SELECTIVE PRE-CACHING OF MEDIA STREAMS

Number: 20210266353
Published: 2021-08-26
Filed: 2020-02-25
Assignee: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
Inventors: GRUBB; Jeffrey, KLEIN; Eric Ross, ZUCKER; Christopher J., MAY, JR.; William B.
CPC: H04N21/4384; H04L65/612; H04N21/8456; H04N21/44029; H04N21/4331; H04L67/5681; H04N21/23106; H04N21/845; H04N21/2183
Verdict: Set aside media pre-caching, CDN plumbing
Source: Google Patents · FreePatentsOnline

Abstract

Various embodiments set forth a computer-implemented method for selectively caching digital content for streaming, comprising analyzing a set of traffic data associated with streaming of a plurality of media items in a first time period, selecting, based on the set of traffic data, a first media item for storage in a cache during a second time period, and storing in the cache, prior to receiving a request for the first media item in the second time period, at least a portion of a first media stream of a plurality of media streams associated with the first media item, and at least a portion of a second media stream of the plurality of media streams, wherein each media stream in the plurality of media streams is encoded with different characteristics.

Background

BACKGROUND Field of the Various Embodiments

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to digital media and, more specifically, to selective pre-caching of media streams. Description of the Related Art

Content streaming services offer clients access to a library of digital media, such as text, audio, audiovisual programs, and so forth. A video streaming service, for example, can provide a client access to a library of media items (e.g., movies, television episodes, songs, etc.). The client can use a playback application running on a client streaming device to view, or otherwise consume, the media items. In various content distribution infrastructures, clients attempting to access the media library connect to the video streaming service using different playback devices and under different operating conditions. Content servers within a content distribution network can deliver digital content to the client device via real-time streaming, enabling the client to initiate playback before the client has downloaded the complete media item.

Conventional content streaming services enhance streaming performance by storing digital content related to media items at edge servers distributed throughout a network. In such a manner, client devices may be served by edge servers that are closer to the client devices and therefore are more able to efficiently serve content to the client devices than other servers in the network. Storing the digital content at edg

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for selectively caching digital content for streaming, the method comprising: analyzing a set of traffic data associated with streaming of a plurality of media items in a first time period, selecting, based on the set of traffic data, a first media item for storage in a cache during a second time period; and storing in the cache, prior to receiving a request for the first media item in the second time period: at least a portion of a first media stream of a plurality of media streams associated with the first media item, and at least a portion of a second media stream of the plurality of media streams associated with the first media item, wherein each media stream in the plurality of media streams is encoded with different characteristics. || 14. One or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media including instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the steps of: analyzing a set of traffic data associated with streaming of a plurality of media items in a first time period, selecting, based on the set of traffic data, a first media item for storage in a cache during a second time period; and storing in the cache, prior to receiving a request for the first media item in the second time period: at least a portion of a first media stream of a plurality of media streams associated with the first media item, and at least a portion of a second media stream of the plurality of media streams, wherein each media stream in the plurality of media streams is encoded with different characteristics. || 18. A computing system that selectively caches digital content for streaming, the computing system comprising: a memory that stores a pre-caching Application; and a processor that is coupled to the memory and executes the pre-caching Application to: analyze a set of traffic data associated with streaming of a plurality of media items in a first time period, select, based on the set of traffic data, a first media item for storage in a cache during a second time period; and store in the cache, prior to receiving a request for the first media item in the second time period: at least a portion of a first media stream of a plurality of media streams associated with the first media item, and at least a portion of a second media stream of the plurality of media streams, wherein each media stream in the plurality of media streams is encoded with different characteristics.