Distributed Multimedia Server Mixing Architecture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional multimedia conferencing servers are limited by their computational power, making them non-scalable and difficult to manage in distributed conferencing environments, where the number of participants exceeds their processing capacity.
Innovation Solution
A distributed data stream mixing system comprising a main multimedia server with a selection module and a global mixing module, along with secondary multimedia servers that perform local mixing and communication to distribute the computational load, allowing for the aggregation of data streams across multiple servers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single multimedia server is used to manage all data streams, then the system is simple to manage, but the computational power is limited and the system is not scalable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the multimedia server system into multiple independent servers (main server and secondary servers). Each server has its own mixing modules that can independently process data streams. This segmentation allows the system to scale by adding more secondary servers without increasing the complexity of a single server, thereby resolving the contradiction between scalability and device complexity.
2Productivity
If all data streams are mixed in a single server, then the mixing process is simple, but the computational load exceeds the capacity of the server when the number of participants increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mixing process is segmented into local mixing modules (on secondary servers) and a global mixing module (on the main server). Local mixing modules perform preliminary mixing of data streams received from participants, reducing the computational load on the main server. The global mixing module then combines the results from local modules. This segmentation increases processing capacity while keeping the mixing process manageable through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a hierarchical dimension to the mixing process, with local mixing occurring at the secondary server level and global mixing at the main server level. This multi-level approach distributes the computational workload across different dimensions (local and global), thereby increasing overall processing capacity without proportionally increasing the complexity of any single mixing operation.
3Productivity
If a distributed system with multiple servers is used, then the computational capacity increases, but the system becomes difficult to manage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functionality of multiple servers into a coordinated distributed system where the main server and secondary servers work together through standardized interfaces. The main server manages the global mixing process and coordinates with secondary servers, while secondary servers handle local mixing and stream transmission. This merging of functions across multiple physical servers creates a unified system that is easier to manage than completely independent systems, while maintaining high computational capacity.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a device for the distributed mixing of data streams, including a main multimedia server (10) capable of receiving at least one incoming data stream (A, B, C) and of outputting at least one outgoing data stream (A′, B′, C′), and at least one secondary multimedia server (20) capable of receiving at least one incoming data stream (D, E, F) and of outputting at least one outgoing data stream (D′, E′, F′), the main multimedia server including a selection module (11) arranged so as to select a plurality of data streams (A, B, E, F) from the incoming data streams and a global mixing module (13) arranged so as to mix the selected data streams in order to obtain an aggregated stream (S), and the secondary multimedia server including a local mixing module (21) arranged so as to mix at least two incoming data streams (E, F) received by the secondary multimedia server and selected by the selection module of the main multimedia server in order to obtain an incoming intermediate stream (T) capable of being used by the global mixing module of the main multimedia server to obtain the aggregated stream. The invention also relates to a corresponding distributed mixing method.