Pre-Encoded Live Stream Playout for Cost-Effective Broadcast Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing broadcast infrastructure for live channel distribution is costly and inefficient, particularly for delivering media content over a wide geographic area, and modern web streaming protocols do not adequately address the high cost of channel production and delivery to multiple locations.
Innovation Solution
A system for disparate live media output stream playout and broadcast distribution that utilizes processors to encode and generate multiple encoded segments, create playout schedules, and generate manifests for pre-encoded and live input streams, supporting dynamic ad insertion and conversion to various encoding formats for cost-effective distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If traditional broadcast infrastructure is used for live channel distribution, then delivery to wide geographic area is achieved, but infrastructure cost becomes excessively high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses pre-encoded media assets as copies of the original broadcast content, which can be distributed and played out at multiple locations without requiring expensive real-time broadcast infrastructure. The system creates and distributes digital copies of broadcast content that can be delivered over standard IP networks, eliminating the need for costly satellite or cable infrastructure at each location.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical broadcast distribution systems (satellite, cable, terrestrial broadcast) with an IP-based digital distribution system. By substituting the physical broadcast infrastructure with network-based digital delivery, the system achieves wide geographic coverage at significantly reduced cost.
2Adaptability or versatility
If modern web streaming protocols are used, then distribution flexibility is improved, but they do not adequately address high cost of channel production and delivery
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs encoding and segmentation of broadcast content in advance, creating pre-encoded media assets before distribution. This preliminary action allows the content to be prepared once and then efficiently distributed to multiple locations without requiring expensive real-time encoding infrastructure at each site, reducing both production and delivery costs while maintaining distribution flexibility.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple broadcast channels are supported on legacy infrastructure, then channel diversity is limited, but infrastructure investment is constrained
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal IP-based distribution platform that can deliver multiple broadcast channels and content types through a single infrastructure. The system uses a common set of pre-encoded media assets and playout servers that can serve multiple channels simultaneously, eliminating the need for separate infrastructure for each channel and enabling unlimited channel support without proportional increases in infrastructure investment.
Data Source
AI summary
A stream playout and distribution system is provided for disparate live media output stream playout and broadcast distribution. The system generates a new version of a disparate live media output stream manifest based on insertion of a plurality of segments of at least one of a pre-encoded media asset or a live input stream into the disparate live media output stream manifest. Each segment of the plurality of segments corresponds to a different quality level and a different content encryption mode. The plurality of segments corresponds to broadcast content segments encoded in a first encoding format of the new version of the disparate live media output stream manifest. The system converts the broadcast content segments encoded in the first encoding format to a second encoding format in accordance with a broadcasting protocol.