OTT Linear Content Delivery Using Manifest Deduplication

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing linear content delivery systems face challenges in competing with satellite-based systems due to high costs, operational complexity, and infrastructure compatibility, particularly in terrestrial networks, which are not designed for multicast traffic and are prone to issues like jitter and data loss.

Innovation Solution

A system that decouples content delivery from real-time processing by creating unique signatures for content time intervals, allowing for deduplication and buffering, thereby optimizing delivery by eliminating redundant data and inserting alternative content into 'white spaces', leveraging OTT networks for cost-effective and flexible delivery.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If satellite delivery system is used for linear content delivery, then delivery efficiency for one-to-many streams is improved, but delivery cost increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedelivery efficiencyVSAvoiddelivery cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The continuous content stream is segmented into discrete time-bound fragments or chunks, allowing selective delivery and caching of specific segments rather than continuous stream transmission, reducing overall bandwidth requirements and cost

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Content fragments are pre-delivered and cached at edge locations or receiver devices before actual playback time, enabling on-demand retrieval without real-time transmission costs, thus reducing delivery expenses while maintaining efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Device complexity

If traditional linear delivery system is used, then content delivery is simplified, but flexibility in content modification is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedelivery system complexityVSAvoidcontent modification flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

By dividing content into time-bound fragments, the system enables independent modification, caching, and retrieval of specific segments without affecting the entire stream, providing flexibility while maintaining manageable system complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically selects and delivers specific content fragments based on receiver needs, caching status, and network conditions, allowing flexible content modification and delivery strategies without requiring complex real-time stream processing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Loss of energy

If terrestrial networks are used for content delivery, then infrastructure cost is reduced, but network reliability deteriorates due to jitter and data loss

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinfrastructure costVSAvoidnetwork reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Content fragments are pre-delivered and cached in advance before actual playback, allowing receivers to buffer content and compensate for network jitter and data loss without requiring high real-time network reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates and distributes multiple copies of content fragments across different cache locations and time periods, ensuring content availability even when terrestrial network transmission experiences reliability issues

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

4Adaptability or versatility

If OTT delivery system with ABR is used, then content delivery flexibility is improved, but delivery cost increases due to bandwidth consumption

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent delivery flexibilityVSAvoidbandwidth cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

Content is divided into time-bound fragments that can be selectively cached and retrieved, allowing flexible delivery without requiring continuous high-bandwidth transmissions for entire streams, reducing bandwidth costs while maintaining flexibility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Receivers autonomously manage their own content caching and retrieval based on local storage availability and playback needs, reducing the bandwidth burden on delivery infrastructure while maintaining delivery flexibility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS12470776B2Optimized over-the-top delivery of content for linear services

Publication Date: 2025.11.11 QLIGENT CORP

AI summary

A method for providing content as a linear content stream. The method comprises receiving and segregating the content into data packages, identifying each data package with a unique signature, and responsive to a request from a receiving system, receiving first data packages at the receiving system. A modified manifest that identifies each data package according to its unique signature is created. The manifest indicates a location for each data package, and instructs the order in which to assemble identified data packages to create the linear content stream. The linear content stream is created as directed by the modified manifest. Redundant data packages within the first data packages are excluded from the modified manifest and thereby excluded from the linear content stream. White spaces of open time intervals are created in the linear data stream by omission of the redundant data packages and filled with alternative content.