Virtual Rack Interface for Dynamic Media Processing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Broadcast and media production engineers face challenges in intuitively managing and configuring virtual media processing resources in cloud-based environments, as they lack significant IT experience and find dynamic instantiation of virtual machines alien and inaccessible, unlike the intuitive handling of physical equipment racks.
Innovation Solution
A user interface is provided that allows users to dynamically optimize a video signal processing platform by managing virtual media processing devices across network processing nodes, using a graphical representation analogous to a physical equipment rack, enabling users to add or remove resources by dragging and dropping icons, without requiring knowledge of hypervisor configurations or virtual machine deployment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If physical equipment racks are used for video signal processing, then the system provides intuitive visual indications and familiar handling for broadcast engineers, but the system requires overprovisioning of equipment and physically acquiring and installing new equipment to meet changing needs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the physical equipment rack interface, allowing users to interact with virtual representations of processing equipment. This virtual rack interface replicates the familiar visual layout and interaction patterns of physical racks while enabling dynamic provisioning and deprovisioning of processing resources through software controls, eliminating the need for physical equipment installation and overprovisioning.
2Adaptability or versatility
If virtual machine environments are used for media processing, then the system provides dynamic provisioning capabilities, but the interface becomes alien and inaccessible to broadcast engineers without IT experience
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a virtual rack interface as an intermediary layer between the user and the underlying virtual machine infrastructure. This intermediary presents familiar physical rack terminology and visual metaphors (slots, equipment units, signal flow paths) that broadcast engineers already understand, while translating user actions into virtual machine provisioning and configuration commands, thereby bridging the gap between traditional broadcast operations and modern virtualized infrastructure.
3Reliability
If equipment is physically acquired and installed to meet video processing needs, then the system provides stable and reliable processing capabilities, but the system increases hardware costs and power consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables dynamic allocation and deallocation of processing resources within the virtualized environment. Processing capabilities can be provisioned and deprovisioned on-demand based on actual workload requirements, allowing the system to maintain reliable processing when needed while minimizing power consumption and hardware costs during low-utilization periods. Virtual equipment can be rapidly instantiated or terminated without physical hardware changes.
Data Source
AI summary
A computing device and method for providing a user interface for summarizing and presenting information regarding dynamic provisioning and deployment of media processing resources, in a manner that is easy and intuitive and analogizes well to conventional physical media processing deployment. Users are not required to understand hypervisor configuration or virtual machine deployment, or switch through various layers and screens to find configuration information or controls, a process that may be particularly slow, complex, and difficult to learn, particularly for media and broadcast engineers unfamiliar with virtualization technologies. Instead, the present user interface improves efficiency of use of the computing environment for media processing, by providing deployment information in a format similar to physical processing deployment. Furthermore, because the user interface lends itself to intuitive monitoring and use, users may more accurately and efficiently deploy and undeploy processing resources, reducing overall system processing requirements, cost, and power consumption.