EP-4736398-A1 - BANDWIDTH OPTIMIZATION THROUGH AGGREGATED MULTI-CASTING OF MEDIA STREAMS

EP4736398A1EP 4736398 A1EP4736398 A1EP 4736398A1EP-4736398-A1

Abstract

Systems, devices, and automated processes optimize bandwidth utilization in wireless network systems such as satellite systems, 5G and other cellular networks, and wireless local area networks with multiple distribution nodes. Redundant unicasts of media streams are replaced by multicasts that can be transmitted by a subset of the available distribution nodes. This allows customer devices to receive redundant content over shared bandwidth that is available to the particular customer devices requiring access to the redundant content. Subsets of distribution nodes can be selected for transmitting multi-casts, thereby further reducing the amount of system bandwidth needed to provide high-quality media streams to multiple customer devices operating within the wireless network system.

Inventors

MAJOR, ROBERT DREW
HURST, MARK
POWELL, KYLE

Assignees

Sling TV LLC

Dates

Publication Date: 20260506
Application Date: 20240628

Claims (15)

1. An automated process performed by a distribution management system [110] of a wireless networking system [100] supporting communications with a plurality of customer devices [130A-C] via a plurality of distribution nodes [120A-C], the automated process comprising: identifying [402, 404] a plurality of shared media programs that are received by more than one of the customer devices; dedicating [408], for each of a plurality of shared media programs, a multicast channel on at least one of the distribution nodes to a multi-cast of the shared media program; obtaining [412], by the distribution management system for each of the plurality of shared media programs, segments of the shared media program for retransmission on the multi-cast channel associated with the shared media program; and distributing [218, 410], to each of the customer devices via the wireless networking system, a manifest describing the shared media programs and identifying the multi-cast channel and distribution node that is dedicated to the multi-cast of the media program to thereby permit each of the customer devices to obtain the segments of the shared media program from the multi-cast of the media program identified by the manifest.
2. The automated process of claim 1 wherein each multi-cast channel is represented by a multi-cast internet protocol (IP) address provided on a wireless interface of the distribution node that is dedicated to the multi-cast of the media program, and wherein the segments of the shared media program are transmitted by the wireless interface of the distribution node using the multi-cast IP address identified in the manifest.
3. The automated process of any preceding claim wherein the identifying of the plurality of shared media programs comprises monitoring requests for media programs received from the customer devices and recognizing those media programs receiving multiple requests from different customer devices.
4. The automated process of claim 3 wherein the identifying further comprises recognizing that the customer devices placing the requests for the shared media programs are in communication with the same one of the plurality of distribution nodes.
5. The automated process of claim 4 wherein the at least one of the plurality of distribution nodes is the same one of the plurality of distribution nodes in communication with the customer devices placing the requests for the shared media devices.
6. The automated process of claim 5 wherein the dedicating comprises assigning a multicast internet protocol (IP) address on a downlink interface of the same one of the plurality of distribution nodes.
7. The automated process of claim 6 wherein the same one of the plurality of distribution nodes is one of several distribution nodes in simultaneous communication with the customer devices placing the requests for the shared media devices, and wherein the multicast channel is provided on the same one of the plurality of distribution nodes but not on the other nodes of the several distribution nodes.
8. The automated process of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of distribution nodes is a satellite, and wherein the customer devices are ground stations in simultaneous communication with multiple satellites.
9. The automated process of claim 8 wherein the satellite having the channel dedicated to the multi-cast of the shared media program of the plurality of distribution nodes is one of several distribution nodes in simultaneous communication with the customer devices placing the requests for the shared media devices, and wherein the multi-cast channel is provided on the same one of the plurality of distribution nodes but not on the other nodes of the several distribution nodes.
10. A distribution management system [110] of a wireless networking system [100], the distribution management system having a processor [111], a non-transitory data storage [112] and an interface [113] to support communications with a plurality of customer devices [130A-C] via a plurality of distribution nodes [120A-C], wherein the non- transitory data storage comprises computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, perform an automated process comprising: identifying [404] a plurality of shared media programs that are received by more than one of the customer devices; dedicating [408], for each of a plurality of shared media programs, a multicast channel on at least one of the distribution nodes to a multi-cast of the shared media program; obtaining [412], by the distribution management system for each of the plurality of shared media programs, segments of the shared media program for retransmission on the multi-cast channel associated with the shared media program; and distributing [218, 410], to each of the customer devices via the wireless networking system, a manifest describing the shared media programs and identifying the multi-cast channel and distribution node that is dedicated to the multi-cast of the media program to thereby permit each of the customer devices to obtain the segments of the shared media program from the multi-cast of the media program identified by the manifest.
11. The distribution management system of claim 10 wherein each multi-cast channel is represented by a multi-cast internet protocol (IP) address provided on a wireless interface of the distribution node that is dedicated to the multi-cast of the media program, and wherein the segments of the shared media program are transmitted by the wireless interface of the distribution node using the multi-cast IP address identified in the manifest.
12. The distribution management system of claim 10 or claim 11 wherein the at least one of the distribution nodes is one of several distribution nodes in simultaneous communication with the customer devices placing the requests for the shared media devices, and wherein the multi-cast channel is provided on the at least one of the distribution nodes but not on the other nodes of the several distribution nodes.
13. The distribution management system of any of claims 10-12 wherein each of the plurality of distribution nodes is a satellite, and wherein the customer devices are ground stations in simultaneous communication with multiple satellites, and wherein the satellite having the channel dedicated to the multi-cast of the shared media program of the plurality of distribution nodes is one of several distribution nodes in simultaneous communication with the customer devices placing the requests for the shared media program, and wherein the multi-cast channel is provided on the same one of the plurality of distribution nodes but not on the other nodes of the several distribution nodes.
14. A satellite communications system [100] for providing access to media streams available via a network [105] for a plurality of customer devices [130A-C], the satellite communications system comprising: a plurality of satellite distribution nodes [120A-C] each configured for wireless communications with the plurality of customer devices; and a distribution management system [110] configured to: identify [404] a plurality of shared media programs that are received by more than one of the customer devices; dedicate [408], for each of a plurality of shared media programs, a multi-cast channel on at least one of the satellite distribution nodes to a multi-cast of the shared media program; obtain [412], by the distribution management system for each of the plurality of shared media programs, segments of the shared media program for re-transmission on the multi-cast channel associated with the shared media program; and distribute [218, 410], to each of the customer devices via the wireless networking system, a manifest describing the shared media programs and identifying the multi-cast channel and satellite distribution node that is dedicated to the multi-cast of the media program to thereby permit each of the customer devices to obtain the segments of the shared media program from the multi-cast of the media program identified by the manifest.
15. The satellite communications system of claim 14 wherein the satellite having the channel dedicated to the multi-cast of the shared media program of the plurality of distribution nodes is one of several distribution nodes in simultaneous communication with the customer devices placing the requests for the shared media program, and wherein the multicast channel is provided on the same one of the plurality of distribution nodes but not on the other nodes of the several distribution nodes.

