Streaming Server Interstice Timing for Unicast Broadcast Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
In hybrid unicast-broadcast delivery networks, mobile terminals face inefficiencies in network utilization and user experience due to unpredictable switching between unicast and broadcast delivery methods, leading to data loss and interruptions when switching back to broadcast delivery.
Innovation Solution
Mobile terminals switch from unicast to broadcast delivery during interstices in the multimedia content, such as commercial breaks or scene cuts, using timing information provided by a streaming server, minimizing interruptions and optimizing network resource usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the mobile terminal changes back to broadcast delivery immediately upon availability, then network utilization efficiency is improved, but data loss and interruption occur due to unstable broadcast coverage
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile terminal performs preliminary actions by switching to broadcast delivery during interstices (commercial breaks, scene cuts) rather than immediately upon availability. This preliminary switching during content breaks minimizes the impact of any potential instability while still achieving efficient network utilization.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention converts the potentially harmful effect of broadcast coverage instability into a benefit by using interstices as optimal switching moments. The breaks in content (commercial breaks, scene cuts) provide natural windows where switching timing is less critical, thereby transforming the instability issue into an opportunity for controlled transitions.
2Reliability
If the mobile terminal delays switching to broadcast delivery until content changes, then data loss and interruption are minimized, but network utilization efficiency decreases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile terminal uses periodic interstices (regular breaks in content such as commercial breaks or scene cuts) as scheduled opportunities for switching to broadcast delivery. This periodic action ensures stable transitions while maintaining frequent chances to utilize efficient broadcast delivery, balancing reliability and productivity.
3Reliability
If the mobile terminal switches during content breaks (interstices), then data loss and interruption are minimized, but switching timing must be precisely controlled
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile terminal performs self-service by autonomously detecting interstices in the multimedia content and automatically initiating switches to broadcast delivery during these breaks. The terminal monitors content characteristics (commercial breaks, scene cuts) and decides switching timing independently, reducing the need for complex external control mechanisms.
Data Source
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AI summary
A streaming server sends a multimedia stream for delivery by a hybrid unicast-broadcast delivery network to a mobile terminal. To assist that mobile terminal change access delivery from unicast to broadcast, the streaming server sends multimedia content timing information that indicates one or more interstices in the content of the multimedia stream. The mobile terminal receives such multimedia content timing information upon receiving the multimedia stream by unicast. Although the mobile terminal determines the same multimedia stream is also available by broadcast, the mobile terminal initiates a change from unicast to broadcast during an interstice. Because the mobile terminal delays the access change until an interstice, any data loss resulting from the access change has a minimal effect on a subscriber's experience of the multimedia content. Moreover, regular occurrence of interstices ensures that such change will not be significantly delayed, and thus, neither will use of broadcast.