Streaming Policy Control Using External Display Capability Data

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Solution Overview

Problem

Adaptive bitrate (ABR) streaming in content delivery networks (CDNs) often results in unfair and inefficient bandwidth allocation among clients, with lower resolution devices consuming disproportionate bandwidth compared to higher resolution devices, leading to congestion issues.

Innovation Solution

A streaming policy management system and method that allocates bandwidth based on the display capabilities of external audio/visual (A/V) devices connected to streaming client devices, allowing client devices to transmit external device information to content providers for determining suitable bandwidth policies and priorities.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If adaptive bitrate streaming is used to distribute content across CDN nodes, then content delivery flexibility and client accessibility are improved, but bandwidth allocation becomes unfair and inefficient with lower resolution devices consuming disproportionate bandwidth

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent delivery flexibilityVSAvoidbandwidth efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by obtaining external device information before content delivery, registering device capabilities with the subscriber profile, and pre-determining appropriate content versions and bandwidth allocations based on device characteristics, thereby preventing inefficient bandwidth consumption before it occurs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where client devices transmit external device information back to the CDN, enabling the system to learn device capabilities and adjust bandwidth allocation policies accordingly, creating a closed-loop system that continuously optimizes bandwidth distribution based on actual device requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Ease of operation

If ABR clients are allowed to opportunistically request content, then client device accessibility and content availability are improved, but bandwidth misappropriation increases with greedy clients consuming excessive resources

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveclient accessibilityVSAvoidbandwidth misappropriation

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies local quality by assigning different bandwidth priorities and content versions to different client devices based on their specific external device capabilities, rather than applying uniform bandwidth allocation policies, thereby ensuring each client receives appropriate bandwidth according to their actual rendering needs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes bandwidth allocation parameters dynamically based on external device information, adjusting content version selection, bitrate ranges, and priority weights according to device characteristics such as display resolution and processing capabilities, thereby preventing greedy clients from consuming excessive bandwidth

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Manufacturing precision

If higher bandwidth options are made available to support high resolution devices, then content quality for HDTVs is improved, but bandwidth consumption by low resolution devices increases disproportionately

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent qualityVSAvoidbandwidth consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements dynamic bandwidth allocation that adjusts content delivery parameters in real-time based on external device information, allowing high resolution devices to receive higher quality content while automatically limiting bandwidth for low resolution devices, thereby optimizing the balance between content quality and bandwidth consumption

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Speed

If content streams are delivered without considering external device capabilities, then delivery speed and system simplicity are maintained, but bandwidth inefficiency and network congestion increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent delivery speedVSAvoidbandwidth inefficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary device capability assessment and content version selection before actual content delivery, registering external device information with subscriber profiles in advance, thereby enabling fast content delivery without subsequent bandwidth inefficiency by pre-matching content to device capabilities

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS12294635B2Streaming policy management system and method

Publication Date: 2025.05.06 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)

AI summary

A streaming policy management system and method wherein bandwidth may be allocated based on external device information received from a streaming client device connected to one or more external audio/video (A/V) devices. When a streaming network back office receives a request from the streaming client device for delivery of a particular content, wherein the request includes external device information of one or more external A/V devices connected to the streaming client device, a bandwidth is determined for streaming the particular content to the streaming client device and a request may be made to a content delivery network to create a distribution pipe having the bandwidth to accommodate the delivery of the particular content. A manifest file is provided to the streaming client device that includes one or more pointers that point to content segments of the particular content.