Video Fragment Cache Server Priority Scheduling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current video fragment obtaining methods result in long delays due to cache servers needing to retrieve fragments from source sites, leading to increased playback time on terminals.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus where terminals determine the download address of a video fragment based on priority information and download rates, reducing the likelihood of cache servers needing to fetch fragments from source sites by selecting fragments with higher popularity or lowest bit rates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the cache server retrieves video fragments from the source site, then the terminal can obtain video fragments that are not cached, but the time for obtaining video fragments increases, leading to longer playback delay
Solution Approach 1:
The cache server pre-fetches and caches video fragments before they are requested by terminals. The scheduling server predicts which video fragments will be needed based on user behavior patterns and proactively transfers them to cache servers in advance, so that when a terminal requests a fragment, it is already available in the cache, eliminating the need to fetch from the source site and reducing playback delay
Solution Approach 2:
The video file is divided into multiple independent video fragments with different priorities. The system segments the video content and uses priority information to manage cache resources efficiently, allowing the cache server to store high-priority fragments locally while low-priority fragments can be fetched from the source site when needed
2Loss of time
If the cache server stores all video fragments, then the terminal can always obtain fragments without delay, but the cache server storage requirement increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Different cache servers are assigned to store different video fragments based on their local storage capacities and user demand patterns. The system optimizes cache resource allocation by matching fragment storage location with user access patterns, so each cache server stores only the fragments that are most relevant to its user base, reducing total storage requirements while maintaining fast access
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses priority information (a parameter) to dynamically adjust which video fragments are cached and which are fetched from the source site. By changing the parameter of fragment priority, the system can flexibly manage cache storage usage, storing high-priority fragments locally and fetching low-priority fragments on demand
3Productivity
If the terminal requests video fragments without using priority information, then the request process is simple, but the cache server cannot efficiently determine whether to obtain fragments from cache or source site
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal feeds back priority information to the cache server when requesting video fragments. This feedback mechanism allows the cache server to make intelligent decisions about fragment retrieval - using the priority information to determine whether to serve from cache or fetch from source site, optimizing cache utilization and retrieval efficiency without significantly complicating the request process
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to the field of information technologies, and discloses a terminal, a cache server, and a video fragment obtaining method and apparatus, so as to reduce a delay of playing a video fragment. The method includes: determining, according to a trigger condition for obtaining a video fragment, that a video fragment needing to be obtained by a terminal is an Nth video fragment of a video file; obtaining video index information of the video file from a cache server; determining a download address of the Nth video fragment according to a download rate of the terminal and the video index information; sending a request message for obtaining a video fragment to the cache server, where the request message for obtaining a video fragment includes the download address of the Nth video fragment; and receiving the Nth video fragment returned by the cache server. According to the method provided in the present invention, a probability of an upstream operation of a cache server can be effectively reduced, thereby reducing a time for obtaining a video fragment by a terminal.