MCU Cluster Video Service Distribution via Controller
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Solution Overview
Problem
Individual multipoint control units (MCUs) are unable to provide sufficient video service resources for a large number of subscriber terminals due to limitations in system resources and hardware capabilities, limiting the number of users that can participate in video services.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that distribute video services across a cluster of MCUs, where a controller receives the video service from a publisher terminal, forwards it to available MCUs with free resources, and establishes connections to efficiently allocate resources, allowing more users to participate without being limited by a single MCU's capacity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a single MCU is used to provide video service, then the system structure is simple, but the number of subscriber terminals that can be served is limited due to resource constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the video service functionality across multiple MCUs instead of relying on a single MCU. Each MCU handles a portion of the subscriber terminals, and the controller coordinates them to work together as a unified system, thereby increasing the total number of terminals that can be served while maintaining manageable complexity through modular architecture
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a single-point service model to a multi-point distributed service model by introducing a controller dimension that orchestrates multiple MCUs. This dimensional change allows the system to scale horizontally across multiple service nodes, increasing capacity without proportionally increasing individual node complexity
2Productivity
If multiple MCUs are distributed to forward video service, then the number of users that can participate increases, but the system complexity and resource coordination difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
A controller is introduced as an intermediary component that manages the distribution and coordination of video services across multiple MCUs. The controller receives service requests, determines optimal MCU assignments based on resource availability, and routes connections accordingly, thereby enabling high user capacity while centralizing coordination logic to manage complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements dynamic resource allocation where the controller continuously monitors MCU resource status and adjusts service distribution in real-time. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to optimize user capacity by flexibly assigning subscriber terminals to MCUs with available resources, maintaining high productivity while managing coordination complexity through adaptive rather than static assignments
3Quantity of substance
If video service is forwarded from first MCU to second MCU, then the serving capacity increases, but the service delay and resource allocation overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The controller performs preliminary resource assessment and MCU selection before video service forwarding is initiated. By pre-evaluating MCU resource availability and pre-determining optimal forwarding paths, the system minimizes real-time decision delays and reduces overall service latency while maintaining increased serving capacity through the multi-MCU architecture
Data Source
AI summary
A method and a system for providing a video service for distributing a plurality of multipoint control units (MCU) in an MCU cluster to forward the video service via a controller are provided. The method includes, through a first MCU among the MCUs, receiving the video service published by the publisher terminal. The method also includes forwarding the video service from the first MCU to at least one second MCU among the MCUs, and establishing at least one nice connection corresponding to the video service in the second MCU. In addition, at least one subscriber terminal receives the video service through the at least one nice connection. Accordingly, the method can provide sufficient resources of the video service to the subscriber terminals by dynamically distributing system resources of a plurality of the MCUs.