Profile-Based Caching for Broadband Content Jukebox
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current digital content distribution over the Internet faces challenges in providing immediate access to voluminous media files while maintaining security and cost-effectiveness, particularly due to sensitivity to network latency and high costs associated with high-quality service transmission channels.
Innovation Solution
A system that utilizes a cache on individual users' devices to store encrypted digital media files, using low-priority network bandwidth for pre-populating caches with content based on user profiles, and employs a decentralized profile management and authorization system to reduce real-time network traffic and ensure secure decryption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If streaming is used to provide immediate access to digital content, then user access speed is improved, but network latency sensitivity increases and viewing may be disrupted during congestion
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-downloads and stores digital content in users' local hard drives before actual viewing occurs. This preliminary action eliminates the need for real-time streaming, allowing users to access content immediately from local storage without being affected by network latency or congestion, thus resolving the contradiction between fast access and viewing reliability
2Reliability
If high QoS transmission channels are used to guarantee low latency, then content delivery reliability is improved, but transmission cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
By performing content delivery in advance during off-peak hours or using standard network channels, the system avoids the need for expensive high-QoS transmission channels during actual viewing. This preliminary action allows reliable content access without incurring high transmission costs, resolving the contradiction between reliability and cost
3Reliability
If content is streamed without permanent storage, then copyright protection is improved, but user access requires continuous network connection
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-downloads content to local storage while maintaining encryption and copyright management mechanisms. This allows users to access content conveniently without continuous network connections while the authorization server maintains control through key management, resolving the contradiction between copyright protection and access convenience
4Ease of operation
If content is stored permanently in user computers, then user access convenience is improved, but copyright protection and distribution control are weakened
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates encrypted copies of content in user hard drives rather than permanent stored copies. These copies can be accessed locally for convenience but remain under cryptographic control, allowing the copyright holder to maintain distribution control while providing user accessibility, thus resolving the contradiction between convenience and protection
5Ease of operation
If decryption keys are transmitted via network traffic close to encrypted files, then ease of decryption is improved, but security against third-party interception deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs key transmission during the preliminary content delivery phase rather than during the viewing phase. By establishing the cryptographic connection early when the user is authorized and the network path is secure, the system enables easy decryption while minimizing the risk of third-party interception during the actual content access, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and security
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention employs a cache for storing a large repository of digital media files (i.e., content) in a local hard drive of individual users, whereby a slower delivery mechanism can be used to add potentially wanted files to each cache in advance of any request for viewing the files. Combining a large cache size along with user and content profiling allows a target file desired by a user to be found in the cache for a great majority of file requests. Cached files are encrypted. To view a file, the user must first provide payment information to a content server in order to obtain authorization and a decryption key.