Streaming Content Gateway for Mid-Session CDN Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing content delivery systems fail to dynamically adjust CDN allocations during a playback session, leading to potential service degradation due to changing network conditions.
Innovation Solution
A distributed edge-compute-based architecture with a gateway module that monitors performance parameters of multiple content servers, allowing for dynamic CDN switching within a playback session to ensure optimal content delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a GTM coordinates delivery of streaming content from multiple CDNs at the DNS level, then content delivery can be optimized based on proximity and load, but the system cannot dynamically adjust CDN allocations during a playback session, leading to potential service degradation due to changing network conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches CDN allocations during playback sessions based on real-time network conditions. The gateway module monitors performance metrics and can change which CDN serves content segments mid-session, transforming the static DNS-level routing into a dynamic, adaptive system that responds to changing network states.
Solution Approach 2:
The gateway module implements feedback mechanisms by monitoring performance parameters such as latency, throughput, and error rates during content delivery. This feedback information is used to make informed decisions about CDN switching, allowing the system to adapt to deteriorating conditions and maintain service quality.
2Productivity
If the GTM operates at the DNS level to coordinate content delivery, then initial content requests can be routed efficiently, but subsequent requests within the same playback session cannot be dynamically reassigned to different CDNs
Solution Approach 1:
The gateway module acts as an intermediary between the client and CDNs, intercepting content requests that would otherwise be directly routed by DNS. This intermediary position allows the gateway to monitor performance and dynamically select the optimal CDN for each content segment, enabling CDN switching mid-session while maintaining efficient content delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the content delivery process into individual request-handling units that can be independently routed. By treating each content segment request as a separate unit that can be evaluated and routed independently, the system enables dynamic CDN selection for different segments within the same playback session.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for facilitating delivery of streaming content from content servers includes: receiving, from a user device at one or more computing devices remote with respect to the content servers, a first request for a first set of data segments of the content, identifying, based on information on performance parameters of the content servers, a first content server for delivering the first set, transmitting, to the user device, a first response including a list of uniform resource locators (URLs) for obtaining the first set, receiving, from a user device, a second request for a second set of data segments of the content, where the first and second requests are received within a same content playback session, identifying, based on the information, a second content server for delivering the second set, and transmitting, to the user device, a second response including a second list of URLs for obtaining the second set.