Low cost, highly accurate video server bit-rate compensation

• US 7,412,703 B2
• Filed: 09/19/2003
• Issued: 08/12/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TiVo Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Sedna Patent Services LLC
• Inventors: Cleary, Geoffrey Alan, Brown, Joseph I.
• Primary Examiner(s): An; Meng-Ai
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kawsar; Abdullah Al
• Application Number:
  US10/665,738
• Publication Number:
  US 20040148390A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,789 Days
• Field of Search: 718 1-108, 348/721, 725/74, 725/87, 725/93, 709/201, 709/203, 709230-233
• US Class Current: 718/102
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/241 Operating system [OS] processes, e.g. server setup

Abstract

A method, apparatus and system for adaptably distributing video server processes among processing elements within a video server such that video server operation may be adapted in a manner facilitating rigorous timing constraints.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

associating each of a plurality of processing elements with at least one respective video server process;

assigning priority to said processing elements according to a hierarchy of video server processes, each of said video server processes having a relative priority level with respect to other video server processes; and

adjusting said hierarchy of video server processes according to at least one of monitored timing parameters, changes in system loading conditions, changes in operating conditions and operating system scheduler requirements;

wherein said step of associating each of a plurality of processing elements comprises binding individual processing elements to respective processes, and said binding is provided by modifying a kernel within an operating system.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

adjusting said associations of processing elements and video server processes in response to at least one of processing element loading, monitored timing parameters, changes in system loading conditions, changes in system operating conditions and operating system scheduler requirements.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein a first processing element is associated with at least one administrative process and a second processing element is associated with software for driving video output data at a controlled rate.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said individual processing elements are distributed among a plurality of servers.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising synchronizing said plurality of servers using a network time protocol (NTP).

6. A method, comprising:

associating each of a plurality of processing elements with at least one respective video server process;

assigning priority to said processing elements according to a hierarchy of video server processes, each of said video server processes having a relative priority level with respect to other video server processes; and

adjusting said hierarchy of video server processes according to at least one of monitored timing parameters, changes in system loading conditions, changes in operating conditions and operating system scheduler requirements;

wherein said step of associating each of a plurality of processing elements comprises binding individual processing elements to respective processes; and

a first processing element is associated with at least one administrative process and a second processing element is associated with software for driving video output data at a controlled rate.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

adjusting said associations of processing elements and video server processes in response to at least one of processing element loading, monitored timing parameters, changes in system loading conditions, changes in system operating conditions and operating system scheduler requirements.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein said individual processing elements are distributed among a plurality of servers.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising synchronizing said plurality of servers using a network time protocol (NTP).

10. A controller, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory for storing a program, which, when executed by the processor, performs a method comprising;

associating each of a plurality of processing elements with at least one respective video server process;

assigning priority to said processing elements according to a hierarchy of video server processes, each of said video server processes having a relative priority level with respect to other video server processes; and

adjusting said hierarchy of video server processes according to at least one of monitored timing parameters, changes in system loading conditions, changes in operating conditions and operating system scheduler requirements;

wherein said step of associating each of a plurality of processing elements comprises binding individual processing elements to respective processes, and said binding is provided by modifying a kernel within an operating system.

11. A controller, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory for storing a program, which, when executed by the processor, performs a method comprising;

associating each of a plurality of processing elements with at least one respective video server process;

assigning priority to said processing elements according to a hierarchy of video server processes, each of said video server processes having a relative priority level with respect to other video server processes; and

adjusting said hierarchy of video server processes according to at least one of monitored timing parameters, changes in system loading conditions, changes in operating conditions and operating system scheduler requirements;

wherein said step of associating each of a plurality of processing elements comprises binding individual processing elements to respective processes; and

a first processing element is associated with at least one administrative process and a second processing element is associated with software for driving video output data at a controlled rate.