Cloud Based Elastic Load Allocation for Multi-media Conferencing
Disclosed herein is a technique for providing cloud based scaleable videoconferencing infrastructure in a variety of ways. A combination of hardware based conferencing and software emulation of hardware conferencing equipment is disclosed. The disclosed systems and methods include load balancing algorithms and a software control architecture to allow for flexible and elastic scaling of each component individually or as a group. The disclosed systems and methods are also agnostic to the underlying hardware infrastructure utilized for any given conference.
1 . A method for policy based adaptive proportional cloud resource allocation to support a multi-media conference, the method comprising:
receiving information from a plurality of broker agents at a resource management module, the information concerning availability of cloud compute resources, multi-media session management, availability of configured cloud based soft multi-media control units (MCUs), and user access information;
coordinating availability and connectivity of a plurality of soft MCUs supporting a scaleable video conference for a plurality of users at a plurality of endpoints by utilizing user access information to manage the allocation of the plurality of soft MCUs.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of endpoints comprise at least two endpoints running different client connection protocols to a single multi-media conference.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the broker agents are configured to interface to a plurality of different virtual data center providers to support a single multi-media conference.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the resource management module receives a request to add an additional instance of a soft MCU from at least one of the plurality of broker agents, the request generated based on additional users joining the multi-media conference.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the resource management module receives a request to quiesce an instance of a soft MCU from at least one of the plurality of broker agents, the request based on users disconnecting from the multi-media conference.
6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the resource management module releases cloud based resources associated with the instance of the soft MCU after the instance of the soft MCU has been quiesced.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of broker agents communicates with other broker agents and patterns of allocations are maintained for use in future adaptation of broker policies.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the information from the plurality of broker agents causes the resource management module to instantiate an additional multi-media session management module for the multi-media conference.
9 . A non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon that when executed cause a processor to:
receive information from a plurality of broker agents at a resource management module, the resource management module operable to perform management of cloud based resources to support a multi-media conference, the information concerning availability of cloud compute resources, multi-media session management, availability of configured cloud based soft multi-media control units (MCUs), and user access information;
coordinate availability and connectivity of a plurality of soft MCUs supporting a scaleable video conference for a plurality of users at a plurality of endpoints.
10 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of endpoints comprise at least two endpoints running different client connection protocols to a single multi-media conference.
11 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the broker agents are configured to interface to a plurality of different virtual data center providers to support a single multi-media conference.
12 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the resource management module receives a request to add an additional instance of a soft MCU from at least one of the plurality of broker agents, the request generated based on additional users joining the multi-media conference.
13 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the resource management module receives a request to quiesce an instance of a soft MCU from at least one of the plurality of broker agents, the request based on users disconnecting from the multi-media conference.
14 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the resource management module releases cloud based resources associated with the instance of the soft MCU after the instance of the soft MCU has been quiesced.
15 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9 , wherein each of the plurality of broker agents communicates with other broker agents and patterns of allocations are maintained for use in future adaptation of broker policies.
16 . A system comprising:
one or more processors communicatively coupled to a memory; and
instructions stored in the memory, the instructions associated with a resource manager module, an access service module, a database access module, a session manager module, and a media server module;
wherein the resource manager module is operable to manage cloud based resources to support a plurality of endpoints connected to a multi-media conference, the cloud based resources allocated based on a number of users in the multi-media conference and user connection information;
wherein the access service module is operable to coordinate and authenticate user access to the multi-media conference;
wherein the database access module is operable to maintain information in a database about users of the multi-media conference and resource usage of the multi-media conference;
wherein the session manager module is operable to:
maintain the state of the signaling sessions;
instantiate MCU resources as needed based on an external entity requisitioning additional resources for a multi-media conference; and
call control information associated with the multi-media conference; and
wherein the media server module is operable to maintain virtual meeting rooms and associations of multiple soft MCUs with each virtual meeting room.
17 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the resource manager module is further operable to maintain a pool of idle soft MCUs in an available state for allocating to the multi-media conference upon request.
18 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the resource manager module is further operable to return a soft MCU to the pool if idle soft MCUs based upon users disconnecting from a multi-media conference.
19 . The system of claim 16 , wherein a plurality of broker agents communicates with other broker agents and patterns of allocations are maintained for use in future adaptation of broker policies.