Pull-based media system
In one embodiment, a method includes generating a request for media at a publisher and transmitting the request to a media pipeline, the media transmitted from the media pipeline to a distribution pipeline. The media pipeline includes a chain of streaming media processing components, the chain dynamically configured by the publisher. An apparatus and logic are also disclosed.
1. A method comprising:
generating a request for media at a publisher located at an end of a multi-stage media pipeline comprising a chain of streaming media processing components operable to receive input from a content provider, the publisher connecting the media pipeline to a distribution pipeline comprising a content delivery system and a client;
transmitting said request for media from the publisher to the media pipeline;
dynamically configuring at the publisher, the chain of streaming media processing components in the media pipeline, wherein dynamically configuring comprises building on demand the media pipeline from one or more of said media processing components wanted by the distribution pipeline;
receiving the requested media from the media pipeline at the publisher; and
transmitting at the publisher, the requested media from the media pipeline to the distribution pipeline;
wherein the media pipeline is under control of the publisher.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein said request comprises a unicast request.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein transmitting said request comprises transmitting said request on an HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) connection.
4. The method of claim 3 wherein the processing components are operable to accept HTTP connections from downstream processing components and issue HTTP connections to upstream processing components.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein said request is transmitted to a DNS (Domain Name System) comprising metadata associated with media content.
6. The method of claim 5 wherein the DNS is operable to provide load balancing in the media pipeline.
7. The method of claim 1 further comprising dynamically reconfiguring the media pipeline.
8. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving said media in an HTTP response at the publisher and transmitting said media from the publisher to the distribution pipeline.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein said media is transmitted directly to a storage device of the distribution pipeline and said request specifies a location for storing said media.
10. The method of claim 1 further comprising storing said received media for retrieval by the distribution pipeline.
11. The method of claim 1 wherein the media pipeline is identified by a Uniform Resource Identifier (URI).
12. The method of claim 1 further comprising configuring a second redundant chain.
13. An apparatus comprising:
a processor for generating a request for media at a publisher, transmitting said request for media from the publisher to a media pipeline, dynamically configuring a chain of streaming media processing components in the media pipeline, receiving the requested media from the media pipeline, and transmitting the requested media from the media pipeline to a distribution pipeline comprising a content delivery system and a client; and
memory for storing an identifier for the media pipeline;
wherein the publisher is operable at an end of the media pipeline to connect the media pipeline to the distribution pipeline;
wherein dynamically configuring comprises building on demand the media pipeline from one or more of said media processing components wanted by the distribution pipeline; and
wherein the media pipeline is under control of the publisher.
14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the apparatus is configured for communication with a DNS (Domain Name System) identifying the processing components in the chain.
15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the DNS is operable to provide load balancing in the media pipeline.
16. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said request comprises a unicast request.
17. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the processing components are operable to accept HTTP connections from downstream processing components and issue HTTP connections to upstream processing components.
18. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the identifier comprises a Uniform Resource Identifier (URI).
19. Logic encoded on one or more non-transitory computer readable media for execution and when executed operable to:
generate a request for media at a publisher operable at an end of a multi-stage media pipeline comprising a chain of streaming media processing components to connect the media pipeline to a distribution pipeline comprising a content delivery system and a client;
transmit said request for media from the publisher to the media pipeline
dynamically configure at the publisher, the chain of streaming media processing components in the media pipeline, wherein dynamically configuring comprises building on demand the media pipeline from one or more of said media processing components wanted by the distribution pipeline;
process the requested media from the media pipeline; and
transmit the requested media from the media pipeline to the distribution pipeline;
wherein the media pipeline is under control of the publisher.
20. The logic of claim 19 the media pipeline is pull-based.