Unicast to Broadcast Streaming Switch for Bandwidth Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current unicast streaming methods for OTT non-linear content in communication networks lead to inefficient bandwidth utilization and network congestion due to individual stream replication for multiple users consuming the same content, resulting in high costs and ineffective bandwidth usage.
Innovation Solution
A system that switches User Equipment from unicast to broadcast or multicast mode using a database, analytics engine, one-to-many offload core, and real-time switching module to identify and prioritize clusters of users receiving the same content, optimizing bandwidth usage by shifting portions of the content from unicast to broadcast or multicast mode based on real-time and historical data analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If unicast delivery is used for streaming media content to each user individually, then each user receives dedicated content transmission, but bandwidth consumption increases and network congestion occurs when multiple users consume the same content simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple unicast streams into a single broadcast or multicast stream when multiple users are consuming the same content. The system detects when multiple UEs are receiving identical content and transitions from individual unicast transmissions to a shared broadcast/multicast transmission, thereby consolidating bandwidth usage while maintaining reliable content delivery to all users simultaneously
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically switches between unicast and broadcast/multicast modes based on real-time analysis of user content consumption patterns. The analytics engine continuously monitors which users are consuming which content and automatically adjusts the delivery mode, transitioning from static unicast to dynamic broadcast/multicast when beneficial, and vice versa when content differs among users
2Ease of operation
If Content Delivery Networks replicate the same content for multiple users to enable one-to-one transmission, then individual content delivery is facilitated, but multiple copies of the same data are created and transmitted in parallel resulting in ineffective bandwidth usage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates redundant data replication by merging multiple copies of the same content into a single broadcast or multicast stream. Instead of creating separate data copies for each user in CDN caches, the system transmits one instance of the content that is simultaneously received by multiple users, dramatically reducing the quantity of data stored and transmitted across the network
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces physical data copying with logical content distribution. Rather than creating actual duplicate copies of content files in CDN nodes for each user, the patent uses broadcast/multicast technology to deliver the same content instance to multiple users simultaneously, achieving individual content delivery without material replication
3Adaptability or versatility
If traditional unicast delivery is used for non-linear content with different viewing start times, then individual user viewing patterns are supported, but the system cannot efficiently utilize broadcast modes even when multiple users view the same content
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adapts content delivery mode based on temporal patterns of user consumption. For non-linear content where users start viewing at different times, the analytics engine identifies overlapping viewing windows and dynamically switches to broadcast/multicast mode during periods when multiple users are consuming the same content segments, thereby improving bandwidth efficiency while preserving flexible viewing patterns
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary analysis of user content consumption patterns to predict when multiple users will be viewing the same non-linear content simultaneously. By proactively identifying these patterns and pre-configuring broadcast/multicast streams in advance, the system can efficiently transition to shared delivery modes before network congestion occurs, maintaining adaptability while improving productivity
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for switching one or more User Equipment (UEs) 116A-N from a unicast mode to a broadcast or multicast mode to transmit a streaming media content to the UEs 116A-N is provided. The system includes, an Over-the-top (OTT) platform 104, a CDN 112, the UEs 116A-N, a cellular core network 202, one-to-many offload core 204, an analytics engine 206, a database 208, one-to-many transmitter 210, a real time switching module 212, a Cellular base station 214 and a user specified rules module 222. The analytics engine 206 continuously analyzes real-time and historical data stored in the database 208 to identify the UEs 116A-N that receive a streaming media content through the unicast mode and the streaming media content to be offloaded. An offload is a process by which certain portions of the streaming media content is shifted from the unicast mode to the broadcast or multicast mode.