Method and system for balancing the load on media processors based upon CPU utilization information

• US 7,761,876 B2
• Filed: 03/20/2003
• Issued: 07/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Unify Inc. (Atos SE)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Enterprise Communications, Inc. (Atos SE)
• Inventors: Oliveira, Marcelo Gomes
• Primary Examiner(s): An, Meng-Ai
• Assistant Examiner(s): WAI, ERIC CHARLES
• Application Number:
  US10/393,187
• Publication Number:
  US 20040186904A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,679 Days
• Field of Search: 718104-105, 370/260
• US Class Current: 718/105
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/505 considering the load
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1001 for accessing one among a plurality of replicated servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/365 Load metering of control unit
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/367 Traffic or load control
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/56 Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities video conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/562 where the conference facilities are distributed
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42

Abstract

The present invention is a method and system for balancing the load on processors based upon the CPU utilization information of the processors. Real time CPU utilization information of processors may be effectively analyzed to prevent overloading of processing resources as assigned by a multipoint controller of a VoIP network. CPU utilization information may include the number of current conferencing channels being supported by each processor, CPU speed and the quantity of other applications being supported by the media processor. CPU utilization information from each processor may be retrieved by establishing a communication protocol with each processor and periodically polling the processors in regard to their CPU load capability. Assignment of processing tasks to processors may be based on which specific processors have the capability to handle the processing task.

Claims

1. A method executed by a controller for balancing a load on a plurality of software-based media processors executing on a plurality of appliances, each one of the plurality of software-based media processors executing on one of the plurality of appliances, the load balancing based upon a CPU utilization information for the plurality of appliances, comprising:

establishing a communication channel with each one of the plurality of software-based media processors;

requesting said CPU utilization information of each appliance of said plurality of appliances, said requesting of said CPU utilization information occurs upon receipt of an additional processing task by said controller and said requesting of said CPU utilization information is repeated according to a periodic basis after receipt of said additional processing task, said additional processing task being a new conference inquiry;

retrieving a CPU utilization information for each appliance of the plurality of appliances, wherein the CPU utilization information includes a processing speed of each appliance, a number of media channels currently supported by each software-based media processor, a number of conferences being supported by each software-based media processor across a conferencing system and a quantity of processing tasks currently supported by each appliance of said plurality of appliances other than processing tasks related to the software-based media processor executing on the appliance;

assigning said additional processing task to a software-based media processor of said plurality of software-based media processors based upon said CPU utilization information for each appliance, and said assigning of said additional processing task includes determining an amount of processing resources necessary to execute said additional processing task; and

receiving an alert when the software-based media processor of said plurality of software-based media processors is incapable of handling another processing task.

2. A system including a plurality of appliances for balancing a load on a plurality of software-based media processors, executing on the plurality of appliances, the load balancing based upon a CPU utilization information of the plurality of appliances, comprising:

a controller, said controller requests said CPU utilization information upon a receipt of an additional processing task and said controller requests said CPU utilization information on a periodic basis after receipt of said additional processing task, said additional processing task being a new conference inquiry;

the plurality of software-based media processors executing on the plurality of appliances, each one of the plurality of software-based media processors executing on one of the plurality of appliances, each of said plurality of appliances being communicatively coupled to said controller;

means for accessing said CPU utilization of each appliance of said plurality of appliances, wherein said CPU utilization of each appliance includes a processing speed of each appliance, a number of media channels currently supported by each software-based media processor, a number of conferences being supported by each software-based media processor across a conferencing system and a quantity of processing tasks currently supported by each appliance of said plurality of appliances other than processing tasks related to the software-based media processor executing on the appliance;

means for assigning said additional processing task to a specific software-based media processor of said plurality of software-based media processors according to said CPU utilization information of each appliance, said means for assigning includes means for determining an amount of processing resources necessary to execute said additional processing task; and

means for receiving an alert when the specific software-based media processor of said plurality of software-based media processors is incapable of handling another processing task.

3. The system as described in claim 2, wherein said plurality of software-based media processors report said CPU utilization information when a processing capability for said plurality of software-based media processors has been exhausted.

4. A voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network conferencing system utilizing Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), comprising:

a multipoint controller;

said multipoint controller controlling communications across said VoIP network conferencing system utilizing SIP, said multipoint controller requests CPU utilization information upon a receipt of an additional processing task and said multipoint controller requests said CPU utilization information on a periodic basis after receipt of said additional processing task;

a plurality of software-based media processors executing on a plurality of appliances, each of said plurality of software-based media processors being communicatively coupled to said multipoint controller and each one of said plurality of software-based media processors executing on one of the plurality of appliances;

said plurality of software-based media processors handling processing of audio/video and data across said VoIP network conferencing system utilizing SIP; and

at least one terminal operatively coupled to said multipoint controller;

said at least one terminal providing a receptacle for audio/video and data input, wherein said multipoint controller receives said additional processing task, said additional processing task being a new conference inquiry, said CPU utilization information from said plurality of appliances is retrieved and said additional processing task is delegated to at least one specific software-based media processor of said plurality of software-based media processors based upon an amount of processing resources necessary to execute said additional processing task, and said CPU utilization information of said plurality of appliances, wherein said CPU utilization information includes;

a processing speed of each appliance, a number of media channels currently supported by each software-based media processor, a number of conferences being supported by each software-based media processor across said VoIP network conferencing system utilizing SIP and a quantity of processing tasks currently supported by each appliance of said plurality of appliances other than processing tasks related to the software-based media processor executing on the appliance;

each of said plurality of software-based media processors providing an alert to said multipoint controller when the at least one specific software-based media processor of said plurality of software-based media processors is incapable of handling another processing task.

5. The system as described in claim 4, wherein said plurality of software-based media processors report said CPU utilization information when a processing capability for said plurality of software-based media processors has been exhausted.