Stream Switcher Heartbeat Coordination for Seamless Content Delivery

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems for transmitting media programs struggle to reliably associate program content from primary and backup communication links without requiring changes in transmission protocols or significant bandwidth increases, especially in scenarios where temporary outages occur.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus that utilize heartbeat messages with identifying information to coordinate the presentation of program content from multiple networks, allowing for automatic identification and association of content streams from primary and backup networks, ensuring seamless switching in case of outages without altering existing protocols or increasing bandwidth.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If backup communication links are used to obtain program content via other means, then reliability of content delivery is improved, but the ability to accurately and rapidly associate program content from primary and backup links deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereliability of content deliveryVSAvoidassociation accuracy of program content

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism in the form of enhanced heartbeat messages that act as mediators between primary and backup communication links. These heartbeat messages contain unique program content identifiers and synchronization information that enable the stream switcher to accurately associate and synchronize content from both links without requiring direct complex interaction between the links themselves.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms through enhanced heartbeat messages that continuously provide status information about program content synchronization between primary and backup links. This feedback enables the stream switcher to monitor association accuracy and make real-time adjustments to ensure proper content alignment during switching operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Loss of information

If identifying information is augmented in heartbeat messages, then ability to associate program content is improved, but bandwidth requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveidentification accuracy of program contentVSAvoidbandwidth consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial action by enhancing only the critical identification fields within heartbeat messages rather than transmitting complete program content or all possible metadata. The enhancement adds minimal necessary information (unique program content identifiers, synchronization timestamps) to the existing heartbeat message structure, achieving sufficient identification accuracy without excessive bandwidth consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The enhanced heartbeat messages serve multiple functions simultaneously: they provide link status indication, program content identification, synchronization information, and association data between primary and backup links. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated identification channels, thereby minimizing additional bandwidth requirements while achieving comprehensive content association capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If existing transmission protocols are changed to improve content association, then reliability of content delivery is improved, but device complexity and implementation difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereliability of content deliveryVSAvoidcomplexity of transmission system

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements self-service by enabling the stream switcher to automatically parse enhanced heartbeat messages, extract identification information, and perform content association without requiring external intervention or complex protocol configuration. The system uses its own existing processing capabilities to handle the enhanced heartbeat messages, minimizing the need for external system changes or complex implementation infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the content association function with the existing stream switching and heartbeat message processing functions. By integrating the identification and association capabilities into the stream switcher's existing architecture, the system avoids creating separate complex association systems. The enhanced heartbeat messages are processed using the same parsing and handling mechanisms already in place for standard heartbeat messages.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS9479834B2Disseminating program content via alternative networks

Publication Date: 2016.10.25 ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC

AI summary

A system is provided for coordinating the presentation of program content received from a first network and a second network independent from the first network. The system uses heartbeat messages typically transmitted along communication paths to monitor the operation of the communications paths to transmit information necessary for stream switching to alternate programming or alternate sources of the same programming.