Segmented Digest Comparison for Unsynchronized Network Recordings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing digital video recorders (DVRs) face challenges in managing recorded content efficiently, particularly in avoiding duplicates and optimizing bandwidth usage when multiple users record the same content, especially without access to metadata.
Innovation Solution
A network recorder utilizes digests generated at user devices to identify and manage duplicate content, reducing bandwidth usage by selecting different portions from different user devices and ensuring content alignment despite varying recording start times.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple users record the same content simultaneously, then content availability for users is improved, but bandwidth consumption increases and duplicate storage occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by having user devices generate and transmit digests of recorded content to the network recorder before actual content storage occurs. This allows the network recorder to identify duplicates in advance and prevent redundant content from being stored, thereby reducing bandwidth consumption while maintaining content availability for all users.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of storing complete content copies for each user, the system uses digests (copies of content identifiers) to determine uniqueness. When digests match, the system references existing content rather than creating new copies, significantly reducing the bandwidth required for content distribution while ensuring each user can access their recorded content.
2Device complexity
If the network recorder lacks metadata access, then system simplicity is maintained, but content identification and duplicate detection become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The user devices perform self-service by generating their own digests locally and transmitting them to the network recorder. This eliminates the need for the network recorder to access or process complex metadata from content sources, maintaining system simplicity while enabling effective content identification through the digest-based approach.
Solution Approach 2:
The digest acts as an intermediary between the content and the network recorder's identification system. Rather than directly analyzing complex metadata or content streams, the network recorder compares simplified digest values that mediate the identification process, making content detection straightforward without requiring metadata access.
3Adaptability or versatility
If users record content at different times, then flexibility in recording schedules is improved, but content alignment for duplicate detection becomes problematic
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments content into discrete units for which digests are generated. By comparing these segmented digests rather than requiring continuous time-aligned comparison, the system can accurately identify duplicates even when users record at different times, maintaining both scheduling flexibility and detection precision.
Data Source
AI summary
A network device can manage the storing of content. In one aspect, the content may be managed to prevent the storing of multiple versions of the same content. A deduplication process may be performed by comparing digests generated at user devices. Based on the comparison of the digests, the network device can efficiently and effectively manage the retrieving and storing of content.