CDN Balancer Traffic Distribution Weights
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Solution Overview
Problem
The variability in performance of content delivery networks (CDNs) can result in unreliable and lower quality playback of media content, as viewer devices may be directed to lower performing CDNs instead of higher performing ones, leading to issues like rebuffering and playback errors.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a CDN balancer within a media server to analyze performance characteristics of available CDNs and generate weights or ratios to distribute traffic among them, ensuring that viewer devices request media content fragments from the most reliable CDNs, thereby improving playback quality and reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a single CDN is selected for media content delivery, then the system is simple to operate, but the reliability and playback quality deteriorate due to CDN performance variability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the CDN selection process by maintaining multiple CDN options and dynamically selecting from them based on performance metrics. Instead of relying on a single CDN, the system divides the delivery responsibility across multiple CDNs and uses weighted random selection to distribute traffic, thereby improving reliability while keeping the operation simple for end users.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic CDN selection by continuously monitoring CDN performance metrics (such as rebuffering events, playback errors, and throughput) and adjusting the selection weights accordingly. The system dynamically updates the manifest file to reflect current CDN performance, allowing the CDN choice to change in real-time based on actual performance conditions.
2Device complexity
If CDN performance is not monitored and balanced, then the system complexity is low, but the playback quality and reliability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms by monitoring CDN performance metrics (rebuffering events, playback errors, throughput) and using this information to adjust CDN selection weights. The system continuously collects performance data, analyzes it, and updates the manifest file accordingly, creating a closed-loop feedback system that improves playback quality without requiring overly complex infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes key parameters such as CDN selection weights, rebuffering thresholds, and playback quality thresholds dynamically based on monitored performance metrics. By adjusting these parameters in response to real-time conditions, the system optimizes playback quality while maintaining manageable system complexity through automated parameter tuning.
3Device complexity
If traffic is distributed evenly among all CDNs, then the load balancing is simple, but the playback reliability deteriorates due to inclusion of lower performing CDNs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by assigning different weights to different CDNs based on their individual performance characteristics. Instead of treating all CDNs equally, the system assigns higher weights to better-performing CDNs and lower weights to weaker ones, creating a non-uniform distribution that optimizes playback reliability while keeping the implementation relatively simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically changes traffic distribution parameters by adjusting CDN selection weights based on real-time performance monitoring. The system modifies the weight parameters in the manifest file to reflect current CDN performance, enabling adaptive traffic distribution that improves reliability without requiring complex manual configuration.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques are described for balancing traffic among content delivery networks (CDNs). A CDN balancer can analyze CDN performance data and determine CDN balancing ratios used to distribute traffic among the CDNs.