WO2010031335A1

WO2010031335A1 - Method for controlling media server and system thereof

Info

Publication number: WO2010031335A1
Application number: PCT/CN2009/073981
Authority: WO
Inventors: 熊勤
Original assignee: 中兴通讯股份有限公司
Priority date: 2008-09-18
Filing date: 2009-09-16
Publication date: 2010-03-25
Also published as: CN101355522B; CN101355522A

Abstract

A method for controlling media server and system thereof are provided. The method includes: receiving various current service capability parameters reported by various media servers periodically; according to the information of required media service in a reorientation service request, computing the requisite consume of the media service capability for providing the media service to obtain the required value of each service capability; comparing the each current service capability parameters of the each media server with the required value of corresponding service capability respectively, selecting a media server according to the comparison result as an optimal media server to provide the media service for the user terminal. The method and system can realize accurate reorientation and load balance for different types of media service requests, ensure user service quality, and integrally improve the performance and stability of the system.

Description

Method and system for controlling media server

Technical field

The present invention relates to the field of multimedia services in network communication, and more particularly to a method and system for precise control of a media server.

Background technique

At present, due to the improvement of network bandwidth and the development of NGN (Next Generation Network) technology, it is possible to carry out value-added service based on media content on the NGN network. Streaming media technology provides a way to transmit video, audio, pictures and other media content in the network. Therefore, streaming media technology has been widely used in multimedia service systems, especially IPTV (Internet Protocol Televison). . At the same time, with the development of NGN network technology, multimedia services such as IPTV network television, video surveillance, and mobile streaming media have gradually become a trend in NGN networks.

As the scale of the IPTV system expands and the number of users using the service is bound to impose higher performance and stability requirements on the system, effective IPTV redirection and load balancing policies must be used in the IPTV system to implement user media services. Load balancing. At present, the redirection and load balancing of the IPTV system for the user media service request is usually based on the number of concurrent users of the media server as performance parameters. However, the method has the following problems: When the media server provides a plurality of different media services, the media server The accessed user has different resource consumption to the media server, and cannot load balance the service capabilities of the media server (such as CPU resource utilization, network input and output bandwidth, storage 10 resources, sockets, and file descriptor resources). At this time, the number of concurrent users on the media server does not represent the overall performance of the media server. Therefore, controlling according to the number of concurrent servers of the media server may affect the quality of service to the user.

Summary of the invention

An object of the present invention is to provide a method and system for controlling a media server, which utilizes monitoring of service capability parameters of each media server, according to media required by the user terminal. The service type of the physical service selects the best media server for the user terminal, thereby achieving accurate redirection and load balancing of different types of media service requests, ensuring user service quality, and improving system performance and stability as a whole.

In order to achieve the above object, an aspect of the present invention provides a method for controlling a media server, where the control method includes: receiving current service capability parameters reported by each media server periodically; The information of the media service service, the media service capability required to provide the media service service, and the required value of each service capability are obtained; and the current service capability parameters of the media servers are respectively related to the service of the relative item The capability needs values are compared, and one of the media servers is selected as the best media server according to the comparison result to provide the media service service for the user terminal.

Preferably, after the selecting the best media server to provide the media service to the user terminal, the method further includes: redirecting the information of the optimal media server through a media service response response To the user terminal.

Preferably, the foregoing control method, after the information of the optimal media server is fed back to the user terminal, further includes: when the optimal media server receives the media service service request of the user terminal, Transmitting media service data for the user terminal, and updating the current service capability parameters.

Preferably, in the foregoing control method, the step of receiving the service capability parameter reported by each media server periodically includes: receiving media concurrent users reported by each media server, central processor utilization, network input and output bandwidth, and storage input / Output resource, socket, and / or file description word resources.

Preferably, the foregoing control method, the step of selecting one of the media servers as the optimal media server from the media servers, includes: selecting that the current service capability parameters meet the corresponding service capability requirements of the corresponding items The media server of the value is a media server that meets the requirements of the media service capability; and the number of media servers that meet the media service capability requirements is determined, and if the judgment result is one, the obtained media server that meets the media service capability requirement is used as the media server. The best media server; if the judgment result is multiple, the current service capability parameters of the obtained media servers that meet the media service capability requirements are weighted and summed to obtain the comprehensive performance value of each media server; The media server with the highest comprehensive performance value is the best media server. Preferably, the foregoing control method further includes: before receiving the redirect request sent by the user terminal, configuring a correspondence relationship table, where the media service service and the items are established in the correspondence relationship table Business capability requires correspondence between values.

