Virtual Set Top Box Server Architecture for Media Stream Processing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional set top boxes (STBs) are costly and inefficient, requiring deployment on every television, with limited processing power to handle multiple media streams and advanced functionalities, leading to slow channel changes and delays in media playback.
Innovation Solution
Virtual set top boxes (VSTBs) are implemented, which allocate software instances on servers to manage media streams and user interfaces, allowing for efficient processing of multiple streams, seamless playback, and dynamic content manipulation, eliminating the need for physical STBs on each device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional hardware set top boxes are deployed on every television, then content decryption and basic media playback are achieved, but hardware costs and system complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the set top box functionality into the television device itself, combining the decryption engine, media processor, and user interface controller within the TV's existing hardware architecture. This eliminates the need for separate external STB devices while maintaining content protection capabilities through integrated conditional access modules.
Solution Approach 2:
The television device is designed to perform multiple functions including content decryption, media processing, virtual set top box emulation, and user interface control. The system can handle various content formats and delivery protocols (MPEG-TS, IP packets) through a universal media processing pipeline that adapts to different service requirements.
2Productivity
If conventional hardware set top boxes are used, then media playback is achieved, but processing power for multiple streams and advanced functionalities is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional hardware-based set top box processing with software-based virtualization running on the television's existing processor. The virtual STB implementation uses software decompression engines and virtualized media processing pipelines that leverage the TV's CPU and GPU capabilities, eliminating the need for dedicated hardware decoding chips in external devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts processing parameters including video resolution, frame rate, and compression levels based on available bandwidth and device capabilities. The virtual STB can switch between different processing modes (hardware-accelerated vs. software-based) and adapt content delivery parameters to optimize performance across multiple concurrent streams.
3Reliability
If conventional hardware set top boxes are deployed, then digital content delivery is achieved, but channel changes and media playback experience delays
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-loads and buffers content data in advance of actual playback requests. The virtual STB maintains ready queues for frequently accessed channels and pre-processes incoming data streams, so that channel changes and media playback can begin immediately without waiting for real-time decryption and decompression of entire content blocks.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a buffer memory and data queue as intermediary components between the network interface and the display output. These intermediaries store pre-decrypted and pre-processed content data, allowing the system to serve content requests rapidly without direct real-time processing delays. The buffer acts as a mediator that decouples content delivery from playback timing.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatus are described for providing digital content to televisions or other devices having media playback capabilities over a network infrastructure using virtual set top boxes (VSTBs).