Resource allocation for video on demand

摘要

A video on demand system has a video server (200) for outputting video streams requested by users, via a core network (620) and access networks (630, 640, 650). A resource manager (600) determines occupation information concerning how much of the previously allocated capacity is occupied by previously authorized video streams is determined before authorizing transmitting a new requested video stream. By checking there is sufficient core network capacity, a risk of disrupting existing video streams or causing other problems by overloading the allocated capacity, is reduced or avoided. Thus less capacity in the core network is needed, and so costs of such capacity can be reduced and there is increased confidence that demand peaks will be handled more gracefully. By checking without obtaining occupation information from the core network, the system can be more independent of the core network, to reduce costs of a real time interface to the core network.

主权项

1. A video on demand system comprising:
plural video servers coupled to be able to transmit a requested video stream to a corresponding one of users over different routes through a core network and over access networks, the core network having transmission capacity of which a part is previously allocated to the video on demand system; a resource manager arranged to
determine occupation information concerning how much of the previously allocated capacity of the core network is occupied by video streams already authorized for transmission, without obtaining such occupation information from the core network, andcontrol a selected one of the plural video servers to transmit a new requested video stream according to the determined occupation information; and a store comprising a record of video streams currently being transmitted, wherein the resource manager is arranged to:
determine from the record how much capacity of the core network is already occupied along a route of the new requested video stream through the core network, andselect a route for one or more of the video streams through the core network in case that there is more than one possible route, the route selecting comprising selecting which of the plural video servers to use for the respective requested video stream.