Method and system for enhancing streaming operation in a distributed communication system

• US 20040024900A1
• Filed: 07/10/2003
• Published: 02/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Breiter, Gerd, Wagner, Hendrik, Kunze, Frank Walter
• Application Number:
  US10/616,526
• Publication Number:
  US 20040024900A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/231
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/756 adapting media to device capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/762 at the source reformatting of additional data in video distribution servers H04N21/2355
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1001 for accessing one among a plurality of replicated servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10015 Access to distributed or replicated servers, e.g. using brokers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1008 based on parameters of servers, e.g. available memory or workload monitoring of computer activity G06F11/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/101 based on network conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1029 using data related to the state of servers by a load balancer
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2181 comprising remotely distributed storage units, e.g. when movies are replicated over a plurality of video servers distributed storage of data in networks, e.g. transport arrangements for network file system [NFS], storage area networks [SAN] or network attached storage [NAS], H04L67/1097
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2343 involving reformatting operations of video signals for distribution or compliance with end-user requests or end-user device requirements video transcoding H04N19/40; media packet handling at the source H04L65/762
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234309 by transcoding between formats or standards, e.g. from MPEG-2 to MPEG-4 or from Quicktime to Realvideo conversion of standards in analog television systems H04N7/01
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2402 Monitoring of the downstream path of the transmission network, e.g. bandwidth available traffic monitoring in data switching networks H04L43/00; monitoring data switching networks utilization H04L43/0876
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2405 Monitoring of the internal components or processes of the server, e.g. server load allocation of resources in multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/50; performance measurement of computer activity G06F11/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25808 Management of client data terminal profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/303
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17336 Handling of requests in head-ends

Abstract

A method and system are provided for enhancing streaming operation in a distributed communication system providing communication links between a plurality of stream servers, a client machine requesting a particular media file, and, a stream server selection unit. First, a list of stream servers is retrieved. Then, the list is evaluated and one of the stream servers is selected as the best-suited stream server. Streaming from the selected stream server is initiated

Claims

1. A method for enhancing streaming operation in a distributed communication system providing communication links between a plurality of stream servers, a client machine requesting a particular media file, and a stream server selection unit, comprising the steps of:

retrieving a list of stream servers,

evaluating the list of stream servers,

selecting one of the stream servers on the list, and

initiating streaming from the selected stream server.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of retrieving a list of stream servers further comprises the step of getting the list of stream servers from a directory service.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of evaluating the list of stream servers further includes the step of retrieving and considering the stream server'"'"'s capabilities.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of evaluating the list of stream servers further includes the step of retrieving and considering the player availability.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of evaluating the list of stream servers further includes the step of retrieving and considering preferences from the client.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of evaluating the list of stream servers further includes the step of retrieving and considering the client connectivity.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of evaluating the list of stream servers further includes the step of weighting one or more considered parameters.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of determining whether or not the stream server can handle streaming of the requested media file.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of determining whether or not the format of the media file has changed.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of determining whether or not the quality of the media file is to high for the connection from the selected stream server to the client machine.

14. A device for enhancing streaming operation in a distributed communication system providing communication links between a plurality of stream servers, a client machine requesting a particular media file, and a stream server selection unit, the device being configured to perform a method according to claim 1.

15. A computer program product stored on a computer usable medium, comprising computer readable program means for causing a computer to perform a method according to claim 1.

11. A method for enhancing streaming operation in a distributed communication system providing communication links between a plurality of stream servers, a client machine requesting a particular media file, and a stream server selection unit, comprising the steps of:

detecting the data transfer rate between the client machine and the distributed communication system,

intercepting a request for streaming a media file,

modifying the streaming request by appending preference information for streaming of the requested media file, and

sending the modified streaming request to the stream server selection unit.

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising the initial step of detecting the capabilities of the client machine.

13. The method according to claim 11, further comprising the step of retrieving preferences predetermined by a user of the client machine.