Data Router Multicast Bit Rate Filtering for Home Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Multicast packet streams used for distributing media content to multiple clients can lead to inefficiencies when routed to end-user premises, as they often include data packets with bit rates that not all devices can efficiently use, resulting in unnecessary traffic and processing burdens on local area networks.
Innovation Solution
A data router filters out unrequested bit rate profiles and replaces multicast destination addresses with device-specific addresses, ensuring only relevant data packets are routed to client devices, optimizing traffic and processing efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multicast packet streams are used to distribute media content to multiple clients, then transmission efficiency is improved, but network traffic load and processing burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the multicast packet stream by filtering out unrequested bit rate profiles at the router level. Instead of forwarding the complete multicast stream containing all bit rate variations to all clients, the router divides and selectively forwards only the relevant portions matching each client's capabilities, thereby reducing overall network traffic while maintaining efficient multicast distribution
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by customizing the packet stream content for each client based on their specific bit rate capabilities. The router examines individual client characteristics and adjusts the forwarded packets accordingly, ensuring each client receives optimally suited content without forcing uniform distribution of all bit rate profiles across the network
2Adaptability or versatility
If complete multicast packet streams with all bit rate profiles are forwarded to clients, then client device compatibility is improved, but processing burden and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by performing bit rate filtering at the router before packets reach the client devices. The router proactively removes unrequested bit rate profiles from the multicast stream in advance, so clients receive pre-filtered content that matches their capabilities, eliminating the need for clients to process and then discard incompatible packets
3Adaptability or versatility
If multicast packet streams include all bit rate profiles, then flexibility for different client capabilities is improved, but network bandwidth consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by dynamically adjusting which bit rate profiles are forwarded based on client capabilities. The router modifies the packet stream parameters (bit rate selections) according to each client's specific requirements, maintaining flexibility to serve different device types while optimizing network bandwidth usage by excluding unnecessary bit rate variations
Data Source
AI summary
An exemplary data router may receive from a client device a request to access a multicast packet stream corresponding to a media content channel. The data router may access the multicast packet stream, which may include a plurality of bit rate profiles each including a plurality of data packets representing a component of the media content channel transferred at a particular bit rate. The data router may filter out data packets included within bit rate profiles that have data transferred at a bit rate that is not a preferred or requested bit rate by the client device. The data router may also replace a multicast destination address with a device destination address in the data packets that are not filtered out. The data router may then route the modified multicast packet stream to the client device at the device destination address. Corresponding systems and methods are also described.