Client-based dynamic switching of streaming servers for fault-tolerance and load balancing

In a client-server system, a method of dynamically switching client-server connections, said method comprising the steps of:

• identifying at least a primary server and a secondary server for a real-time data stream;
• a client receiving the real-time data stream from the primary server;
• the client detecting a failure in one or more of the real-time data stream and the primary server;
• and
• the client dynamically switching to the secondary server and receiving the real-time data stream from the secondary server, in response to said detecting step.

A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps for dynamically switching client-server connections between a primary server and a secondary server for a real-time data stream, said method steps comprising:

• a client receiving the real-time data stream from the primary server;
• the client detecting a failure in one or more of the real-time data stream and the primary server;
• and
• the client dynamically switching to the secondary server and receiving the real-time data stream from the secondary server, in response to said detecting step.

A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps for dynamically switching client-server connections between two or more disjoint sets of servers wherein each set of servers includes at least one server, said method steps comprising:

• a client requesting a real-time data stream;
• assigning the client to a primary server in a first set of servers and a secondary set of servers, in response to said request;
• the client receiving the real-time data stream from the primary server;
• the client detecting a failure in one or more of the real-time data stream and the primary server;
• and
• the client dynamically switching to and receiving the real-time data stream from a secondary server in the secondary set of servers, in response to said detecting step.

A computer program product comprising:

• a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied therein for dynamically switching client-server connections between a plurality of servers into two or more disjoint sets, wherein each set of servers includes at least one server;
• the computer readable program code means in said computer product comprising:
• computer readable program code means for causing a computer to effect a client requesting a real-time data stream;
• computer readable program code means for causing a computer to effect assigning the client to a primary server in a first set of servers and a secondary server in a second set of servers, in response to said request;
• computer readable program code means for causing a computer to effect the client receiving the real-time data stream from the primary server;
• computer readable program code means for causing a computer to effect the client detecting a failure in one or more of the real-time data stream and the primary server;
• and
• computer readable program code means for causing a computer to effect the client dynamically switching to and receiving the real-time data stream from the secondary server, in response to said detecting step.

A computer program product comprising:

• a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied therein for dynamically switching client-server connections between a primary server and a secondary server for a real-time data stream, the computer readable program code means in said computer program product comprising:
• computer readable program code means for causing a computer to effect a client receiving the real-time data stream from the primary server;
• computer readable program code means for causing a computer to effect the client detecting a failure in one or more of the real-time data stream and the primary server;
• and
• computer readable program code means for causing a computer to effect the client dynamically switching to the secondary server and receiving the real-time data stream from the secondary server, in response to said detecting step.

A client-based system for dynamically switching client connections, comprising:

• two or more disjoint sets of real-time streaming servers, each set including at least one real-time streaming server for delivering a real-time multimedia stream;
• a control server coupled to the client and to the real-time streaming servers;
• and
• one or more client agents, coupled to the real-time streaming servers and the control server, for requesting and receiving and rendering the real-time multimedia stream;
• the control further comprising:
• control server means for processing incoming client agents and redirecting them to the real-time streaming server that can provide the real-time multimedia stream;
• each client agent comprising:
• client agent means for detecting a failure and dynamically switching to and receiving the real-time multimedia stream from a secondary real-time streaming server, said client agent means coupled to the control server means.