Video distribution system using disk load balancing by file copying

A data object service system in communication with a plurality of computing systems to provide at least one data object of plurality of data object to at least one of the plurality of computing system, comprising:

• a plurality of data object storage devices in communication with each other and with any of the plurality of computing systems;
• and
• a load balancing apparatus in communication with the plurality of data object storage devices to balance a loading of said data object storage devices during transfer of said data objects,
• whereby said load balancing apparatus comprises:
• a load evaluator to assess the loading of the data object storage devices containing segments of said data objects,
• a storage device selector to create a selection list to indicate selection of those data object storage devices containing copies of each segment of the requested data object having the least loading, and
• a copying initiator to initiate a copying of a segment of the data object to an alternate storage device having low loading if all storage devices containing said segment have a loading greater than a maximum loading.

An apparatus for balancing a loading of storage devices attached to multiple computing systems comprising:

• means for acquiring a listing of locations of all segments of a requested data object including all copies of said segments of the requested data object;
• means for evaluating the loading of the storage devices attached to the multiple computing systems containing all copies of all segments of a requested data object;
• means for selecting storage devices containing copies of each segment of the data object having a least loading, which is less than a maximum loading for said storage devices;
• means for copying any segment resident on said storage device having loading greater than said maximum loading to an alternate storage device, if the loading of the storage devices is greater than the maximum loading for said storage devices;
• means for selecting said alternate storage device;
• and
• means for transferring those segments of said requested data object to a requesting computer system.

A medium for retaining a computer program which, when executed on a computing system, balances a loading of storage devices attached to multiple computing systems, said program executing the steps of:

• acquiring a listing of locations of all segments of a requested data object including all copies of said segments of the requested data object;
• evaluating the loading of the storage devices attached to the multiple computing systems containing all copies of all segments of a requested data object;
• selecting storage devices containing copies of each segment of the data object having a least loading, which is less than a maximum loading for said storage devices;
• if the loading of the storage devices is greater than the maximum loading for said storage devices, copying any segment resident on said storage device having loading greater than said maximum loading to an alternate storage device;
• selecting said alternate storage device;
• and
• transferring those segments of said requested data object to a requesting computer system.

A method for balancing a loading of storage devices containing video data objects attached to multiple computing systems comprising the steps of:

• acquiring a listing of locations of all segments of a requested video data object including all copies of said segments of the requested video data object;
• evaluating the loading of the storage devices attached to the multiple computing systems containing all copies of all segments of a requested video data object;
• selecting storage devices containing copies of each segment of the video data object having a least loading, which is less than a maximum loading for said storage devices;
• if the loading of the storage devices is greater than the maximum loading for said storage devices, copying any segment resident on said storage device having loading greater than said maximum loading to an alternate storage device;
• selecting said alternate storage device;
• and
• transferring those segments of said requested video data object to a requesting computer system.

A video data object service system in communication with a plurality of computing systems to provide at least one video data object of plurality of video data object to at least one of the plurality of computing system, comprising:

• a plurality of video data object storage devices in communication with each other and with any of the plurality of computing systems;
• and
• a load balancing apparatus in communication with the plurality of video data object storage devices to balance a loading of said video data object storage devices during transfer of said video data objects,
• said load balancing apparatus comprising:
• a load evaluator to assess the loading of the video data object storage devices containing segments of said video data objects,
• a storage device selector to create a selection list to indicate selection of those video data object storage devices containing copies of each segment of the requested video data object having the least loading, and
• a copying initiator to initiate a copying of a segment of the video data object to an alternate storage device having low loading if all storage devices containing said segment have a loading greater than a maximum loading.