Adaptive Streaming Manifest File Infrastructure Resource Allocation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies face challenges in effectively managing and measuring the performance of infrastructure resources and service providers for adaptive streaming video, leading to variability in user experience due to unpredictable demand, limited resource flexibility, and the weakest link effect in digital services.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for generating and providing manifest files that enable the assignment of infrastructure resources and service providers, performance measurement, and management for adaptive streaming video, without requiring additional software extensions on user devices, by utilizing standard video playback components and DNS authoritative name servers to direct requests to specific infrastructure components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If additional software extensions are added to user devices to manage infrastructure resources, then performance measurement and management capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the performance measurement and management functionality from the user device by implementing it on the infrastructure service provider side. The manifest file configuration system handles resource assignment and performance tracking without requiring any additional software on user devices, thus improving measurement capability while avoiding device complexity increases
Solution Approach 2:
The manifest file acts as an intermediary carrier that conveys infrastructure resource assignment information and performance data between the infrastructure service provider and the user device. This mediator approach enables performance measurement without modifying user devices, as the manifest file naturally flows through the existing video streaming workflow
2Adaptability or versatility
If infrastructure resources are dynamically allocated based on demand, then resource flexibility is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic resource allocation by configuring manifest files with infrastructure service provider information that can be adjusted based on real-time demand conditions. The system dynamically assigns different infrastructure providers for different video segments or sessions, allowing resource flexibility to improve while the complexity is managed through automated configuration rather than manual system design
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of infrastructure service provider assignment based on demand metrics. By modifying which infrastructure provider is selected for delivering video content based on performance measurements and demand patterns, the system achieves resource flexibility without requiring complex manual management, as the changes are driven by measurable parameters
3Reliability
If performance measurement and management is implemented across multiple infrastructure service providers, then user experience consistency is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal manifest file configuration system that works across multiple infrastructure service providers through a standardized interface. The manifest file format and assignment mechanism provide multi-functionality by handling resource allocation, performance tracking, and provider selection in a unified manner, improving experience consistency while avoiding the complexity of separate management systems for each provider
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback loops by measuring performance across infrastructure service providers and using that information to adjust future resource assignments. The manifest file configuration incorporates performance data from previous deliveries, creating a feedback mechanism that improves user experience consistency across multiple providers while the automation reduces the complexity of managing this feedback process
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques for serving a manifest file of an adaptive streaming video include receiving a request for the manifest file from a user device. The video is encoded at different reference bitrates and each encoded reference bitrate is divided into segments to generate video segment files. The manifest file includes an ordered list of universal resource locators (URLs) that reference a set of video segment files encoded at a particular reference bitrate. A source manifest file that indicates the set of video segment files is identified based on the request. An issued manifest file that includes a first URL and a second URL is generated based on the source manifest file. The first URL references a first domain and the second URL references a second domain that is different from the first domain. The issued manifest file is transmitted to the user device as a response to the request.