Multicast Stream Fault Detection and Seamless Failover
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional systems for video broadcast over digital networks cannot detect failures in individual multicast streams, leading to potential disruptions and service quality issues when a component fails, as they only detect overall link failures and not stream-specific issues.
Innovation Solution
Implementing methods to detect multicast stream failures by monitoring timing irregularities, such as PCR_flag intervals, and using redundant streams with edge routers and access concentrators to enable seamless failover, minimizing viewer disruption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If conventional overall link failure detection is used, then system complexity is reduced, but individual stream failure detection capability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the overall link failure detection into individual stream failure detection by monitoring PCR flags separately for each multicast stream. This allows the system to detect failures in specific streams rather than treating the entire link as a single unit, thereby improving measurement precision without significantly increasing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces PCR (Program Clock Reference) flags as intermediary markers within the MPEG transport stream to enable precise timing and synchronization monitoring. These flags serve as mediators that allow the system to detect stream failures by monitoring timing irregularities between consecutive PCR flags, providing a mechanism for precise failure detection without complex additional hardware.
2Reliability
If redundant streams and seamless failover are implemented, then service reliability is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-configuring redundant multicast streams and establishing failover capabilities before failures occur. The system continuously monitors multiple streams and maintains backup paths ready for immediate activation, ensuring that when a failure is detected, the switch to redundant streams occurs seamlessly without service interruption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies dynamics by enabling the broadcast system to dynamically switch between primary and redundant multicast streams based on real-time failure detection. The system can adaptively change the active stream configuration without manual intervention, allowing seamless failover that maintains service reliability while managing complexity through automated dynamic adjustment.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and a method are disclosed for detecting a multicast stream fault condition at a variety of points within a digital broadcast video distribution system. In addition, a method of seamless switchover from a primary to a redundant multicast stream is provided.