Preferably, the foregoing control method, the step of calculating the required value of the service capability includes: searching, in the correspondence relationship table, the required service capability values corresponding to the media service service.

Preferably, the foregoing control method, after receiving the service capability parameter reported by each media server, further includes: saving the current service capability parameter by using an in-memory database or a relational database.

Preferably, in the foregoing control method, the step of calculating the required value of the service capability includes: determining a type of the media service service and a media service quality level.

Preferably, in the foregoing control method, the form of the media service service request sent by the user terminal includes: video on demand, unicast channel play, multicast channel play, multicast channel time shift play or personal real time recording.

Another aspect of the present invention provides a media access control device, where the media access control device includes: a service capability parameter receiving module, configured to receive and save current service capability parameters of each media server; and a computing module, according to the user terminal The information of the media service service required in the service request is calculated, and the value of each service capability required to provide the media service service is calculated; and the comparison module sets the service capability parameters of the media servers and the corresponding items respectively. Comparing the service capability required values, selecting one of the media servers as the best media server according to the comparison result, providing the media service service to the user terminal; and redirecting the request receiving and responding module, for receiving the user terminal a redirect request of the media service service, and in response to the redirect request, feeding back information of the best media server to the user terminal.

Preferably, the media access control device further includes: a storage module, configured to store a correspondence relationship table, and establish, in the correspondence relationship table, a value required to provide the media service service and the various service capabilities Corresponding information between.

The present invention also provides a service capability parameter sending module, which is configured to provide the media access control device with current service capability parameters of the media server. And providing a media service device, where the media service device includes the foregoing service capability parameter sending module.

The present invention further provides a user terminal device, configured to send a media service redirection request to the media access control device, and after receiving the information of the best media server fed back by the media access control device, to the media server The device sends a media server request.

The present invention also provides a control system for a media server, comprising: the media access control device; the media server device; and the user terminal device. The method and system of the present invention can configure the correspondence between the media service service and the media service capability of the media server required to provide the media service, and when the user requests the media service service, the user can request the media server according to the media service service. Whether the media server can provide the best media service service for the user, and select the best media server to the user terminal device, thereby enabling precise control of various service capability parameters of the media server, and being able to use the media server. Each capability parameter calculates the comprehensive performance value of the device and uses this as a basis for load balancing to meet the user's best service experience.

BRIEF abstract

1 is a flowchart of a method for accurately controlling a media server according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a combined architecture diagram of an IPTV system;

FIG. 3 is a timing diagram of accurately controlling a media server to provide media service data for a user terminal by using the method according to the specific embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic structural diagram of a precise control system of a media server according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Preferred embodiment of the invention

The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings and specific embodiments.

The method and system for accurately controlling a media server according to the present invention, by periodically receiving service capability parameters reported by each media server, and saving current service capabilities of each media server The force parameter is used to select the most suitable media according to the information of the media service service required by the user terminal (the information includes the type of the media service service and the service quality level of the user terminal) after receiving the redirect request from the user terminal. The server provides a media service for the user terminal, thereby performing quality of service control on the user's media service, and improving the user quality experience of the multimedia service.

1 is a flowchart of a method for accurately controlling a media server according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, the method starts from step S101 and includes the following steps:

Step S102, receiving current media service capability parameters reported by each media server, in a specific embodiment of the present invention, the media service capability parameter reported by each media server may be established by establishing a long connection communication link, and the media server is typical. Service capability parameters include, but are not limited to, media concurrent users, CPU (Central Processing Unit) resource utilization, network input and output bandwidth, storage 10 (input and output) resources, sockets, and/or file descriptor resources.

Step S103: Receive a redirect request of a media service service of the user terminal, where the form of the request includes a form of a media service service and a user service quality level, where the form of the media service service includes but is not limited to video on demand (VOD), unicast channel play , multicast channel playback, multicast channel time shift playback, personal real-time recording.

