IPTV Reservation Server Load Distribution via Shared Storage

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The IPTV reservation system faces heavy load issues on reservation servers due to limited CPU and memory processing abilities in set-top boxes, leading to conflicts and reduced performance, with no effective solution to manage failures across servers.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a shared storage server to store reservation plans, allowing multiple reservation servers to act logically as one for conflict processing and resource sharing, and transferring user services to other servers in case of failures, thereby reducing server load and improving failure processing capabilities.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If reservation plans are stored in a reservation server, then the reservation server can manage user reservation plans, but the load of the reservation server becomes too heavy

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereservation plan management capabilityVSAvoidreservation server performance
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the centralized reservation server into multiple distributed reservation servers. Each reservation server manages reservation plans for a subset of users, segmenting the overall load. This allows the system to maintain reliable reservation plan management while distributing the computational burden across multiple servers, preventing any single server from becoming overloaded.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a new dimension of distribution by organizing reservation servers in a networked architecture rather than using a single centralized server. This dimensional shift from centralized to distributed architecture enables the system to scale horizontally, adding more servers to handle increased load without compromising individual server performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Productivity

If multiple reservation servers are used, then the system capacity increases, but the ability to process failures across servers is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem processing capacityVSAvoidfailure processing ability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a server selection unit as an intermediary that manages the network of reservation servers. This mediator monitors the status of multiple reservation servers and dynamically routes user requests to available servers. When a failure occurs, the server selection unit detects it and redirects traffic to healthy servers, maintaining system reliability while preserving the distributed architecture's processing capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamic parameter changes by allowing the system to adjust server status, load distribution, and request routing based on real-time conditions. When servers fail or become overloaded, the system changes operational parameters such as redirecting traffic, adjusting load balancing weights, or taking servers offline for maintenance, thereby maintaining both capacity and reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Duration of action of stationary object

If a reservation server fails, then service continuity is disrupted, but transferring services to other servers is not possible

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice continuityVSAvoidservice transfer capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of stationary objectVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic service allocation where reservation servers and user associations are not fixed but can change based on system conditions. The server selection unit dynamically determines which server handles which user's reservation plans, allowing seamless transfer of services when failures occur. This dynamic approach ensures service continuity while providing the adaptability to redistribute loads across available servers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent prepares for potential failures in advance by implementing redundant reservation servers and pre-configuring failover mechanisms. The server selection unit is designed to detect failures and activate backup servers before complete service disruption occurs. This beforehand cushioning ensures that when a server fails, services can be quickly transferred to standby or alternative servers, maintaining continuity without requiring complex real-time decision-making.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Data Source

PatentEP2897368B1Interactive personal/internet protocol television subscription system, and subscription plan management method and device
Publication Date: 2017.09.13 ZTE CORP
  • EP2897368B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP2897368B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5
  • EP2897368B1 patent drawingFigure 6~7

AI summary

An Interactive Personal/Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) reservation system, and a reservation plan management method and device are provided. A reservation server receives a reservation plan addition request initiated by a DVR set top box, wherein the reservation plan addition request carries a reservation plan to be added; the reservation server obtains from the shared storage server an added reservation plan which corresponds to the DVR set top box and has been added by a user; and the reservation server performs a conflict processing on the reservation plan to be added, when determining that the reservation plan to be added exceeds a recording ability of the DVR set top box according to the obtained added reservation plan. Accordingly, a problem in the related art that the load of a reservation server is too heavy and a failure processing ability of a system is relatively weak is solved, the load of the reservation server is reduced, and the failure processing ability is improved.