Distributed Content Storage Subsystem Failure Resilience
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing content storage systems for Video On Demand (VOD) and Digital Video Recording (DVR) services face disruptions when a storage subsystem fails, as all versions of a content asset may be stored on the same subsystem, leading to poor user experience during playback.
Innovation Solution
Storing portions of different versions of a content asset across multiple storage subsystems, ensuring that no single subsystem stores all corresponding portions, allowing user devices to access alternative versions from other subsystems in case of failure, thereby enhancing system resiliency and maintaining playback quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If all versions of a content asset are stored on the same storage subsystem, then storage management is simplified, but system reliability deteriorates because a single point of failure can disrupt playback for all versions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the storage of different content asset versions across multiple storage subsystems. Specifically, it divides the versions into groups and stores each group on a different storage subsystem, thereby distributing the storage load and eliminating single points of failure. This segmentation allows the system to maintain reliability while managing complexity through organized distribution strategies.
2Reliability
If portions of different versions associated with the same playback time are stored on different storage subsystems, then system resiliency is improved, but storage coordination complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-organizing content asset versions into groups before storage. The system determines grouping configurations in advance based on expected playback patterns and storage capabilities, then stores portions according to these pre-determined groupings. This preliminary organization simplifies real-time retrieval operations while maintaining high system resiliency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic storage coordination by allowing the grouping configuration to change over time. The system can adjust which storage subsystems store which version groups based on varying playback demands, storage subsystem availability, and performance metrics. This dynamic approach optimizes both resiliency and coordination efficiency adaptively.
3Reliability
If multiple storage subsystems are used to store content versions, then fault tolerance is improved, but system complexity and data distribution management increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies homogeneity by treating storage subsystems as interchangeable units within the distributed storage system. All storage subsystems follow the same grouping and storage rules, using consistent data structures and retrieval protocols. This homogeneous approach simplifies data distribution management while maintaining fault tolerance, as the system can uniformly handle any storage subsystem failure or addition.
Data Source
AI summary
Portions of different versions of a content asset may be stored in a manner that reduces the impact on viewing experience in the event of a failure of one of a plurality of storage subsystems of a content storage system. The portions of different versions of the content asset, which may be associated with a same portion of the playback time of the content asset, may be stored in different storage subsystems. If the storage subsystem storing a portion of one of the versions being retrieved for playback encounters a problem, a user device may access a corresponding portion of a different version stored on a different one of the storage subsystems.