Streaming Proxy Service for Bypassing Geo-Restrictions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems lack efficient methods for improved access to streaming services, particularly in bypassing geo-restrictions and ensuring seamless streaming through virtual private networks (VPNs) while maintaining privacy and avoiding detection by streaming services.
Innovation Solution
A streaming proxy service is implemented, where a proxy protocol request from a VPN service provider is received and forwarded to a back-end proxy server located in the region of the target streaming service, ensuring that subsequent requests use a consistent source IP address, thereby bypassing geo-restrictions and enhancing the appearance of genuine user requests.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a VPN is used to bypass geo-restrictions, then access to streaming content is improved, but the user's IP address is exposed and detected by streaming services
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a proxy server as an intermediary between the VPN client and the streaming service. The proxy server receives requests from the VPN client, forwards them to the streaming service, and masks the client's IP address with its own IP address. This mediator approach resolves the contradiction by providing geo-restriction bypass capability while hiding the client's real IP address from the streaming service, thus maintaining both access improvement and privacy protection.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a proxy server is used to mask location, then geo-restriction bypass is improved, but the request may appear less organic and be blocked
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the proxy server monitors the streaming service's response to requests. When the streaming service blocks a request (e.g., returns error codes or refuses content), the proxy server detects this feedback and switches to a different IP address or proxy configuration. This feedback loop resolves the contradiction by maintaining geo-restriction bypass capability while ensuring request acceptance through adaptive response to blocking attempts.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the proxy system dynamic by allowing it to change its IP address and configuration based on real-time conditions. The system can switch between multiple proxy servers or IP addresses dynamically, making the request pattern more organic and difficult to detect. This dynamic approach resolves the contradiction by providing geo-restriction bypass while improving request acceptance through adaptive behavior that mimics organic user patterns.
3Reliability
If multiple proxy servers are used to ensure reliability, then request blocking is reduced, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by enabling the proxy server to automatically select and switch between different IP addresses and proxy configurations without manual intervention. The system autonomously monitors response from streaming services and adjusts its own behavior, eliminating the need for complex manual configuration and management of multiple proxy servers. This self-service approach resolves the contradiction by ensuring high reliability through multiple proxies while minimizing system complexity through automation.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments disclose a system that allows for improved generation of web requests for scraping that, because of the nature of the requests and time and manner they are sent out, appear more organic, as in human generated, than conventional automated scraping systems. The system then manages how a client request to scrape a target website is made to the site, masking the request in a manner that makes it appear to the Web server as if the request is not generated by an automated system. In this way, by appearing more organic, Web servers may be less likely to block requests from the disclosed system or may take longer to block requests from the disclosed system. By avoiding Web servers blocking requests and extending the lifetime of IP proxies before they are blocked, embodiments can use a limited IP proxy address space more efficiently.