Communication system with hierarchical server structure
First Claim
1. A communication system (KS) comprising:
- servers (SM, SL1, . . . , SLN) each having a memory (SPM, SPL1, . . . , SPLN) for storing services and a control facility (CM, CL1, . . . , CLN);
exchanges (VSTM, VST1, . . . , VSTN) connected to the servers (SM, SL1, . . . , SLN) and with one another; and
user terminals (U1, . . . UN) connected to the exchanges (VSTM, VST1, . . . , VSTN),the servers (SM, SL1, . . . , SLN) being organized in the form of a hierarchical structure with subordinate servers (SL1, . . . , SLN) and superordinate servers (SM),characterized in that if one of the subordinate servers (SL1, . . . , SLN) signals to a respective superordinate server that the subordinate server is unable to provide a service requested by one of the user terminals (U1, . . . , UN), the respective superordinate server (SM) determines whether said respective superordinate server or another one of the subordinate servers (SL1, . . . , SLN) is in a position to comply with the request from the user terminal (U1, . . . , UN) via a switched connection between the requesting user terminal (U1, . . . , UN) and the respective superordinate server (SM) or said another one of the subordinate servers (SL1, . . . , SLN).
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Accused Products
Abstract
A communication system (KS) with a hierarchical server structure is indicated for a demand service, which makes possible a suitable compliance with requests for services from users (U1 . . . UN). To that end, the communication system (KS), as viewed by the respective user (U1 . . . UN), is divided into a central (I) and a local (II) distance zone. Movies (A1 . . . A10) frequently requested by the users (U1 . . . UN) are stored in local servers (SL1 . . . SLN) and seldom requested movies (B1 . . . B100) are stored in central servers (SM). According to the invention, in case the local server (SL1) is unable to provide a movie (B2) requested by a user (U11 . . . U13), the central server SM or another local server (SL2 . . . SLN) complies with the request through a switched connection between the requesting user (U11 . . . U13) and the central server (SM), or the other local server (SL2 . . . SLN).
226 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A communication system (KS) comprising:
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servers (SM, SL1, . . . , SLN) each having a memory (SPM, SPL1, . . . , SPLN) for storing services and a control facility (CM, CL1, . . . , CLN); exchanges (VSTM, VST1, . . . , VSTN) connected to the servers (SM, SL1, . . . , SLN) and with one another; and user terminals (U1, . . . UN) connected to the exchanges (VSTM, VST1, . . . , VSTN), the servers (SM, SL1, . . . , SLN) being organized in the form of a hierarchical structure with subordinate servers (SL1, . . . , SLN) and superordinate servers (SM), characterized in that if one of the subordinate servers (SL1, . . . , SLN) signals to a respective superordinate server that the subordinate server is unable to provide a service requested by one of the user terminals (U1, . . . , UN), the respective superordinate server (SM) determines whether said respective superordinate server or another one of the subordinate servers (SL1, . . . , SLN) is in a position to comply with the request from the user terminal (U1, . . . , UN) via a switched connection between the requesting user terminal (U1, . . . , UN) and the respective superordinate server (SM) or said another one of the subordinate servers (SL1, . . . , SLN). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification