Media Zone Link Selection With Bandwidth-Aware Load Balancing
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is currently no predictable, bandwidth-aware method for broadcast controllers to send and receive content across different media zones, leading to inefficiencies in resource utilization and potential hot spots in the network fabric.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a Media Control Service (MCS) that selects links between media zones based on load balancing criteria, allowing users to specify virtual links for content transmission and enabling the MCS to select optimal physical links for traffic based on bandwidth and load, thereby optimizing resource utilization and preventing oversubscription.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If broadcast controllers send content across media zones using simple link selection methods, then the operation is simple, but resource utilization is inefficient and hot spots occur
Solution Approach 1:
The MCS enables self-service by automatically selecting optimal physical links based on bandwidth and load criteria without requiring manual user intervention. The system monitors network conditions and autonomously makes link selection decisions, resolving the contradiction between operational simplicity and resource utilization efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the parameter selection approach from simple link selection to bandwidth-aware and load-aware selection. By considering multiple parameters (bandwidth capacity, current load, traffic patterns) simultaneously, the system achieves efficient resource utilization while maintaining ease of operation through automated decision-making.
2Measurement precision
If manual link management is performed by users, then link selection control is precise, but device complexity and management burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The MCS acts as an intermediary between users and the network infrastructure. Users specify virtual links with high-level abstractions, and the MCS translates these into precise physical link selections based on real-time network conditions. This mediator approach maintains selection precision while eliminating manual link management complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention segments the link selection function into two parts: user-defined virtual links (logical abstraction) and MCS-managed physical link selection (implementation detail). This segmentation allows users to work with simple virtual link concepts while the MCS handles the complex physical layer decisions automatically.
3Quantity of substance
If multiple physical links are available between media zones, then bandwidth capacity increases, but load balancing becomes difficult and hot spots may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The MCS implements feedback mechanisms to monitor link utilization in real-time and adjust traffic distribution accordingly. By continuously gathering feedback on link load and bandwidth availability, the system automatically balances traffic across multiple physical links, making load balancing easy while utilizing available bandwidth capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from static link selection to dynamic link selection based on real-time network conditions. The MCS continuously adapts physical link selections based on changing bandwidth availability and load patterns, enabling effective load balancing across multiple links without manual intervention.
Data Source
AI summary
AN MCS is provided to select a link between two zones for transmission of traffic. A user (e.g. broadcast controller) in one zone (e.g., Zone 1) configures a virtual link to another zone (e.g., Zone 2). The virtual link comprises a list of edge devices in Zone 1 and physical interfaces on those edge devices that link to Zone 2. The user selects a virtual link for traffic, and the MCS selects one of the constituent links of the selected virtual link to carry the traffic, taking into account load balancing criteria such as traffic flowing on the other links, link bandwidth, link loading, and so on. The MCS alleviates the user having to manage link usage between zones and provides more effective load balancing than simple techniques (e.g., hashing) which can result in hot spots in the fabric.