System and method for datastreams employing shared loop architecture multimedia subsystem clusters

• US 5,892,913 A
• Filed: 12/02/1996
• Issued: 04/06/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Wolfe, Daniel Charles, Kalinoski, Kenneth Adam, Day, Michael Norman, Shaw, Wade David, Legband, Dale Arthur, Wood, Donald Edwin, Adiga, Ashok Kakkunje
• Primary Examiner(s): Burgess, Glenton B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tanner, Chris
• Application Number:
  US08/755,874
• Time in Patent Office: 855 Days
• Field of Search: 707/1, 707/104, 370/447, 370/445, 370/452, 370/462, 370/404, 370/405, 395/200.48, 395/200.49, 395/200.61, 395/312, 395/824, 395/821, 395/825, 348/7
• US Class Current: 709/219
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17336 Handling of requests in head-ends

Abstract

In order to increase the number of datastreams provided by a multimedia system, a cluster of clusters of multimedia A/V server subsystems is provided. Each cluster in turn is comprised of a plurality of A/V servers, a shared loop architecture plurality of data storage devices interconnected to the A/V servers whereby any storage device is substantially equally accessible by any of the servers in the cluster; and a highly available control server subsystem interconnected to the A/V servers and the data storage devices for controlling the A/V servers and the data storage devices. Each of the clusters is interconnected to a high speed switch for delivery of datastreams from the cluster to the end user. One of the control server subsystems also serves as a master control server assigning a request for a datastream to one of the clusters.

Claims

1. A method for providing a large number of datastreams in a multimedia datastream server system comprising:

generating a datastream request;

assigning one of a plurality of clusters of A/V servers to service said request by a master controller in response to said request, each of said clusters being interconnected to a high speed data switch and including;

a plurality of said A/V servers;

a control server subsystem which includes said master controller; and

a plurality of storage devices configured in a shared data loop and interconnected to said plurality of A/V servers and said control server subsystem; and

servicing said request by said assigned one of said clusters.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said requested datastream is passed from one of said storage devices in said assigned cluster through a corresponding one of said A/V servers in said cluster to said switch.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said shared data loop is a serial storage architecture loop or a fiber channel arbitrated loop.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein for each said loop, each of said storage devices in said each loop has substantially equal access to any of said A/V servers interconnected to said loop.

5. An apparatus for providing a large number of datastreams in a multimedia datastream server system comprising:

means for generating a datastream request;

a plurality of high speed data switches;

means for assigning one of a plurality of clusters of A/V servers to service said request by a master controller in response to said request, each of said clusters being interconnected to one of said high speed data switches;

including;

a plurality of said A/V servers;

a control server subsystem which includes said master controller; and

a plurality of storage devices configured in a shared data loop and interconnected to said plurality of A/V servers and said control server subsystem; and

means for servicing said request by said assigned one of said clusters.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said requested datastream is passed from one of said storage devices in said assigned cluster through a corresponding one of said A/V servers in said cluster to said switch.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said shared data loop is a serial storage architecture loop or a fiber channel arbitrated loop.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein for each said loop, each of said storage devices in said each loop has substantially equal access to any of said A/V servers interconnected to said loop.