A system and method are disclosed for upgrading both hardware and software components of a digital media server without disrupting media delivery services. In a preferred embodiment, the present system and method employ an object-oriented model that allows system servers to remain fully operational while software upgrades at both the operating system and application levels are installed. Additionally, the system and method use redundant or partitionable programmable logic devices to perform firmware upgrades without disrupting media delivery services.
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28. A digital media server comprising:
an object store;
an object-oriented, runtime environment, comprising: service objects, application objects, and an object manager adapted to facilitate the replacement of the service objects and the application objects without disrupting data processing functionality supplied by the service and application objects;
two or more programmable logic devices, each capable of switching between an active state and an inactive state;
an input data path; and
an output data path;
wherein one or more programmable logic devices in the active state processes digital media arriving on the input data path and presents processed digital media to the output data path while one or more programmable logic devices in the inactive state are programmed with new logic.
25. A digital media server comprising:
a storage medium comprising an object store; and
a computing device configured to execute an object-oriented, runtime environment, the object-oriented, runtime environment comprising:
service objects, application objects, and an object manager adapted to facilitate the replacement of the service objects and the application objects without disrupting data processing functionality supplied by the service and application objects by:
locking an old object and a new object;
copying fields from the old object to the new object;
establishing links from the new object to objects dependent on the old object;
rerouting links to the old object from other objects to the new object;
in response to rerouting the links, unlocking the new object; and
removing the old object.
31. A digital media server comprising:
an object store;
an object-oriented, runtime environment, comprising: service objects, application objects, and an object manager adapted to facilitate the replacement of the service objects and the application objects without disrupting data processing functionality supplied by the service and application objects;
a partitionable programmable logic device having two or more independendy programmable partitions, each partition capable of switching between an active state and an inactive state;
an input data path; and
an output data path;
wherein one or more partitions in the active state process digital media arriving on the input data path and present processed digital media to the output data path while one or more partitions in the inactive state are programmed with new logic.
1. A method of upgrading a digital media server comprising an object oriented runtime environment implemented in a memory, the method comprising:
checking for the existence of an upgrade package comprising new objects;
identifying the new objects in the upgrade package;
identifying functions and properties of the new objects;
evaluating compatibility of the new objects;
instantiating new objects as applications objects or services objects in the memory;
determining whether a new object replaces an old object in the object oriented runtime environment; and
if the new object replaces the old object, replacing the old object by:
locking the old object and the new object;
copying fields from the old object to the new object;
establishing links from the new object to objects dependent on the old object;
rerouting links to the old object from other objects to the new object;
in response to rerouting the links, unlocking the new object; and
removing the old object.
0. 42. A method of installing upgrades on a digital media server comprising a general purpose computer and a hardware engine, the computer comprising an object oriented runtime environment, and the hardware engine comprising a programmable logic device having a first partition in an active state, the method comprising:
detecting an instruction to initiate an upgrade;
responsive to detecting the instruction to initiate the upgrade, creating a second partition in an inactive state on the programmable logic device;
identifying a new object in an upgrade package, said new object being for execution in the object oriented runtime environment;
determining that the new object replaces an old object in the object oriented runtime environment;
programming the second partition with the new object;
transitioning the second partition from the inactive state to an active state;
assuming, by the second partition, data processing functions from the first partition; and
transitioning the first partition to the inactive state.
0. 44. A method of installing upgrades on a digital media server comprising a general purpose computer and a hardware engine, the computer comprising an object oriented runtime environment, and the hardware engine comprising two or more programmable logic devices, each having active and inactive states, the method comprising:
identifying a new object in an upgrade package, said new object being for execution in the object oriented runtime environment;
determining that the new object replaces an old object in the object oriented runtime environment;
determining that a first programmable logic device is in an active state;
programming the new object into a second programmable logic device in an inactive state;
copying the values of at least one field of the old object into at least one field of the new object;
transitioning the second programmable logic device to the active state;
assuming, by the second programmable logic device, data processing functions from the first programmable logic device; and
transitioning the first programmable logic device to the inactive state.
0. 40. A method of upgrading a digital media server comprising an object oriented runtime environment implemented in a memory, the method comprising:
identifying a new method for an old object in an upgrade package, wherein the old object comprises at least one other method;
evaluating compatibility of the new method;
determining whether the new method replaces an old method in the object oriented runtime environment; and
if the new method replaces the old method, replacing the old method while allowing access to the at least one other method by:
blocking access to the old method,
replacing the old method with the new method, and
allowing access to the new method;
identifying new logic in the upgrade package;
programming an inactive programmable logic device partition with the new logic;
transitioning the inactive programmable logic device partition from an inactive state to an active state and assuming data processing functions from an active programmable logic device partition; and
transitioning the active programmable logic device partition to an inactive state.
