Resilient content distribution network
In one implementation, a content distribution network includes a first plurality of communication paths for Internet Protocol (IP) signals, a router providing a second plurality of communication paths for non-IP signals, and a plurality of signal sources and a plurality of signal destinations. Each signal source is linked to a respective one signal destination by a respective first communication path of the first plurality of communication paths. Each of one or more of the signal sources designated as a protected source is further linked to the respective one signal destination by a second communication path of the second plurality of communication paths. The content distribution network distributes content in one of a first mode in which the first communication path and the second communication path carry the same content contemporaneously, or a second mode in which only the second communication path carries that content.
1. A content distribution network comprising:
a first plurality of communication paths for Internet Protocol (IP) signals;
a router providing a second plurality of communication paths for non-IP signals; and
a plurality of signal sources and a plurality of signal destinations, each signal source of the plurality of signal sources being linked to a respective one signal destination of the plurality of signal destinations by a respective first communication path of the first plurality of communication paths;
wherein a subset of one or more signal sources of the plurality of signal sources is identified as a protected source, each of the one or more protected sources being further linked to the respective one signal destination by a second communication path of the second plurality of communication paths;
wherein the content distribution network is configured to distribute content in one of a first mode in which the first communication path and the second communication path carry a same content contemporaneously, or a second mode in which only the second communication path carries the same content.
2. The content distribution network of claim 1 , wherein a communication network providing the first plurality of communication paths comprises a software-defined network (SDN).
3. The content distribution network of claim 1 , wherein the router is configured to carry serial digital interface (SDI) signals.
4. The content distribution network of claim 1 , wherein the router is one of a plurality of routers.
5. The content distribution network of claim 1 , wherein the same content comprises audio-video (AV) content.
6. The content distribution network of claim 1 , wherein the same content comprises a live camera feed.
7. The content distribution network of claim 1 , wherein the one or more protected sources comprise more than half of the plurality of signal sources.
8. The content distribution network of claim 1 , wherein the one or more protected sources comprise less than or equal to twenty-five percent of the plurality of signal sources.
9. The content distribution network of claim 1 , wherein the one or more protected sources and the respective one signal destination further linked by the second communication path are selectable by a user of the content distribution network.
10. A method for use by a content distribution network having a hardware processor and a system memory storing a software code, the content distribution network being communicatively coupled to a plurality of signal sources and a plurality of signal destinations, the method comprising:
receiving, by the software code executed by the hardware processor, a selection data identifying one or more signal sources of the plurality of signal sources as a protected source, and one or more signal destinations of the plurality of signal destinations as a protected destination, each of the one or more protected sources being linked to a respective one of the one or more protected destinations by a first communication path for Internet Protocol (IP) signals; and
establishing, by the software code executed by the hardware processor in response to receiving the selection data, a second communication path for non-IP signals linking each of the one or more protected sources to the respective one of the one or more protected destinations, through a router; and
distributing content, by the software code executed by the hardware processor, in one of a first mode in which the first communication path and the second communication path carry a same content contemporaneously, or a second mode in which only the second communication path carries the same content.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein a communication network providing the first communication path comprises a software-defined network (SDN).
12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the router is configured to carry serial digital interface (SDI) signals.
13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the router is one of a plurality of routers.
14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the same content comprises audio-video (AV) content.
15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the same content comprises a live camera feed.
16. The method of claim 10 , wherein the one or more protected sources comprise more than half of the plurality of signal sources.
17. The method of claim 10 , wherein the one or more protected sources comprise less than or equal to twenty-five percent of the plurality of signal sources.
18. The method of claim 10 , wherein the one or more protected sources and the respective one of the one or more protected destinations are selectable by a user of the content distribution network.