Load Balancing Layer for Streaming Media Server Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current live webcasting platforms are not robust enough to handle excessive user access, leading to inefficiencies and security concerns, particularly in sensitive applications like UAV image data transmission, as they are generally limited to public networks and lack interoperability with internal or local networks.
Innovation Solution
A streaming media live broadcast method and system that employs a load balancing layer to select and distribute live broadcast requests across multiple streaming media servers based on remaining load capacity, using a proxy server and load balancer to ensure efficient and secure service provision, including disaster recovery and data storage options.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a cloud-based live broadcast platform is used to enable real-time observation of UAV image data, then the live broadcast functionality is achieved, but the platform becomes vulnerable to excessive user access causing low efficiency and poor robustness
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the live broadcast service into multiple independent streaming media servers, each capable of handling specific broadcast channels. This segmentation allows the system to distribute user access across multiple servers, preventing any single server from becoming overwhelmed by excessive user access, thus maintaining both robustness and efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a load balancing layer as an intermediary between users and streaming media servers. This load balancing layer receives user requests, distributes them appropriately across available servers, and manages connection pooling. By acting as a mediator, it protects the backend servers from direct exposure to excessive user access while maintaining service efficiency
2Productivity
If a single streaming media server handles all live broadcast requests, then the system structure is simple, but the system cannot guarantee response to user requests under high demand
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the single streaming media server into multiple independent streaming media servers, each capable of handling specific broadcast channels and user requests. This segmentation enables parallel processing of user requests, significantly improving response capability under high demand while maintaining manageable complexity through modular architecture
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple streaming media servers under a unified load balancing layer that manages them as a collective resource pool. This merging approach allows the system to present a simplified interface to users while internally distributing requests across multiple servers, thereby improving response capability without exposing the full system complexity
3Reliability
If a load balancing layer with multiple streaming media servers is deployed to handle high demand, then the response capability and robustness are improved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The load balancing layer is designed as a universal component that performs multiple functions: request distribution, connection pooling, server status monitoring, and failover management. By consolidating these diverse functions into a single multi-functional layer, the system achieves improved robustness through multiple servers while avoiding the complexity of implementing separate specialized components for each function
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the load balancing layer continuously monitors the status of streaming media servers and dynamically adjusts request distribution based on current server capacity and performance. This feedback-driven approach enables the system to maintain robustness under varying load conditions while optimizing resource utilization, thereby managing complexity through intelligent adaptation rather than rigid over-engineering
Data Source
AI summary
A streaming media live broadcast method for a load balancing layer includes: receiving a live broadcast request from a terminal, the live broadcast request including an up-streaming request or a down-streaming request; selecting a streaming media server from a plurality of streaming media servers; and forwarding the live broadcast request to the selected streaming media server to cause the selected streaming media server to provide a live broadcast service according to the broadcast request.