SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR HANDLING MULTIMEDIA DATASTREAMS EMPLOYING SHARED LOOP ARCHITECTURE MULTIMEDIA SUBSYSTEM CLUSTERS

• Main Authors: DAY, MICHAEL N, WOLFE, DANIEL C, LEGBAND, DALE A, SHAW, WADE D, ADIGA, ASHOK K, KALINOSKI, KENNETH A, WOOD, DONALD E
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French
• Published: 02.06.1998
• Edition: 6
• Subjects: CALCULATING; COMPUTING; COUNTING; ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE; ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING; ELECTRICITY; PHYSICS; PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION

In order to increase the number of datastreams provided by a multimedia syst em, a cluster of clusters of multimedia A/V server subsystems is provided. Each cluster in turn is comprised of a plurality of A/V servers, a shared loop architecture pluralit y of data storage devices interconnected to the A/V servers whereby any storage device is subs tantially equally accessible by any of the servers in the cluster; and a highly availa ble control server subsystem interconnected to the A/V servers and the data storage devices for controlling the A/V servers and the data storage devices. Each of the clusters is interc onnected to a high speed switch for delivery of datastreams from the cluster to the end us er. One of the control server subsystems also serves as a master control server assigning a request for a datastream to one of the clusters. In order to increase the number of datastreams provided by a multimedia system, a cluster of clusters of multimedia A/V server subsystems is provided. Each cluster in tur n is comprised of a plurality of A/V servers, a shared loop architecture plurality of data storage devices interconnected to the A/V servers whereby any storage device is substant ially equally accessible by any of the servers in the cluster; and a highly available control server subsystem interconnected to the A/V servers and the data storage devices for con trolling the A/V servers and the data storage devices. Each of the clusters is interconne cted to a high speed switch for delivery of datastreams from the cluster to the end user. One of the control server subsystems also serves as a master control server assigning a req uest for a datastream to one of the clusters.