Multicast Transmission for OTT Media Reducing Server Load
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Solution Overview
Problem
The transmission of media streams consumes server resources significantly, leading to high server performance costs and the need for extensive infrastructure investments in media servers and distributed networks.
Innovation Solution
A multicast transmission method and system for OTT media that involves a terminal sending media description request information to a multicast server, receiving media description information including multicast group information, and receiving a multicast packet encapsulating media index and content files, allowing terminals to join multicast groups and reduce server resource consumption by using multicast technology for efficient data distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If unicast transmission is used for each media file, then each terminal can receive media streams reliably, but server resource consumption increases tremendously
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the media transmission process into two parts: (1) multicast transmission for bulk media content delivery to multiple terminals simultaneously, and (2) unicast transmission for individual terminal-specific operations like index file requests and playback control. This segmentation allows efficient use of multicast for content delivery while maintaining unicast for reliable interactive operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multicast and unicast transmission modes into a hybrid architecture. Media content files are transmitted via multicast to multiple terminals simultaneously, reducing server resource consumption. Meanwhile, index files and control signals are transmitted via unicast to ensure reliable delivery and interaction. This combination resolves the contradiction by applying the appropriate transmission mode to different types of data.
2Reliability
If multiple media servers are deployed to guarantee viewing quality, then service reliability improves, but infrastructure investment increases hugely
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes a single media server universal by enabling it to serve multiple terminals simultaneously through multicast transmission. The server can deliver the same media content to multiple terminals at once, making one server perform the work of multiple servers. This reduces the number of servers needed while maintaining the ability to guarantee viewing quality for multiple users.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of physically duplicating media servers to serve different terminals, the patent creates virtual copies of the media content through multicast transmission. The same media data is copied and delivered to multiple terminals simultaneously over the network, eliminating the need for physical server duplication while maintaining service capacity.
3Reliability
If each terminal establishes separate links for each media file, then file download reliability is maintained, but link establishment overhead increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary actions by establishing a single multicast group link before media file transmission. Terminals join the multicast group in advance, and the server prepares the multicast stream beforehand. This preliminary setup eliminates the need for repeated link establishment for each file, reducing time overhead while maintaining reliability through the pre-established reliable multicast channel.
Data Source
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AI summary
A multicast transmission method for OTT media is provided. According to the method, a terminal sends media description request information corresponding to OTT media to a multicast server; the terminal receives media description information fed back by the multicast server based on the media description request information, wherein the media description information may include multicast information, and the multicast information may include multicast group information; and the terminal receives, according to the multicast group information, a multicast packet from the multicast server, wherein the multicast packet is generated by encapsulating a media index file corresponding to the media description request information and/or a media content file corresponding to the media description request information.