Set Top Box Video Stream Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

In an IP video stream environment, set top boxes continue to consume bandwidth even when the connected television is turned off, leading to unnecessary bandwidth usage and increased network costs due to the continuous delivery of content not being actively consumed.

Innovation Solution

A method and system where a set top box determines if a recording is in progress and automatically requests the content provider to turn off the video stream after the recording is complete, or sends a warning and turns off the stream after a timeout period if no recording is in progress and the television is inactive.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the set top box continues to receive IP video stream after television is turned off, then the service is continuously available, but bandwidth is wasted and network costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice availabilityVSAvoidbandwidth consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The set top box monitors the power state of the television and provides feedback to the content provider. When the TV is turned off, the STB detects this state change and sends a signal to stop the video stream, thereby eliminating wasted bandwidth while maintaining service availability when needed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The video stream delivery is made dynamic rather than static. The system automatically adjusts the stream state based on real-time conditions (TV power state), transitioning between active and inactive states to optimize bandwidth usage without compromising service reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If the set top box maintains video stream delivery, then content delivery is ensured, but additional network components are required increasing service cost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent deliveryVSAvoidnetwork components

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the intelligence for stream management from the network infrastructure and places it at the set top box level. The STB independently monitors TV power state and controls stream termination, eliminating the need for additional network components to manage stream delivery

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Loss of energy

If the video stream is automatically turned off after recording, then bandwidth is optimized, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebandwidth wastageVSAvoidautomation logic

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The set top box performs self-service by automatically monitoring its own recording state and independently controlling the video stream termination. When recording completes, the STB automatically sends the stop signal without requiring external intervention, optimizing bandwidth while keeping the automation logic localized

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS8799978B2System and method of managing video streams to a set top box

Publication Date: 2014.08.05 AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I L P

AI summary

A particular method includes determining whether a recording at a set top box is in progress. When the recording is in progress, a program provided by a video stream transmitted to the set top box is recorded. After the recording is complete, a request is automatically sent to a content source to turn off the video stream. When the recording is not in progress, a warning is transmitted for display at a display device that the video stream will be turned off after a timeout period. After the timeout period has elapsed, the request is automatically sent to the content source to turn off the video stream.