Step S104: Calculate, according to the information of the media service service required in the redirect service request, the required value of each service capability that is required to be used to provide the media service service. Configuring a correspondence table, in which the correspondence information of each media service service and each service capability required to provide each media service service is established, so that the media service service required by the user terminal can be Type and quality of service level, find the correspondence table, and obtain the media service capabilities that the media server must have in order to provide media service services of this type and service quality level.

Step S105: Compare the current service capability parameters of each media server with the required service capability values obtained by the lookup table, and determine which media servers can provide the media service service, and the basis for the judgment may be The value of each service capability obtained by the lookup table is compared with the current media service capability parameters of each media server, and the media server whose current service capability parameters satisfy the corresponding service capability requirement value is selected as the media service capability. The required media server, the media server that meets the requirements of the media service capability may be one or more, and if one, the obtained media server that meets the requirements of the media service capability is used as the best medium. If there are multiple, the media access control device can set a weight to each service capability parameter of the media server, and weight and sum the current service capability parameters of each media server to obtain each media server. Quantitative comprehensive performance value, so that the media server with the highest comprehensive performance value can be selected as the best media server among the media servers that meet the media service capability requirements.

Step S106: The information of the selected best media server is fed back to the user terminal in response to the redirect service request.

After receiving the response, the user terminal device obtains the information of the best media server that provides the media service service for the user terminal, and then sends a media service service request to the determined best media server, and Performing a media service service negotiation to establish a media session; the optimal media server determined by the foregoing method may start providing media service data to the user terminal device, the user terminal device receives the media service data, and further processes the media service data, and the media Business services begin.

The media server of NGN (Next Generation Network) such as mobile streaming media is precisely controlled. The method and system described in the specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below in conjunction with the media server of the IPTV system.

Refer to Figure 2 for the composition of the IPTV system. The typical IPTV system includes: Media Access Control Device (MACD), multiple media server devices (SSI, SS2... SSn), and user terminal devices (User Equipment ).

FIG. 3 is a timing diagram of accurately controlling a media server to provide media service data for a user terminal by using the method according to the embodiment of the present invention in an IPTV system. Referring to FIG. 3, in the IPTV system, the action of each device includes the following steps:

Step 200: In the media access control device MACD configuration correspondence table, establish a correspondence relationship between the media service service and the media server to consume the required value of each service capability for providing the media service service, and the implementation manner may be to establish an in-memory database or a relational database. The media service service includes, but is not limited to, video on demand, unicast channel play, multicast channel play, multicast channel time shift play, personal real time recording, and service quality level of the media service;

Step 201: All media servers SSI, SS2, ..., SSn and media access control settings The standby MAC address establishes a long-connected communication link, and each media server periodically reports the media service capability parameter of the media server to the media access control device MACD through the communication link, where the media service capability parameter includes the number of media concurrent users, and the CPU resource. Utilization, network input and output bandwidth, storage of 10 resources, sockets and file description word resources;

Step 202: The media access control device MACD saves the media service capability parameters collected by each media server, and establishes a performance parameter data table of the media service capability parameter in an in-memory database or a relational database manner, and organizes the data into Step 203: The user terminal device UE sends a media service redirection request to the media access control device MACD, where the media service redirection request form includes but is not limited to VOD video on demand, unicast channel play, and multicast. Channel play, multicast channel time shift play, personal real-time recording, etc., and the media server request also includes the user service quality level;

Step 204: The media access control device MACD determines the type of the media service service and the media service quality level according to the information of the media service redirection request sent by the user terminal device, and calculates various services of the media server required to provide the media service service. In the specific embodiment of the present invention, in the specific embodiment, the corresponding relationship table is searched, and the media service capability necessary for the media server to obtain the media service service of the type and the service quality level is obtained in the corresponding relationship table; At the same time, the performance parameter data table of the media server is traversed, and the current media service capability parameters of the media server are compared with the required service capability values required for providing the media service service requested by the user, and the media satisfying the requirements of the user media service service is selected. Server SSi;

Step 205: The media access control device MACD returns a response of the redirect service request to the user terminal device UE, where the response includes the access information of the media server SSi.

