Method and system for scheduling the transfer of data sequences utilizing an anti-clustering scheduling algorithm

摘要

A scalable method and system is provided for scheduling data transfer of a video-on-demand server system. A strategy is provided for locating available bandwidth and allocating available bandwidth to subscribers as needed. The input/output bandwidth of storage devices that store data for video image sequences is modeled as a series of bandwidth units. The series of bandwidth units form a schedule where consumer requests are allocated to a bandwidth unit for receiving video image sequences. The bandwidth units are allocated to consumer requests according to an anti-clustering scheduling algorithm. By utilizing an anti-clustering scheduling algorithm, consumer requests less frequently incur an unacceptably long latency before receiving video image sequences.