Method and apparatus for performing user migration within a video on demand environment
First Claim
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1. A method for performing user migrating comprising:
- for a content stream being provided to a user from a source server module, determining a transitional extent deadline associated with a transitional extent that defines an appropriate first extent to be provided to said user via a destination server module, said content stream being divided into a plurality of extents, including said transitional extent, said appropriate first extent, and a plurality of subsequent extents;
determining whether said destination server module is capable of retrieving said transitional extent from an array of storage devices within the transitional extent deadline; and
causing said destination server module to provide said transitional extent and said subsequent extents to said user, each extent containing an amount of information retrieved from a single storage device of the array of storage devices during one service period.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for migrating one or more users from a source server module to a destination server module in a manner avoiding information discontinuities or otherwise degrading the users'"'"' viewing experience.
48 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method for performing user migrating comprising:
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for a content stream being provided to a user from a source server module, determining a transitional extent deadline associated with a transitional extent that defines an appropriate first extent to be provided to said user via a destination server module, said content stream being divided into a plurality of extents, including said transitional extent, said appropriate first extent, and a plurality of subsequent extents; determining whether said destination server module is capable of retrieving said transitional extent from an array of storage devices within the transitional extent deadline; and causing said destination server module to provide said transitional extent and said subsequent extents to said user, each extent containing an amount of information retrieved from a single storage device of the array of storage devices during one service period. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for user migration, comprising:
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receiving a transitional extent identifier, transitional extent deadline and a content stream identifier associated with a migrated user of a content stream, said content stream being divided into a plurality of extents, each extent containing an amount of information retrieved from a single storage device of an array of storage devices during one service period; determining whether an identified transitional extent, which is identified by said transitional extent identifier, of an identified content stream, which is identified by said content stream identifier, may be accessed prior to said transitional extent deadline; and in response to a favorable determination, accessing said identified transitional extent and providing a message indicative of acceptance of said migrated user. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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15. An apparatus, comprising:
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a plurality of server modules including a first server module and a second server module, each server module having a mass storage device for storing content as respective sequences of a plurality of extents including a transitional extent and a first extent, each extent containing an amount of information retrieved from a single storage device of said mass storage device during one service period; and a switch for coupling a plurality of content streams provided by said server modules to a plurality of transport processors, said content streams including at least one first content stream; wherein said at least one first content stream being provided to a user by said first server module is caused to be provided to said user by said second server module, an initial portion of said first content stream being defined by a transition, said first and second server modules cooperating to define said transitional extent representing said first extent of said first content stream and a transitional extent deadline such that said transitional extent is retrieved from said mass storage device within said transitional extent deadline; wherein, in response to a migration event, at least one content stream is provided by a source server module and a failing server module is migrated to a non-failing server module such that a plurality of subscribers receiving at least one content stream receive substantially uninterrupted service. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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Specification