Step 206: The user terminal device UE sends a media service service request to the media server SSi. The form of the service request includes video on demand, unicast channel play, multicast channel play, multicast channel time shift play, and personal real time recording. The media server request further includes a user service quality level; the user terminal device UE negotiates with the media server SSi to establish a media session;

Step 207: The media server SSi starts to send media service data, such as audio and video encoded data and file data, to the user terminal equipment UE, and the user terminal equipment UE receives the media service data, and further processes the media service data, and the media service service starts. Another aspect of the present invention provides a precise control system for a media server. Referring to FIG. 4, a schematic structural diagram of the system is provided. The system includes:

a service capability parameter sending module, configured to provide and send current service capability parameters of each media server;

a service capability parameter receiving module, configured to receive and save current service capability parameters of each media server sent by the service capability parameter sending module;

The calculation module calculates the required value of each service capability that is required to provide the media service service according to the information of the media service service required by the user terminal to redirect the service request;

Comparing, the current service capability parameters of the media servers are compared with the service capability requirements of the corresponding items, and selecting an optimal media server to provide the media service to the user terminal; The media server that meets the requirements of the service capability of the corresponding service capability parameter is a media server that meets the requirements of the media service capability; and determines the number of media servers that meet the media service capability requirements. If the judgment result is one, the obtained media server that meets the media service capability requirement is used as the optimal media server; if the judgment result is multiple, the current status of the obtained plurality of media servers that meet the media service capability requirement is obtained. The service capability parameters are weighted and summed to obtain the comprehensive performance value of each media server; and the media server with the highest comprehensive performance value is selected as the best media server.

And a redirection request receiving and responding module, configured to receive a redirection request of the user terminal media service service, and feed back information of the optimal media server to the user terminal in response to the redirection request.

And a storage module, configured to store a correspondence relationship table, where the correspondence information between the media service service and the required value of each service capability is established in the correspondence relationship table.

The control system of the specific embodiment of the present invention can be applied to the precise control of the media server of NGN (Next Generation Network) such as IPTV (Internet TV), video surveillance, mobile streaming media, and the IPTV system is taken as an example, and the IPTV system of the control system is used. Includes:

The media access control device: as the core control device of the IPTV system, the foregoing service capability parameter receiving module, the computing module, the comparison module, the redirect request receiving and responding module, and the storage module may be set in the media access control device, and the service capability parameter is utilized. Receiving module, collection and protection The various service capability parameters of the media server are used to implement load balancing among the media servers; and the storage module is used to store the service capability required values of the media server required to provide a media service service; using the calculation and comparison module Selecting the best media server device suitable for providing media services to the user; at the same time, as the redirect of the user terminal request, using the redirect request receiving and responding module, receiving the media service request of the user terminal device, and determining the best determined by the comparison module The information of the media server is returned to the user terminal device to implement redirection of the user media service request;

Media server device: As a media service capability providing device of the IPTV system, the media service is directly provided to the user, and the media service may be in the form of content downloading, audio and video playing, real-time recording, etc., and providing media service data to the user terminal device; The control device, the service capability parameter sending module is configured on the media server device, and the service capability parameter sending module provides the media access control device with various current service capability parameters of the media server device;

The user terminal device is used as an access device of the IPTV system, and is configured to send a media service redirection request to the media access control device, where the media service can be in the form of content downloading, audio and video playback, real-time recording, etc., and the user terminal device obtains the After controlling the redirected media server device information, the media sends a media server request to the media server device, receives the media service data provided by the media server, and further processes the media service data.

In summary, by using the method and system described in the specific embodiments of the present invention, accurate control of various service capability parameters of the media server can be implemented, and load capacity balancing can be performed by using various capability parameters of the media server to satisfy the user. The best service experience.

The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and it should be noted that those skilled in the art can also make several improvements and retouchings without departing from the principles of the present invention. It should be considered as the scope of protection of the present invention.

Industrial applicability

The method and system of the present invention can configure the correspondence between the media service service and the media service capability of the media server required to provide the media service, and when the user requests the media service service, the user can request the media server according to the media service service. Determine whether the media server can provide the best media service service for the user, and select the best media server to set the user terminal. Therefore, it is possible to accurately control the various service capability parameters of the media server, and calculate the comprehensive performance value of the device by using the capability parameters of the media server, and use this as a basis for load balancing, thereby satisfying the user's optimal service experience. .