Description

BANDWIDTH OPTIMIZATION THROUGH AGGREGATED MULTI CASTING OF MEDIA STREAMS PRIORITY CLAIM [0001] This application claims priority to United States Provisional Application Serial No. 63/511,131 filed on June 29, 2023 and to United States Patent Application Serial No. 18/757,306 filed on June 27, 2024. Both of these documents are incorporated herein by reference. TECHNICAL FIELD [0002] The following generally relates to wireless data networks, such as satellite networks, 5G mobile networks and wireless local area networks (WLANs). More particularly, the following relates to systems, devices and automated processes to reduce bandwidth utilization of shared network links. BACKGROUND [0003] Wireless networks that transport digital data are becoming increasingly deployed for personal and commercial use. Satellite networks, for example, are becoming more sophisticated, more capable and more widely used for personal and commercial purposes. At the same time, fifth generation (“5G”) broadband cellular networks are being widely deployed around the world. These 5G networks use emerging technologies to support data and voice communications with millions, if not billions, of mobile phones, computers and other devices. Even further, wireless local area networks (WLANs) such as Wi-Fi networks are becoming more commonplace in the home and other settings. Each of these new wireless technologies is capable of supplying substantial amounts of bandwidth even as customers become increasingly mobile, thereby supporting an ever-increasing number of new applications and uses. [0004] Even as network access improves, challenges nevertheless remain in allocating limited bandwidth amongst the many different customers and customer applications. Media streaming, for example, can quickly consume substantial amounts of bandwidth on any network. Various attempts have been made to mitigate the customer experience in limited bandwidth situations. Modern adaptive streaming techniques, for example, can make very efficient use of bandwidth available to a particular customer for a unicast stream. If multiple unicasts arc being simultaneously provided over a common data channel (e.g., a shared satellite link, WLAN or 5G network slice), however, even very efficient unicasts can quickly overwhelm the shared bandwidth. This could ultimately lead to undesirable interruptions or delays. At the very least, when the shared bandwidth becomes constrained, adaptive unicast systems could undesirably degrade the quality of each unicast stream, thereby making the customer experience less optimal. [0005] Substantial technical challenges therefore arise in managing the limited bandwidth within a satellite, cellular or WLAN networking system. A desire therefore exists to build systems, devices and automated processes that allow for intelligent routing of media programs and other bandwidth-intensive digital content within a wireless network that includes multiple distribution nodes. These and other features are described in increasing detail below. BRIEF SUMMARY [0006] According to various embodiments, bandwidth in a satellite, cellular, WLAN or other wireless communications system can be used more efficiently by replacing parallel unicast media streams with a single multicast stream that can be simultaneously received by all of the customer devices operating within broadcast range of a common distribution node. Popular media programs, for example, can be multicast on shared bandwidth representing a channel that is known to multiple customer devices. Rather than each customer device obtaining its own unicast of the same media program via its own bandwidth, the shared bandwidth of the common distribution node can simultaneously distribute the shared program to each of the devices that are interested in receiving the program. [0007] The concepts described herein may be used in any wireless networking systems in which multiple transmission points are available to customer devices. Examples of such networking systems could include, without limitation, satellite internet systems, WLAN implementations having multiple routers or wireless access points, 5G or other cellular networks, and/or other networks as appropriate. In each of these settings, customer devices can “tune” to receive multicast channels available from one or more of the available distribution nodes, thereby further improving the efficiency of the system. [0008] In one example embodiment, an automated process is performed by a distribution management system [110] of a wireless networking system [100] supporting communications with a plurality of customer devices [130A-C] via a plurality of distribution nodes [120A-C]. The automated process suitably comprises: identifying [402, 404] a plurality of shared media programs that are received by more than one of the customer devices; dedicating [408], for each of a plurality of shared media programs, a multi-cast channel on at least one of the distribution no