Switched Multicast Video Streaming Buffering

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current broadcast and streaming video systems face limitations in allowing viewers to rewind or fast forward past their entry point in live streams, and unicast VOD sessions lead to high latency and bandwidth issues, especially for popular content.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a system that uses a media content storage buffer to broadcast and buffer media content at faster-than-real-time speeds, allowing users to start over and rewind programs without separate VOD sessions, and employing switched multicast streams to distribute overlapping content efficiently.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If unicast VOD streams are used to allow rewind and fast forward functionality, then playback flexibility is improved, but bandwidth consumption increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveplayback flexibilityVSAvoidbandwidth consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multicast and unicast streaming approaches. Multicast streams provide the base content delivery efficiently to multiple users, while selective unicast streams are activated only when specific users request trick play operations. This merging allows the system to maintain playback flexibility through unicast while reducing overall bandwidth consumption by using multicast for content distribution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates a universal infrastructure that supports both linear broadcast and VOD-like functionality through a single hybrid platform. The same network infrastructure delivers both multicast content and on-demand trick play capabilities, eliminating the need for completely separate systems and reducing total bandwidth requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of operation

If separate unicast VOD sessions are launched for each user to enable start-over and rewind, then playback control is improved, but system resource drain increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveplayback controlVSAvoidsystem resource efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system merges the functionality of separate VOD sessions with efficient multicast delivery. Instead of launching individual unicast sessions for each user's start-over or rewind request, the system uses a single multicast stream that all users can access, thereby maintaining playback control while dramatically improving system resource efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates virtual copies of the content delivery through multicast technology, where a single content source is efficiently replicated and distributed to multiple users simultaneously. This eliminates the need for physical separate unicast sessions for each user while maintaining individual playback control capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Loss of energy

If multicast streams are used to reduce bandwidth consumption, then bandwidth efficiency is improved, but the ability to support individualized playback control deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebandwidth efficiencyVSAvoidindividualized playback control

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically switches between multicast and unicast modes based on user requests. When no trick play operations are needed, efficient multicast delivery is used. When individualized playback control is requested, the system dynamically activates unicast streams for those specific users, thereby maintaining both bandwidth efficiency and adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces a hybrid streaming intermediary that mediates between multicast content delivery and unicast trick play operations. This intermediary manages the coordination between the two modes, allowing users to maintain individualized playback control while the system preserves bandwidth efficiency through predominant multicast usage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Adaptability or versatility

If VOD features are implemented to allow rewind and fast forward, then playback flexibility is improved, but latency increases when entering and exiting trick play modes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveplayback flexibilityVSAvoidtrick play latency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary buffering of content data in advance. By pre-buffering content segments that will be needed for trick play operations, the system reduces the latency when users enter or exit trick play modes. The content is prepared and staged in advance, allowing faster response to user playback control requests.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS20240107124A1Switched multicast video streaming

Publication Date: 2024.03.28 ADEIA MEDIA HOLDINGS INC

AI summary

A system and method for improving media delivery and display. By utilizing a memory buffer in a DVR or similar device, and broadcasting linear content at a rate other than 1×, services like video on demand or regular broadcasters can be more versatile. For example viewers can start over without launching a separate VOD session. If part of the linear content requested is not in the buffer, a switched multicast stream can be sent to with the proper section of content. Other receivers on the network may also receive the stream and buffer the content if the content is related to what a viewer is viewing.