System and method for fault tolerant stream splitting

• US 7,020,709 B1
• Filed: 06/30/2000
• Issued: 03/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Sloss, Reed J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dharia, Rupal
• Assistant Examiner(s): Duong, Thomas
• Application Number:
  US09/608,417
• Time in Patent Office: 2,097 Days
• Field of Search: 709/105, 709231-232, 709/238, 709/239, 709224-226, 709233-235, 714/4, 714/13
• US Class Current: 709/231
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/16 Multipoint routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/22 Alternate routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/24 Multipath
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/243 using M+N parallel active paths
• 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 67/1029 using data related to the state of servers by a load balancer
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1034 Reaction to server failures by a load balancer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/222 Secondary servers, e.g. proxy server, cable television Head-end provisioning of proxy services in data packet switching networks H04L67/56
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64307 ATM
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64322 IP
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64738 Monitoring network characteristics, e.g. bandwidth, congestion level data switched network analysis H04L41/14; monitoring functioning in data switched networks H04L43/0817; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17354 in an intermediate station common to a plurality of user terminals

Abstract

A system is described comprising: a primary root splitter to split a data stream transmitted from an upstream server into a plurality of leaf splitter streams; a plurality of leaf splitters to split each of the leaf splitter streams into a plurality of end user streams, wherein one or more of the plurality of leaf splitters is a backup root splitter; and root splitter reassignment logic for reassigning one of the backup root splitters as a new primary root splitter responsive to detecting a problem with the primary root splitter.

Also described is a method comprising: monitoring a primary root splitter to ensure that the primary root splitter is operating within predefined parameters, the primary root splitter to split a single data stream into multiple data streams transmitted to multiple leaf splitters; and reassigning one of the leaf splitters as a new primary root splitter responsive to detecting that the primary root splitter is not operating within the predefined parameters.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a primary root splitter to split a data stream transmitted from an upstream server into a plurality of leaf splitter streams;

a plurality of leaf splitters to split each of said leaf splitter streams into a plurality of end user streams, wherein one or more of said plurality of leaf splitters is a backup root splitter;

a monitoring subsystem to monitor the status of the primary root splitter; and

an agent to reconfigure one of said backup root splitters as a new primary root splitter responsive to detecting a problem with said primary root splitter, said new primary root splitter to split the data stream transmitted from the upstream server.

2. The system as in claim 1 further comprising a load balancer module to direct client streaming requests to particular leaf splitters based on relative load on said leaf splitters.

3. The system as in claim 1 further comprising a redirection subsystem to redirect client streaming requests to a particular point of presence site.

4. The system as in claim 2 further comprising load balancer update logic for removing said backup leaf splitter from said plurality of leaf splitters to which said load balancer directs user streaming requests responsive to said backup root splitter being reassigned as a primary root splitter.

5. The system as in claim 3 further comprising redirection subsystem update logic for notifying said redirection subsystem of said new primary root splitter responsive to said backup splitter being reconfigured as said new primary root splitter.

6. The system as in claim 5 wherein said redirection subsystem update logic transmits said new primary root splitter'"'"'s IP address to said redirection subsystem.

7. The system as in claim 1 further comprising publish point update logic for updating publishing points within said system responsive to said backup root server being reassigned as said primary root server.

8. The system as in claim 1 further comprising:

a primary root splitter agent to periodically transmit a heartbeat signal to said monitoring subsystem, the heartbeat signal indicating that said primary root splitter is operating within normal parameters.

9. The system as in claim 8 wherein said monitoring subsystem transmits a monitor signal to said primary root splitter agent, and wherein not receiving a response from said primary root splitter agent indicates a problem with said primary root splitter.

10. A computerized method comprising:

monitoring status of a primary root splitter to ensure that said primary root splitter is operating within predefined parameters, said primary root splitter to split a single data stream transmitted from an upstream server into multiple data streams transmitted to multiple leaf splitters, the leaf splitters to split each of said leaf splitter streams into a plurality of end user streams, wherein one or more of said plurality of leaf splitters is a backup root splitter;

detecting a problem with the primary root splitter; and

reconfiguring one of said leaf splitters as a new primary root splitter responsive to detecting that said primary root splitter is not operating within said predefined parameters, said new primary root splitter to split a single data stream transmitted from the upstream server into multiple data streams transmitted to multiple leaf splitters.

11. The computerized method of claim 10 further comprising:

updating a load balancer module to indicate that said backup leaf splitter is reassigned as a primary root splitter, said load balancer module for distributing user streaming requests to one or more of said leaf splitters based on load on each of said leaf splitters.

12. The computerized method as in claim 10 further comprising:

updating a redirection subsystem to indicate that said backup leaf splitter is reconfigured as a primary root splitter, said redirection subsystem for directing client streaming requests to a particular point of presence site.

13. The computerized method of claim 12 further comprising:

updating a load balancer module at said point of presence site to indicate that said backup leaf splitter is reassigned as a new primary root splitter, said load balancer module for distributing user streaming requests to one or more of said leaf splitters at said point of presence site based on load on each of said leaf splitters.

14. The computerized method as in claim 12 wherein updating said redirection subsystem comprises transmitting said new primary root splitter'"'"'s IP address to said redirection subsystem.

15. The computerized method as in claim 10 further comprising:

updating one or more broadcast publish points to indicate said new primary root splitter.

16. An article of manufacture including a sequence of instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause said processor to:

monitor status of a primary root splitter to ensure that said primary root splitter is operating within predefined parameters, said primary root splitter to split a single data stream into multiple data streams transmitted to multiple leaf splitters, the leaf splitters to split each of said leaf splitter streams into a plurality of end user streams, wherein one or more of said plurality of leaf splitters is a backup root splitter;

detect a problem with the primary root splitter; and

reconfigure one of said leaf splitters as a new primary root splitter responsive to detecting that said primary root splitter is not operating within said predefined parameters, said new primary root splitter to split the data stream into multiple data streams.

17. The article of manufacture as in claim 16 including additional instructions which, when executed by said processor, cause said processor to:

update a load balancer module to indicate that said leaf splitter is reassigned as a primary root splitter, said load balancer module for distributing user streaming requests to one or more of said leaf splitters based on load on each of said leaf splitters.

18. The article of manufacture as in claim 17 including additional instructions which, when executed by said processor, cause said processor to:

update a redirection subsystem to indicate that said leaf splitter is reassigned as a primary root splitter, said redirection subsystem for directing client streaming requests to a particular point of presence site.