System and method for streaming media server single frame failover
View Patent ↗Systems, methods, and computer readable media are provided for very fast failover of streaming media servers. Fast failover allows for better quality of service. If a first server that is streaming media to a customer fails, a second server can continue operations in its place. Single frame failover can be accomplished by simultaneously streaming a digital asset by a first server and a second server. The second server flags each frame of the asset for discard, and meanwhile monitors the first server to ensure the first server is operational. Upon detecting a failure in the first server, the second server stops flagging frames for discard.
1. A method for digital asset delivery in a computer network comprising a first server computer and a second server computer, the method comprising:
generating, by the first server computer, at least one first frame of said digital asset;
transmitting, by the first server computer, said at least one first frame of said digital asset;
generating, by the second server computer, an identical frame to said at least one first frame of said digital asset;
indicating by said second server computer that said identical frame is to be discarded;
determining by said second server computer that said first server computer has experienced a failure;
generating, by the second server computer, at least one subsequent frame of said digital asset, wherein said at least one subsequent frame is not accompanied by an indication that said at least one subsequent frame is to be discarded.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the steps of:
determining by said second server computer that said first server computer has experienced a failure; and
generating, by the second server computer, at least one subsequent frame of said digital asset, wherein said at least one subsequent frame is not accompanied by an indication that said at least one subsequent frame is to be discarded;
are performed within one interval.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the interval is one video frame in duration.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising initiating, by said second server computer, a data synchronization.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising initiating, by said first server computer, a data synchronization.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein a synchronization component initiates data synchronization.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of determining by said second server computer that said first server computer has experienced a failure comprises monitoring a plurality of signals transmitted by the first server computer during one interval.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of signals are transmitted at a frequency greater than 1 divided by the interval.
9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the interval is one video frame in duration.
10. The method of claim 7 , wherein a failure is determined to have occurred when a predefined number of signals are not received.
11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising detecting a failure by a component monitor.
12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising detecting a failure by the first server computer.
13. The method of claim 1 , further comprising detecting a failure by a kernel running on the first server computer.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein one or more applications critical to the operation of the first server computer register with the kernel.
15. The method of claim 13 , wherein a failure is determined to have occurred when the kernel recognizes one or more critical application failures.
16. The method of claim 1 , further comprising defining one or more failover states for a server computer.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the failover states comprise a Primary state.
18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the failover states comprise a Primary offline state.
19. The method of claim 16 , wherein the failover states comprise a Primary_no_secondary state.
20. The method of claim 16 , wherein the failover states comprise a Failed state.
21. The method of claim 16 , wherein the failover states comprise a Secondary state.
22. The method of claim 16 , wherein the failover states comprise a Secondary_offline state.
23. The method of claim 16 , wherein the failover states comprise a Secondary synchronizing state.
24. The method of claim 16 , wherein the failover states comprise a Secondary_synchronized state.
25. The method of claim 16 , wherein the failover states comprise a Secondary_no_primary state.
26. A method for digital asset delivery in a system comprising a first server and a second server, the method comprising:
synchronizing parameters of the first and second servers;
receiving a digital asset request from a user;
processing the digital asset request by the first and second server;
monitoring, by the first server, the operational status of the first server;
monitoring, by the second server, the operational status of the first server;
if a failure in said first server is not detected, indicating, by said second server that at least a portion of the digital asset as generated by said second server is not to be delivered to said user.
27. The method of claim 26 , further comprising responding, by said second server, to a detected failure in said first server by no longer indicating by said second server computer that at least a portion of the digital asset as generated by said second server computer is not to be delivered to said user.
28. The method of claim 27 , wherein said responding is conducted within one interval from a time when said failure is detected.
29. The method of claim 28 , wherein said one interval is one video frame in duration.
30. The method of claim 26 , wherein the first and second server exist in a single computing device.
31. The method of claim 26 , wherein the first and second server exist in a plurality of computing devices.
32. The method of claim 26 , wherein said monitoring, by said second server, the operational status of the first server comprises monitoring a plurality of heartbeat signals transmitted by the first server computer.
33. The method of claim 32 , wherein a failure is determined to have occurred when a predefined number of heartbeat signals are not received.
34. The method of claim 26 , further comprising defining one or more failover states for a server.
35. The method of claim 34 , further comprising identifying, by said first server, a failover state corresponding to an operational state of said first server, and communicating said failover state to said second server.