Virtual File System for On-Demand Video Segmentation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional streaming video servers require persistent storage for video segments and encryption keys, which is inefficient and insecure, especially for embedded systems with limited storage and premium content, and they struggle to handle live and pre-recorded content differently under varying network conditions.
Innovation Solution
A streaming video server using a virtual file system that generates video segments and encryption keys on-demand, eliminating the need for persistent storage and allowing for dynamic bitrate adjustment based on client requests and network conditions, while ensuring secure and efficient content delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If video segments and encryption keys are stored persistently on the server's file system, then content can be delivered efficiently, but storage requirements increase and content security is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts encryption keys from persistent storage and generates them dynamically during content delivery. Instead of storing keys on the file system, the system creates ephemeral keys in memory for each content delivery session, eliminating the security risk of stored keys while reducing storage requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary generation of encryption keys and video segments in memory before content delivery, rather than retrieving them from persistent storage. This preliminary action in volatile memory ensures security while avoiding the need for large persistent storage of encrypted content
2Adaptability or versatility
If video content is segmented and stored in advance, then streaming can be initiated quickly, but the system cannot adapt to varying network conditions efficiently
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic content segmentation where video content is divided into segments on-demand based on current network conditions and client capabilities. Instead of static pre-segmentation, the system adapts segment size, bitrate, and format dynamically during content delivery to match varying network conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes encoding parameters such as bitrate, resolution, and segment duration dynamically based on network conditions. The video encoder adjusts these parameters in real-time during content delivery rather than using fixed pre-determined parameters, enabling adaptation to varying network capacity
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple bitrate versions of video are pre-encoded and stored, then clients can select appropriate quality, but storage requirements and processing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of creating and storing multiple complete bitrate versions of video content, the system creates lightweight copy descriptors that reference the original content and specify desired bitrate parameters. These copying instructions enable bitrate adaptation without duplicating the actual video data across multiple storage locations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a universal encoding approach where a single video encoding can serve multiple bitrate requirements through dynamic parameter adjustment during content delivery. The same encoded video stream can be delivered at different bitrates by modifying transmission parameters rather than requiring separate encodings for each bitrate
Data Source
AI summary
A streaming video server includes a virtual file system that receives a request for a selected one of the plurality of video programs from a client device. The selected one of the plurality of video program is retrieved from the at least one video source in response to the request. A plurality of encoded segments are generated from the selected one of the plurality of video programs, based on at least one encoding parameter that is adjusted in response to context data relating to the streaming session for the selected one of the plurality of video programs.