0. 34. A method of upgrading a digital media server comprising an object oriented runtime environment implemented in a memory, the method comprising:
tracking logical connections to other objects for each object in the object oriented runtime environment;
identifying functions and properties of a new object in an upgrade package;
instantiating the new object as an application object or service object in the memory;
determining whether the new object replaces an old object in the object oriented runtime environment;
establishing new logical connections between the new object and the other objects in the object oriented runtime environment;
in response to establishing the new logical connections, replacing the old object with the new object;
identifying new logic in the upgrade package;
programming an inactive programmable logic device partition with the new logic;
transitioning the inactive programmable logic device partition from an inactive state to an active state and assuming data processing functions from an active programmable logic device partition; and
transitioning the active programmable logic device partition to an inactive state.
9. A method of installing upgrades on a digital media server comprising a general purpose computer and a hardware engine, the computer comprising an object oriented runtime environment, and the hardware engine comprising a programmable logic device having a first active partition in an active state and a second inactive partition in an inactive state, the method comprising,
checking for the existence of an upgrade package comprising new objects and new logic;
identifying the new objects in the upgrade package;
identifying functions and properties of the new objects;
evaluating compatibility of the new objects;
instantiating new objects as applications objects or services objects;
determining whether a new object replaces an old object in the object oriented runtime environment;
if the new object replaces the old object, replacing the old object;
identifying the new logic in the upgrade package;
programming the second inactive partition with the new logic;
transitioning the second partition from an the inactive state to an the active state and simultaneously assuming data processing functions from the first active partition; and
transitioning the first partition to an the inactive state.
16. A method of installing upgrades on a digital media server comprising a general purpose computer and a hardware engine, the computer comprising an object oriented runtime environment, and the hardware engine comprising two or more programmable logic devices, each having active and inactive states, the method comprising:
checking for the existence of an upgrade package comprising new objects and new logic;
identifying the new objects in the upgrade package;
identifying functions and properties of the new objects;
evaluating compatibility of the new objects;
instantiating the new objects as applications objects or services objects;
determining whether a new object replaces an old object in the object oriented runtime environment;
if the new object replaces the old object, replacing the old object;
identifying the new logic in the upgrade package;
determining a first set of programmable logic devices that are in the active state;
programming the new logic into a second set of one or more logic devices in an inactive state;
transitioning the second set of devices to the active state and simultaneously assuming data processing functions from the first set of devices; and
transitioning the first set of devices to the inactive state.
0. 46. A digital media server comprising:
an object-oriented runtime environment comprising service objects and an object manager, wherein the object manager is configured to:
identify functions and properties of a new object,
instantiate the new object as an application object or a service object in a memory,
determine whether the new object replaces an old object in the object oriented runtime environment,
establish new logical connections between the new object and other objects in the object oriented runtime environment, and
in response to establishing the new logical connections between the new object and the other objects, replace the old object with the new object;
two or more programmable logic devices, each capable of switching between an active state and an inactive state;
an input data path; and
an output data path;
wherein one or more programmable logic devices in the active state processes, in the object oriented runtime environment, digital media arriving on the input data path and presents processed digital media to the output data path while one or more programmable logic devices in the inactive state are programmed by the object manager with new logic for execution in the object oriented runtime environment, and wherein the object manager establishes new logical connections between the new logic and objects in the object oriented runtime environment.
0. 49. A digital media server comprising:
an object-oriented runtime environment comprising service objects and an object manager, wherein the object manager is configured to:
identify functions and properties of a new object,
instantiate the new object as a service object in a memory,
determine whether the new object replaces an old object in the object oriented runtime environment,
establish new logical connections between the new object and other objects in the object oriented runtime environment, and
in response to establishing the new logical connections between the new object and the other objects, replace the old object with the new object;
a partitionable programmable logic device having two or more independently programmable partitions, each partition capable of switching between an active state and an inactive state, wherein a second partition in the inactive state is created on the partitionable programmable logic responsive to detecting an instruction to initiate an upgrade;
an input data path; and
an output data path;
wherein a first partition in the active state processes, in the object oriented runtime environment, digital media arriving on the input data path and presents processed digital media to the output data path while the second partition in the inactive state is programmed with new logic for execution in the object oriented runtime environment.
0. 2. The method of
locking the old object and the new object;
copying fields from the old object to the new object;
establishing links from the new object to objects dependent on the old object;
rerouting links to the old object from other objects to the new object;
unlocking the new object; and
removing the old object.
