VOD Server Storage Control via Middleware
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current VOD service systems inefficiently manage storage by storing the same content multiple times for different services, leading to high storage expenses and poor utilization.
Innovation Solution
A method where the Middle Ware (MW) provides a storage control indication to the VOD server, allowing centralized management of content storage, separating service forms from stored contents, and avoiding repeated storage by adjusting content storage based on service requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the VOD server stores content separately for each service type (TSTV, TVOD, nPVR), then each service can access its required content, but the same content is stored repeatedly in multiple files, leading to high storage expenses and poor storage utilization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the storage of content across different service types by introducing a unified storage pool where content is stored once and shared by multiple services. The MW manages content delivery by retrieving from this unified pool rather than maintaining separate storage for each service, thereby eliminating redundant storage while ensuring all services can access required content.
Solution Approach 2:
The unified storage pool serves multiple service types (TSTV, TVOD, nPVR) simultaneously, making the storage infrastructure universal. The same stored content can be accessed by different services based on their specific requirements, allowing one storage resource to fulfill multiple functions and avoid repeated storage of identical content.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the VOD server manages content storage independently for each service, then service-specific content requirements are met, but content management becomes decentralized and complex, increasing system complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The MW acts as an intermediary between the unified storage pool and various services. It receives content requests from different services, determines the appropriate content from the unified pool, and delivers it to the requesting service. This mediator approach maintains service-specific content management capabilities while centralizing actual storage management, thereby reducing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the content management function into two parts: a centralized unified storage pool for actual content storage, and a distributed service layer that requests content as needed. This segmentation allows each service to maintain its specific requirements while relying on the centralized pool for efficient storage management, reducing overall system complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention provides a method for managing contents of Video On Demand (VOD) services, where a Middle Ware (MW) controls the stored contents on a VOD server according to the VOD service information correlated with a channel. A corresponding method for providing VOD services and the corresponding device and system are also provided. Therefore, the specific service forms are separated from the stored contents, and the MW controls the contents in a centralized manner according to the service information; the VOD server does not need to store the contents of each service separately, but adds and deletes the stored contents according to the unified control from the MW, thus avoiding repeated storage of the same data for different services.