METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ADAPTIVE VIRTUAL BROADCASTING OF DIGITAL CONTENT

摘要

The virtual broadcast system of the present invention optimizes the routing of digital content among nodes along overlay networks that are dynamically reconfigured based upon forecasts of frequently-changing congestion levels of component interconnections within an underlying network. In the context of delivering streaming video over the Internet to large numbers of concurrent users, the present invention makes efficient use of the limited capacity of congested ASN peering points by employing deep learning techniques to forecast congestion levels across those ASN peering points and, based on those forecasts, to optimize the routing of video content along dynamically reconfigured overlay networks. The virtual broadcast system handles unscheduled as well as scheduled events, streams live as well as pre-recorded events, and streams those events in real time with minimal delay in a highly scalable fashion that maintains a consistent QoE among large numbers of concurrent viewers.

主权项

1. A virtual broadcast system for routing digital content concurrently among client nodes of an underlying network, wherein shared links interconnecting components of the underlying network have a frequently changing congestion level as network traffic across those links ebbs and flows, the virtual broadcast system comprising:
(a) a memory storing a map of the components and shared links interconnecting them, including a location of each client node within one of the components; (b) a performance monitor that generates metrics from network traffic among the client nodes that crosses those shared links along an overlay network built on top of the underlying network; (c) a deep learning engine that analyzes the metrics and the map over time, and forecasts congestion levels reflecting the changing capacity of the shared links over time; and (d) an overlay network creator that generates, based upon the forecasted congestion levels, an overlay network topology including an optimal route among the client nodes along the overlay network.