MANAGING LINEAR MULTIMEDIA CONTENT DELIVERY
First Claim
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1. A method of providing multimedia programs, the method comprising:
- grouping server assets into virtual groups;
monitoring loading of the grouped server assets;
assigning a client device to one of the virtual groups based on a load parameter for the grouped server assets for the virtual group;
receiving a request from the client device to receive a multimedia program;
providing from a server asset to the client device a plurality of multimedia frames of the multimedia program, wherein the server asset is from the grouped server assets for the virtual group to which the client device is assigned;
directing the client device to a multicast replicator for receiving further frames of the multimedia program;
providing to the client device from the multicast replicator further portions of the multimedia program; and
responsive to a change in the monitored loading of the virtual groups, assigning the client device to a different virtual group.
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Abstract
Users are assigned to virtual groups. Virtual groups are associated with server assets. Achieving load-balancing during the delivery of linear multimedia content, for example, may be achieved through reassigning users to different virtual groups. Server assets can include server clusters that are assigned to the virtual groups. New hardware can be added to server assets without having to directly associate users to the new hardware.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method of providing multimedia programs, the method comprising:
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grouping server assets into virtual groups; monitoring loading of the grouped server assets; assigning a client device to one of the virtual groups based on a load parameter for the grouped server assets for the virtual group; receiving a request from the client device to receive a multimedia program; providing from a server asset to the client device a plurality of multimedia frames of the multimedia program, wherein the server asset is from the grouped server assets for the virtual group to which the client device is assigned; directing the client device to a multicast replicator for receiving further frames of the multimedia program; providing to the client device from the multicast replicator further portions of the multimedia program; and responsive to a change in the monitored loading of the virtual groups, assigning the client device to a different virtual group. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A system for distributing linear multimedia content to a plurality of users, the system comprising:
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a plurality of physical server assets for distributing the linear multimedia content to a plurality of client devices associated with the plurality of users, wherein individual physical server assets of the plurality of physical server assets include a load capacity level; a plurality of virtual groups individually associated with respective physical server assets of the plurality of physical server assets; and a load balancer for assigning portions of the plurality of client devices to a virtual group of the plurality of virtual groups, wherein said assigning is based at least in part on load capacity levels for the physical server assets associated with the respective virtual groups. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. A computer readable media embedded with computer readable instructions for balancing workload between a plurality of server assets for distributing linear multimedia content, the instructions including instructions for:
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assigning a plurality of users to a virtual group selected from a plurality of virtual groups, wherein said assigning is based at least in part on a load balance parameter associated with the virtual group; and sending to a plurality of client devices associated with the assigned plurality of users an indication of a server asset associated with the virtual group. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification