Managing linear multimedia content delivery
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A multimedia load management method, comprising:
- assigning a first server to a first virtual group and a second virtual group;
assigning a client device to the first virtual group;
monitoring loading of virtual groups including the first virtual group and the second virtual group; and
responsive to detecting a request for a linear multimedia program from the client device;
unicasting a first portion of the linear multimedia program to the client device from the first server; and
multicasting a second portion of the linear multimedia program to the client device from a multicast replicator; and
responsive to detecting unequal loading among the virtual groups, reassigning the client device to the second virtual group and to a server other than the first server in the second virtual group.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Users are assigned to virtual groups. Virtual groups are associated with server assets. Achieving load-balancing during the delivery of linear multimedia content, for example, may be achieved through reassigning users to different virtual groups. Server assets can include server clusters that are assigned to the virtual groups. New hardware can be added to server assets without having to directly associate users to the new hardware.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A multimedia load management method, comprising:
-
assigning a first server to a first virtual group and a second virtual group; assigning a client device to the first virtual group; monitoring loading of virtual groups including the first virtual group and the second virtual group; and responsive to detecting a request for a linear multimedia program from the client device; unicasting a first portion of the linear multimedia program to the client device from the first server; and multicasting a second portion of the linear multimedia program to the client device from a multicast replicator; and responsive to detecting unequal loading among the virtual groups, reassigning the client device to the second virtual group and to a server other than the first server in the second virtual group. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. A non-transitory computer readable medium including computer readable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations including:
-
assigning a first server to a first virtual group and a second virtual group; assigning a client device to the first virtual group; monitoring loading of virtual groups including the first virtual group and the second virtual group; and responsive to detecting a request for a linear multimedia program from the client device; unicasting a first portion of the linear multimedia program to the client device from the first server; and multicasting a second portion of the linear multimedia program to the client device from a multicast replicator; and responsive to detecting unequal loading among the virtual groups, reassigning the client device to the second virtual group and to a server other than the first server in the second virtual group. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
10. The computer readable medium of 9, wherein the operations include:
iteratively reassigning the client device until loading of each virtual group is substantially equal.
-
15. A computer system, comprising:
-
a processor; non-transitory computer readable media including computer readable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations including; assigning a first server to a first virtual group and a second virtual group; assigning a client device to the first virtual group; monitoring loading of virtual groups including the first virtual group and the second virtual group; and responsive to detecting a request for a linear multimedia program from the client device; unicasting a first portion of the linear multimedia program to the client device from the first server; and multicasting a second portion of the linear multimedia program to the client device from a multicast replicator; and responsive to detecting unequal loading among the virtual groups, reassigning the client device to the second virtual group and to a server other than the first server in the second virtual group. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification