Enhanced Streaming Operations in Distributed Communication Systems

• US 20100005187A1
• Filed: 09/14/2009
• Published: 01/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Kunze, Frank Walter, Breiter, Gerd, Wagner, Hendrik
• Application Number:
  US12/558,688
• Publication Number:
  US 20100005187A1
• 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. Finally, 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:

retrieving a list of stream servers,

evaluating the list of stream servers by retrieving and considering the operating parameters of each stream server on the list, wherein the operating parameters are derived from the types of media file formats supported by the stream servers,

selecting one of the stream servers on the list,

determining if the selected stream server can handle the media format of a first media file, if the selected stream server can not handle the first media format, converting the first media file to a second media file having a second media file format,

determining if the selected stream server can handle the second media format, if the selected stream server can handle the second media format, selecting the second media file, if the selected stream server can not handle the second media format, selecting a third media file having a third media file format,

determining if the quality of the selected media file is too high for the connectivity properties of the client machine, if the quality of the selected media file is too high, transcoding the selected media file,

generating a meta file for the selected stream server, and

initiating streaming from the selected stream server.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein retrieving a list of stream servers further comprises:

getting the list of stream servers from a directory service.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein evaluating the list of stream servers further comprises:

retrieving and considering the player availability.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein evaluating the list of stream servers further comprises:

retrieving and considering preferences from the client.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein evaluating the list of stream servers further comprises:

retrieving and considering the client connectivity.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein evaluating the list of stream servers further comprises:

weighting one or more of the considered parameters.

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

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

9. 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:

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

determining one or more operating parameters of at least one stream server from the plurality of stream servers, wherein the operating parameters are derived from the types of media file formats supported by the stream server,

requesting the streaming of a first media file having a first media file format,

determining if at least one of the stream servers can handle the first media file format, if none of the stream servers can handle the first media file format, intercepting the request for streaming the first media file,

modifying the request for the streaming of a first media file having a first media file format, to a request for the streaming of a second media file having a second media file format,

determining if at least one of the stream servers can handle the second media file format, if at least one of the stream servers can handle the second media file format, sending the modified streaming request to the stream server selection unit,

if none of the stream servers can handle the second media file format, sending a third request for the streaming of a third media file having a second media file format,

determining if the quality of either the first, second, or third media file is too high for the connectivity properties of the client,

if the quality of the first, second, or third media file is too high, transcoding the media file,

selecting a stream server to commence streaming of either the first, second, third, or transcoded media file,

generating a meta file for the selected stream server, and

initiating streaming from the selected stream server.

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising retrieving preferences predetermined by the user of the client machine.

11. A computer program product stored on a computer usable medium, comprising computer readable program means for causing a computer to perform a method comprising:

retrieving a list of stream servers,

evaluating the list of stream servers by retrieving and considering the operating parameters of each stream server on the list, wherein the operating parameters are derived from the types of media file formats supported by the stream servers,

selecting one of the stream servers on the list,

determining if the selected stream server can handle the media format of a first media file, if the selected stream server can not handle the first media format, converting the first media file to a second media file having a second media file format,

determining if the selected stream server can handle the second media format, if the selected stream server can handle the second media format, selecting the second media file, if the selected stream server can not handle the second media format, selecting a third media file having a third media file format,

determining if the quality of the selected media file is too high for the connectivity properties of the client machine, if the quality of the selected media file is too high, transcoding the selected media file,

generating a meta file for the selected stream server, and

initiating streaming from the selected stream server.

12. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein retrieving a list of stream servers further comprises:

getting the list of stream servers from a directory service.

13. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein evaluating the list of stream servers further comprises:

retrieving and considering the player availability.

14. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein evaluating the list of stream servers further comprises:

retrieving and considering preferences from the client.

15. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein evaluating the list of stream servers further comprises:

retrieving and considering the client connectivity.

16. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein evaluating the list of stream servers further comprises:

weighting one or more of the considered parameters.

17. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the method further comprises:

determining whether or not the format of the media has changed.

18. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the method further comprises:

determining whether or not the quality of the media is to high for the connection from the selected stream server to the client machine.