Shared Content Delivery Stream for Bandwidth Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional video-on-demand systems waste bandwidth by sending the same content to multiple devices in a service group simultaneously, leading to inefficient use of network resources.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system where content already being delivered to a primary device can also be viewed or recorded by secondary devices within the same service group using the same bandwidth, with optional lower fees and reduced trick-play features for secondary users, potentially without additional bandwidth usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If content is re-sent in parallel for each requesting device in traditional video-on-demand systems, then each device receives the content reliably, but network bandwidth resources are significantly consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple content delivery streams into a single shared stream by allowing secondary devices to join an existing primary device's content session. Instead of creating separate parallel transmissions for each device, the system combines multiple receivers into one transmission stream, thereby reducing bandwidth consumption while maintaining content delivery reliability to all devices in the service group.
2Adaptability or versatility
If content is delivered to multiple devices simultaneously using separate streams, then each device has full access to content features, but network resources are inefficiently utilized
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating between primary and secondary devices within the same service group. Primary devices receive full-featured content access with complete trick-play capabilities, while secondary devices join the same content stream with potentially reduced features. This allows the system to maintain content access flexibility for different user needs while improving network resource efficiency through shared streaming.
3Manufacturing precision
If separate content streams are created for each device, then device-specific content optimization is achieved, but bandwidth usage increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses copying by allowing secondary devices to access content through a shared stream rather than receiving duplicate full streams. Secondary devices effectively copy the content delivery from the primary device's stream, receiving the same content data over the network. This copying approach maintains content delivery precision for all devices while dramatically reducing the total bandwidth volume required compared to creating separate optimized streams for each device.
Data Source
AI summary
Examples of systems are described herein in which an item of content may be delivered to multiple devices within a group of devices at the same time while reducing bandwidth consumption. Such systems may also allow for attractive pricing and features that may encourage more users to consume the item of content.