Managing linear multimedia content delivery

摘要

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.

主权项

1. A multimedia load management method, comprising:
grouping server assets including a first server asset into virtual groups including a first virtual group and a second virtual group, wherein the first server asset is assigned to the first virtual group and to the second virtual group; assigning a client device to the first virtual group; monitoring loading of the virtual groups; and responsive to receiving a request for a linear multimedia program from the client device:
unicasting, from a first server asset of the first virtual group to the client device, a first plurality of multimedia frames of the multimedia program;multicasting a second plurality of multimedia frames to the client device from a multicast replicator; andresponsive to detecting a change in the loading of the virtual groups, reassigning the client device to the second virtual group and to a server asset other than the first server asset in the second virtual group.