broadcast channel for receipt as a stream via an off-board communications network; and for each upcoming pre-positioned programming time slot, obtaining a corresponding pre-positioned content segment for receipt from storage on-board the transport craft.