Proxy Server Broadcast Stream Conversion for Legacy Devices
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current mechanisms for command and control of live television delivery require in-device bulk storage and stream processing capabilities, making it costly for service providers to support multiple devices, especially legacy set-top boxes that lack these features.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for processing broadcast streams, including video channels and electronic program guide information, which uses broadcast tuners, an EPG tuner, and a multichannel proxy module to distribute content over a local area network, enabling normal play and trick play functions across multiple subscriber terminals without the need for native capabilities in each device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If in-device bulk storage and stream processing capabilities are implemented in each device, then command and control of live television delivery is enabled, but device cost and complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a service provider network with a proxy server as an intermediary between the broadcast source and subscriber terminals. The proxy server performs stream processing, buffering, and command/control operations, allowing simple STs without native processing capabilities to access advanced features. This mediator handles the complexity centrally rather than requiring it in each device.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a virtual copy of the broadcast stream through the proxy server, which can be manipulated and distributed to multiple STs. The proxy server captures, buffers, and re-transmits the stream, enabling command and control operations on copied stream instances rather than requiring each ST to process the original stream independently.
2Adaptability or versatility
If in-device bulk storage and stream processing capabilities are implemented in each device, then interactive delivery of broadcast video is enabled, but service provider cost increases for deploying legacy devices
Solution Approach 1:
The proxy server acts as an intermediary that provides interactive delivery capabilities to legacy STs without requiring modifications to those devices. All processing, buffering, and control operations are performed by the proxy server, allowing service providers to deploy inexpensive legacy STs while still enabling advanced interactive features through the centralized mediator.
Solution Approach 2:
The proxy server provides universal functionality to multiple different types of subscriber terminals, including both legacy STs and newer devices. It handles stream processing, buffering, and command/control operations for all connected devices, making the interactive delivery capability universally available regardless of the specific ST hardware.
3Productivity
If multiple viewing devices are served from a single service provider network access point, then economies are obtained, but devices without native stream processing capability cannot access live command and control features
Solution Approach 1:
The proxy server serves as a mediator between the broadcast stream and multiple subscriber terminals with varying capabilities. It receives the broadcast stream, performs all necessary processing and buffering, then distributes it to multiple STs. This allows the service provider to efficiently serve multiple devices from a single access point while the proxy server ensures that even simple STs without native processing capabilities can access full command and control features.
Data Source
AI summary
A system that delivers live broadcast media to consumer devices, including a system for enabling devices without native capabilities such as internal bulk storage and stream processing, to have command and control of live broadcast streams, has been provided. This is achieved through intercepting and converting the normal service provider channel mapping data to a new channel map which points to a software system that delivers command and control of live broadcast media, and implementation of a software system which can receive a channel change protocol, establish a command and control session with the device, convert the channel map protocol to the original format, tune in, receive, convert and process the live stream so that it can be delivered to the requesting device and in turn be controlled by user interaction with that device or the software system. A corresponding method is also provided.