Peer-to-Peer Media Streaming During Content Server Unavailability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Content servers experience buffering issues due to simultaneous high demand from multiple users, leading to user dissatisfaction and potential loss of subscribers, and conventional solutions like adding more servers or imposing barriers to entry are inefficient or exclusive.
Innovation Solution
A content server identifies suitable devices for sharing and receiving media assets through peer-to-peer networks by determining device groups based on intrinsic metadata and applying load balancing algorithms to distribute media content efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If more servers are added to handle higher requests, then server capacity and request handling capability are improved, but financial resources are consumed, implementation time increases, and cost-inefficiency occurs in the long run
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a system where client devices autonomously share media content with each other through peer-to-peer connections when the server detects buffering conditions. This self-service mechanism allows the network to handle high demand without requiring additional server capacity, as the client devices themselves become the content delivery sources.
Solution Approach 2:
The server acts as an intermediary that coordinates peer-to-peer sharing between client devices. Instead of directly serving all requests, the server facilitates connections between devices that can share content, reducing the server's direct load while maintaining efficient content delivery.
2Reliability
If barriers to entry are constructed to prevent server overload, then server load is reduced, but user accessibility and inclusivity deteriorate, resulting in loss of customers
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts content delivery based on real-time server conditions and device capabilities. When buffering conditions are detected, the server dynamically initiates peer-to-peer sharing among capable devices, allowing the system to adapt to varying load conditions without imposing static barriers that would restrict user access.
Solution Approach 2:
The server monitors parameters such as buffering frequency, device capability, and network conditions to determine when and how to activate peer-to-peer sharing. By changing operational parameters based on system state, the server can prevent overload while maintaining broad accessibility to all users regardless of device type or network conditions.
Data Source
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AI summary
Systems and methods are described herein for streaming during unavailability of a content server. Upon determining that there are conditions indicating buffering issues during delivery of a media asset (102), a server (100) determines a first group of devices (106) suitable for receiving the media asset (102) from the server (100) and sharing the media asset (102) on a peer-to-peer network. Then, the server (100) determines a second group of devices (108) suitable for receiving the media asset (102) on a peer-to-peer network from a first group device. The server (100) then determines groupings (110, 112, 114, 116, 118, 120) within which to share and receive the media asset (102). Next, the server (100) transmits instructions to the devices in the first group (106) to maintain in buffer and share certain portions of the media asset (102) with the second group devices within their grouping (110, 112, 114, 116, 118, 120). Finally, the server (100) updates information detailing the media asset portions the devices are maintaining in buffer and sharing.