P2P Peer Arrangement for Live Streaming Bandwidth Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
In P2P live streaming networks, existing methods fail to maximize streaming server savings due to high churn rates and inefficient peer connectivity, leading to increased bandwidth utilization by the streaming server as peers often download content directly from the server instead of peers.
Innovation Solution
A method and device for arranging peers in a P2P network by determining distribution levels and providing a list of peers with varying probabilities for data content download, allowing multiple requests to neighboring peers before falling back to the streaming server, thereby increasing the chances of peer-to-peer content transfer and reducing server load.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If peers download content directly from the streaming server, then the simplicity of content acquisition is improved, but the streaming server bandwidth utilization increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces intermediary peers in the P2P network that act as mediators between the streaming server and downloading peers. These intermediary peers cache content and serve it to other peers, reducing direct server bandwidth consumption while maintaining content availability. The system uses a hierarchical structure where peers at different distribution levels serve different functions, with higher-level peers acting as intermediaries for lower-level peers.
2Reliability
If peers are arranged in a decentralized manner without distribution levels, then the system robustness to churn is improved, but the efficiency of peer-to-peer content transfer decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the P2P network into multiple distribution levels, where each level has specific characteristics and functions. Peers are assigned to different levels based on their upload capacity, join time, and other factors. This segmentation allows the system to maintain decentralized robustness while improving content transfer efficiency by directing downloads to appropriate peers at suitable distribution levels, rather than random peer selection.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes peer parameters including distribution level assignment, neighbor selection criteria, and download probability weights based on network conditions, peer performance, and churn rates. This allows the system to adapt to changing network conditions while maintaining both robustness and efficiency.
3Reliability
If multiple download requests are sent to different peers, then the probability of successful peer-to-peer content transfer is improved, but the network overhead and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a strategy where peers send a limited number of parallel download requests to multiple peers at different distribution levels, rather than exhaustively trying all possible peers. The system uses probability weights and distribution level information to select a manageable subset of target peers, achieving high success probability without excessive network overhead or complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a method of and device for, arranging peers in a P2P network comprising a streaming source and network peers arranged at distribution levels in the P2P network. The method comprises receiving a request from a peer entering the network to receive data content and determining a distribution level in the P2P network at which the entering peer is to be arranged with respect to the streaming source. The method further comprises providing the entering peer with a plurality of peers selected from the network peers from which the requested data content can be downloaded with an expected probability depending on the determined distribution level, wherein the entering peer is enabled to download, with the expected probability, the requested data content from a selected one of said plurality of peers, and in case the requested data content cannot be downloaded from said selected peer, the entering peer is enabled to download the requested data content from another selected peer of the plurality of peers with another expected probability.The present invention further relates to a method of requesting data content in a P2P network and a peer device.