Runtime Server Identification for Dynamic Media Streaming
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing media streaming systems require servers to be identified at the start of streaming, which limits flexibility and efficiency, as they need to know the location of media content beforehand, and cannot seamlessly switch between different media sources without creating multiple network connections.
Innovation Solution
A server machine creates a network connection for media streaming and can identify and access a further server machine at runtime to stream media content from different sources, allowing a single network connection to be used for multiple sources, even if their locations are unknown initially.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If servers are identified at the start of streaming, then the system can establish network connections properly, but flexibility and efficiency are limited because the server must know media content location beforehand
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by transitioning from static server identification (at connection time) to dynamic server identification (at runtime). The server is identified dynamically during the streaming process, allowing the system to adapt to different media content locations without requiring pre-identification. This enables a single network connection to serve multiple media sources that are discovered and identified during operation.
2Productivity
If multiple network connections are created for different media sources, then each source can be accessed independently, but resource usage and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by enabling a single network connection to serve multiple media sources. Instead of creating separate connections for each media source, the system allows one connection to be used universally for streaming from different sources by identifying the appropriate server at runtime. This multi-functional approach reduces the quantity of network connections while maintaining the ability to access multiple media sources independently.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the server knows media content location beforehand, then streaming can start immediately, but adaptability to switch between different media sources is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by establishing the network connection and preparing the streaming infrastructure before the actual media streaming begins. The server is identified at runtime rather than requiring pre-identification, which allows the system to be ready for immediate streaming while still having the flexibility to switch between different media sources. The preliminary setup includes creating the network connection and establishing the framework for runtime server identification.
Data Source
AI summary
A server machine may create a network connection to a device and receive a request to stream media that is managed by a different server machine. The server machine that created the network connection may be unaware of the location of the media at the time the network connection is created, and the location of the media may remain unknown to this server machine until the location is identified by the request, which may be received at runtime. In response to this request, the server machine that created the network connection may communicate with the different server machine and function as an intermediary in routing a stream of data between the device and the different server machine. In example embodiments where certain media is managed by the other server machine, the server machine may retrieve the media and stream it to the device using the created network connection.