Data distribution system that performs load balancing by directly transmitting data between distribution servers

• US 6,182,138 B1
• Filed: 02/14/1997
• Issued: 01/30/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Aoki, Hiromichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung, Zarni
• Application Number:
  US08/800,375
• Time in Patent Office: 1,446 Days
• Field of Search: 395/200.56, 395/200.54, 395/200.61, 395/200.63, 395/200.33, 348/7, 709/229, 709/226, 709/224, 709/231, 709/233, 709/203
• US Class Current: 709/226
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/5083 Techniques for rebalancing the load in a distributed system

Abstract

This invention provides a data distribution system capable of changing dynamically a capability of the data distribution system. In the present invention, there are provided a plurality of distributing servers, a supplying server connected to each of the plurality of distributing servers. In the case that there is a request for a content not included in the disk unit of the distributing server, it is transmitted from the supplying server to the distributing server and concurrently the content is distributed from the distributing server to the requesting set top box.

Claims

1. A data distribution system comprising:

a plurality of disc units for storing data; and

a plurality of distributing servers, connected to said plurality of disc units, respectively, for serving content data stored in a connected one of said plurality of disc units, said plurality of distributing servers directly transmitting said content data between said distributing servers according to a dynamic load balance of said distributing servers,

wherein the content data is distributed from a receiving distributing server to a client concurrently with the storing of said content data in the receiving distributing server, when said content data is transmitted between said distributing servers.

2. The data distribution system according to claim 1, wherein said dynamic load balance is determined on the basis of remaining file capacity of said distributing servers.

3. The data distribution system according to claim 1, wherein said dynamic load balance is determined on the basis of a number of available streams of said distributing servers.

4. The data distribution system according to claim 1, further comprising a supplying server for supplying the content data to said distributing servers,

wherein the content data is distributed from the receiving distributing server to a client concurrent with the storing of said content data in the receiving distributing server, when said content data is transmitted from said supplying server to said receiving distributing server.

5. A data distribution system, comprising:

a plurality of disc units for storing data;

a plurality of clients;

a plurality of distributing servers, connected to said plurality of disc units, respectively, that directly transmit content data stored in a connected one of said plurality of disc units between said plurality of distributing servers; and

a distribution controller that selects one of said plurality of distributing servers as a distributor for distributing said content data to one of said plurality of clients according to a dynamic load balance of said plurality of distributing servers,

wherein the content data is distributed from the distributor to one of said plurality of clients concurrent with the storing of said content data in the distributor, when said content data is transmitted between said distributing servers.

6. The data distribution system according to claim 5, said distribution controller comprising a content table for storing information about correspondence between said distributing servers and said content data, said distribution controller selecting said distributor based on said content table.

7. The data distribution system according to claim 5, further comprising:

a supplying server for serving the content data to said distributor according to said load balance of said distributing servers,

wherein the content data is distributed from the distributor to one of said plurality of clients concurrent with the storing of said content data in the distributor, when said content data is transmitted from said supplying server to said distributor.

8. The data distribution system according to claim 7, wherein one of said plurality of disc units is divided into at least two areas, and said at least two areas are accessed simultaneously.

9. The data distribution system according to claim 5, further comprising a supplying server,

wherein said supplying server supplies said content data to the selected one of said distributing servers based on a control signal sent from said distribution controller.

10. The data distribution system comprising:

a plurality of disc units for storing data;

a plurality of clients;

a plurality of distributing servers, connected to said plurality of disc units, respectively, that directly transmit content data stored in a connected one of said plurality of disc units between said plurality of distributing servers; and

a distribution controller for selecting one of said plurality of distributing servers as a distributor for distributing said content data to one of said plurality of clients according to a dynamic load balance of said plurality of distributing servers,

said distribution controller comprising a content table for storing information about correspondence between said distributing servers and said content data, said distribution controller selecting said distributor based on said content table,

said distribution controller further comprising a distribution server table for storing information about said load balance of said distributing servers, said distribution controller selecting said distributor based on said content table and said distributing server table, wherein the content data is distributed from the distributor to one of said plurality of clients concurrent with the storing of said content data in the distributor, when said content data is transmitted between said distributing servers.

11. The data distribution system according to claim 10, wherein said dynamic load balance is determined on the basis of remaining file capacity of said distributing servers.

12. The data distribution system according to claim 10, wherein said dynamic load balance is determined on the basis of a number of available streams of said distributing servers.