Patent ID: 6412004
Filing Date: 2002-06-25
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
In at least one metaserver at one level of management, each said metaserver having a processor and a memory, a method for assigning a plurality of multimedia servers configured to provide data streams for a plurality of client computers, each said client computer being coupled to each said metaserver at the same level of management and to each said multimedia server via a network, each said client computer including a video and audio display device, each said metaserver memory configured to store a metaserver database that includes information about the data streams stored in at least one of said multimedia servers, said method comprising:receiving a request for a multimedia stream from one of said client computers; monitoring the status of each said multimedia server and the status of said network; selecting from the metaserver database at least one eligible multimedia server storing the requested multimedia stream using a selection algorithm; and communicating a name of said at least one eligible multimedia server to said client computer.