Video on Demand Content Provisioning via Edge Server Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Content delivery networks (CDNs) face challenges in efficiently distributing video on demand content, as popular titles are often stored centrally, leading to increased load on archive servers and reduced service quality, especially when user preferences mismatch with edge server content.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for specifying titles of video on demand content for provisioning on a CDN, where business rules and user usage data are collected and processed to identify popular content for distribution directly from central storage to edge servers, minimizing CDN storage and overhead costs, and enabling quicker access to popular titles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If content is stored centrally at the backoffice server, then broad access for all subscribers is provided, but the load on the archive server increases and service quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments content distribution by dividing the centralized archive server into multiple regional edge servers. Each edge server stores copies of popular content locally, allowing the system to serve multiple subscribers simultaneously without overloading a single central server. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by maintaining broad access through distributed servers while preventing any single server from becoming a bottleneck that degrades service quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces edge servers as intermediary components between the central archive server and end-users. These edge servers act as mediators that cache and deliver popular content locally, reducing the load on the archive server while maintaining content availability for subscribers. The intermediary edge servers resolve the contradiction by handling local delivery demands without requiring direct access to the central archive for every request.
2Speed
If popular content is stored at edge servers, then access speed is improved, but CDN storage requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making edge servers selectively store only popular content titles based on usage patterns and preferences, rather than duplicating entire content libraries. Each edge server optimizes its local storage to hold only the most frequently accessed content for its regional users, thereby improving access speed for popular titles while minimizing unnecessary CDN storage consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically changes the parameter of content selection by using usage pattern analysis to determine which content titles should be cached at edge servers. Rather than static content distribution, the system adjusts content placement parameters based on real-time or near-real-time usage data, ensuring that edge servers store only the most valuable content for local users, thus optimizing both access speed and storage efficiency.
3Loss of time
If edge servers store popular content, then user access time is reduced, but overhead costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables edge servers to operate with a degree of autonomy by allowing them to serve content from their local caches without requiring continuous centralized control or management. The edge servers self-manage their content delivery operations, reducing the overhead burden on the central system while maintaining fast access for users. This self-service capability resolves the contradiction by improving user access time through local caching while minimizing the overhead costs associated with centralized management.
4Adaptability or versatility
If centralized content distribution is used, then content availability is maintained, but service quality deteriorates due to server load
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the centralized content distribution architecture into multiple distributed edge servers located in different geographic regions. Each edge server maintains content availability for its local user base, eliminating the single-point bottleneck of the centralized archive server. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by preserving content availability through distribution while preventing server overload that would degrade service quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single-dimensional centralized content delivery model to a multi-dimensional distributed architecture. Content is no longer delivered from a single central location but from multiple edge servers distributed across different geographic dimensions. This dimensional change resolves the contradiction by maintaining content availability through multiple access points while preventing any single server from becoming overloaded, thus preserving service quality.
Data Source
AI summary
On demand content is delivered to a network edge server based on rules. A central storage, disposed at a head end of a content distribution system, stores content for distribution to users. A decision server, coupled to the central storage, collects information regarding business rules and usage of content by users and processes the collected business rules and usage of content by users to identify content for reprovisioning. A network edge server, coupled to the decision server, and which includes storage, receives and stores content identified by the decision server for reprovisioning from the central storage for distribution from the network edge server directly to the users.