Proxy Multicast-Unicast Delivery for Adaptive Bitrate Probing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing unicast-multicast hybrid solutions for content delivery are inefficient due to constraints on the rate at which content is delivered, preventing proper functioning of adaptive bitrate algorithms in client devices, especially during high peak demand.
Innovation Solution
A method where a proxy server intermittently leaves a multicast group to make unicast requests for content segments, allowing the client device to determine maximum throughput and adjust bit rates accordingly, using a combination of multicast and unicast delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multicast delivery is used for content segments, then network efficiency is improved and peak demand is reduced, but the rate at which content is delivered is constrained preventing proper adaptive bitrate algorithm functioning
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multicast and unicast delivery modes in a hybrid approach. Content segments are primarily delivered via multicast for efficiency, while unicast requests are intermittently injected to probe network capacity and enable adaptive bitrate algorithms to function properly by providing clients with accurate network throughput information.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a proxy server as an intermediary between the content server and client devices. The proxy manages the hybrid multicast-unicast delivery, controlling when unicast requests are injected into the multicast stream to provide capacity probing signals without disrupting the efficient multicast delivery of actual content segments.
2Adaptability or versatility
If unicast requests are made for each content segment, then adaptive bitrate algorithms can function properly, but network congestion occurs during peak demand periods
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the benefits of both unicast and multicast delivery. Unicast is used for initial capacity probing and adaptive bitrate control, while multicast is used for the bulk content delivery to avoid network congestion during peak demand, achieving both adaptability and efficiency.
3Productivity
If hybrid multicast-unicast solutions are used with proxies, then network efficiency is improved, but the rate of content delivery is constrained by multicast rate limiting
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the delivery system dynamic by intermittently switching between multicast and unicast modes. The proxy dynamically injects unicast requests at strategically timed intervals to probe network capacity without being constrained by fixed multicast rate limits, allowing the system to adapt to changing network conditions and achieve higher effective delivery rates when needed.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of managing a network for delivering content to a client device, where content segments are delivered to a proxy in a multicast group, before delivery from the proxy to the client device over unicast. The proxy intermittently leaves the multicast group to probe the network by making unicast request for content segments, receiving those segments over unicast from the content server and forwarding those segments onto the client device. This allows the client device to determine the maximum throughput between the content server and the client device via the proxy, and thus the client device can use its adaptive bit rate algorithms to determine if the network can support a switch to a higher bit rate stream, and request a higher bit rate stream accordingly. The higher bit rate stream can be serviced by the proxy joining or establishing a suitable multicast group.