Parallel Chunk Encoding for VOD Content Preparation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing video on demand (VOD) systems require up to 6 hours to process live content for distribution, including preparation for Dynamic Advertising, which is time-sensitive and impacts revenue potential due to the lengthy processing time.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that record video or audio streams in chunks with identical timestamping, allowing for parallel processing and encoding, marking, and re-encoding of affected chunks, significantly reducing processing time by integrating key tasks into a single real-time process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If serial processing blocks are used for VOD content preparation, then processing completeness is ensured, but processing time becomes excessively long (up to 6 hours)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the content preparation process into independent parallel blocks: capturing/blocking live content, generating thumbnails and black frame indexes, encoding to distribution formats, and performing quality control. These segmented blocks can be executed concurrently rather than sequentially, dramatically reducing total processing time while maintaining complete processing of all required functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary actions during the capturing phase by simultaneously generating thumbnails, black frame indexes, and encoding content while the live stream is being captured. This preliminary processing occurs in parallel with the capturing operation itself, rather than waiting for capturing to complete before starting other processing tasks, thereby overlapping execution time and reducing overall preparation time.
2Productivity
If parallel processing is implemented for content preparation, then processing speed increases, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a multi-functional processing system where a single integrated platform performs capturing, thumbnail generation, black frame indexing, encoding to multiple formats, and quality control functions. This universal system handles diverse processing tasks through unified components rather than requiring separate specialized systems for each function, managing complexity while enabling parallel execution of multiple processing streams.
3Reliability
If all chunks are recorded before processing begins, then data completeness is ensured, but time sensitivity for C3 period is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary processing actions on content chunks as they are being recorded, rather than waiting for all chunks to be fully recorded. Thumbnails, indexes, and encodings are generated in parallel with the recording process, and processing begins on available chunks immediately. This approach ensures data completeness through progressive recording while simultaneously reducing time to market by starting processing before the entire content set is captured.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent maintains continuous useful action by overlapping the recording process with the processing process. While chunks are being recorded, the system continuously performs encoding, thumbnail generation, and quality control on already-recorded portions. This continuous parallel execution ensures that processing never waits idle for recording to complete, maximizing utilization of available content and minimizing total time to deliver processed content within the C3 period.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a technique by which content can be prepared for VOD that is quicker than existing techniques. For example, a method of preparing content for distribution comprises recording a video, audio, or video and audio program stream in a plurality of chunks, each chunk including a discrete portion of the recorded program stream, processing the program stream so as to mark locations, in parallel, encoding each recorded chunk to a plurality of output formats, wherein the encoding is started after at least one chunk is recorded but before all chunks of the program are recorded, for each of the plurality of output formats, in parallel, modifying the recorded and encoded chunks which correspond to locations that have been marked in the program stream and re-encoding the modified chunks; and for each of the plurality of output formats, concatenating the encoded and re-encoded chunks to form an output program in each of the plurality of output formats.