Claims

Claim

A method for controlling a media server, the control method comprising:

Receiving current service capability parameters reported by each media server period;

Calculating the media service capability required to provide the media service service according to the information of the media service service required by the user terminal to redirect the service request, to obtain the value of each service capability;

Comparing each current service capability parameter of each media server with the service capability required value of the corresponding item, and selecting one of the media servers as the best media server according to the comparison result to be the user. The terminal provides the media service service.

The control method according to claim 1, after the step of selecting the optimal media server to provide the media service to the user terminal, the method further includes:

The information of the best media server is fed back to the user terminal via a media service redirect response.

3. The control method of claim 2, after the step of feeding back the information of the optimal media server to the user terminal, further comprising:

When receiving the media service service request of the user terminal, the optimal media server sends media service data to the user terminal, and updates the current service capability parameters.

The control method according to claim 1, wherein the step of receiving the current service capability parameter reported by each media server periodically comprises: receiving the number of media concurrent users reported by each media server, the utilization rate of the central processor, Network input and output bandwidth, storage input/output resources, sockets, and/or file descriptor resources.

The control method according to claim 4, wherein the step of selecting one of the media servers as the optimal media server according to the comparison result comprises: selecting the media server according to the comparison result The media server whose current service capability parameter is higher than the corresponding service capability requirement value of the corresponding item is a media server that meets the media service capability requirement;

Determining the number of media servers that meet the media service capability requirements, and if the judgment result is one, the obtained media server that meets the media service capability requirement is used as the optimal media server; if the judgment result is multiple, Multiple media that meet the media business capability requirements The current service capability parameters of each of the servers are weighted and summed to obtain comprehensive performance values of the media servers;

The media server with the highest comprehensive performance value is selected as the best media server.

The control method according to claim 1, before the step of calculating the media service capability according to the media service service to obtain the required value of each service capability, the method further includes: configuring a correspondence table And establishing, in the correspondence relationship table, correspondence information between the media service service and the required value of each service capability.

The control method according to claim 6, wherein the calculating the media service capability according to the information of the media service service to obtain the required value of each service capability comprises: The table identifies the required service capability values corresponding to the media service service.

The control method of claim 1, after the step of receiving the current service capability parameter reported by each media server, further comprising:

The current service capability parameters are saved in an in-memory database or a relational database.

The control method according to claim 1, wherein the step of calculating the media service capability according to the information of the media service service to obtain the required value of each service capability comprises: determining the media service The type of service and the quality level of the media service.

10. The control method according to claim 1, wherein the form of the user terminal redirection service request comprises: video on demand, unicast channel play, multicast channel play, multicast channel time shift play or personal real time recording.

A media access control device, the media access control device comprising:

a service capability parameter receiving module, configured to receive and save current service capability parameters of each media server;

a calculation module, configured to calculate, according to the information of the media service service required by the user terminal to redirect the service request, a value required for each service capability that is required to provide the media service service; and a comparison module configured to: The service capability parameter of the media server is compared with the service capability requirement value of the corresponding item, and one of the media servers is selected as the best media server according to the comparison result, and the media service service is provided for the user terminal; And a redirection request receiving and responding module, configured to receive a redirection request of the user terminal media service service, and to feed back information of the optimal media server to the user terminal in response to the redirection request.

12. The media access control device of claim 11, further comprising:

And a storage module, configured to store a correspondence relationship table, and establish corresponding information between the media service service and the required value of each service capability in the correspondence relationship table.

A service capability parameter sending module, configured to provide the media access control device according to claim 11 or 12 with current service capability parameters of the media server.

A media server device, comprising the service capability parameter sending module according to claim 13.

A user terminal device configured to transmit a media service redirection request to the media access control device according to claim 11 or 12, and to receive feedback from the media access control device according to claim 11 or 12. After the information of the best media server, the media server request is sent to the media server device according to claim 14.

16. A control system for a media server, the control system comprising:

A medium access control device according to claim 11 or 12;

The media server of claim 14;

A user terminal device according to claim 15.