3. The method of claim 2 1, wherein the step of removing comprises further comprising archiving the old object.
4. The method of claim 2 1, wherein the step of removing the old object comprises purging the old object.
5. The method of
identifying the one or more new methods from the upgrade package;
evaluating compatibility of the one or more new methods;
for each of the one or more new methods:
determining whether a new method replaces an a corresponding old method; and
if the new method replaces the corresponding old method, blocking and replacing the old method with the new method.
6. The method of
11. The method of
13. The method of
locking the old object and the new object;
copying fields from the old object to the new object;
establishing links from the new object to objects dependent on the old object;
rerouting links to the old object from other objects to the new object;
in response to rerouting the links, unlocking the new object; and
removing the old object.
14. The method of
15. The method of
17. The method of
18. The method of
20. The method of
locking the old object and the new object;
copying fields from the old object to the new object;
establishing links from the new object to objects dependent on the old object;
rerouting links to the old object from other objects to the new object;
in response to rerouting the links, unlocking the new object; and
removing the old object.
21. The method of
22. The method of
23. The method of
identifying the one or more new methods;
evaluating compatibility of the one or more new methods;
determining whether a new method replaces an old method; and
if the new method replaces the old method, blocking and replacing the old method.
24. The method of
26. The server of
27. The server of
29. The server of
30. The server of
32. The server of
33. The server of
0. 35. The method of
0. 36. The method of
0. 37. The method of
0. 38. The method of
0. 39. The method of
0. 41. The method of
0. 43. The method of
0. 45. The method of
0. 47. The server of
0. 48. The server of
0. 50. The server of
0. 51. The server of
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This invention relates to the field of digital media servers.
Digital media servers such as Web-based servers and video-on-demand servers typically include a number of functional components including components for storing digital media, converting such media from file format to wire format, and scheduling the delivery of media packets. During operation, a media server accepts incoming requests for content from clients or administrators and delivers media packets to clients via a network.
Most digital media servers employ a PC-based architecture and run a variety of software components to provide the above-described functionality. Great effort is made during the design of such software components to ensure that they are fully debugged and free from defects. As a practical matter, however, many defects are not discovered during the design phase and are exposed only when the software is put into actual operation.
Defects discovered during system operation are often corrected by performing a software upgrade. Software upgrades are also sometimes performed to supplement or improve server functionality, thus extending a server's competitive life.
To upgrade an executing software component, the component must be stopped, and the replacement version loaded into memory and run. During this period, services normally provided by the component are unavailable.
The consequences of a defect in a media server's operating system may be even more severe. Operating systems are typically designed around a number of tightly coupled modules that supply abstract data structures such as files, memory storage, input/output streams, semaphores, processes, and threads to other programs. Application programs access these abstract structures through an application programming interface (API). A change made to one of these structures may cause side-effects in other structures or modules. Generally, replacement of operating system-level components requires reloading the entire operating system, and is accomplished during a reboot of the server. Thus, operating system-level resources cannot be upgraded without taking the media server offline, and rebooting may take a considerable amount of time before these services can be restored.
Offline servers are unable to accept incoming requests or deliver content to existing sessions. Consequently, an offline server may affect the availability of an entire service network unless adequate redundant servers are available
Before the upgrade can be installed, pre-upgrade management steps 120 are performed. In particular, in step 125, user sessions are either thinned or transferred to unaffected machines. Next, in step 127, services affected by the software to be upgraded are discontinued.
Next, upgrade process steps 140 are performed. In particular, in step 145, the settings and properties of the system are either copied or modified. In step 147, new components are copied from the upgrade package. Although some media servers may permit the local or remote transfer of data into the server while it is operating, some service disruption is typically necessary to effect the-upgrade, and in most cases the server must first be brought offline.
Next, post-upgrade process steps 160 are performed. In particular, in step 165, the media server's power is cycled off and then back on (if the server was taken offline), and services provided by the upgraded software are restarted. A single power cycle may last anywhere from a few seconds to several minutes. The amount of time required for a single power cycle depends on how long the server needs to perform an orderly shutdown of running applications before powering off plus the time needed to reboot the server and restore the applications after powering back on. Only after these events are completed can the server begin to accept new user sessions (step 167).
The above process may significantly affect system operation, especially in cases of system-wide upgrades such as an upgrade of all system APIs and low-level drivers. A typical digital-media company may have dozens of on-line media servers affected by such an upgrade. Although the company may select a time for the upgrade when server usage is at its lowest point, the upgrade may still disrupt service to some extent if it necessitates shutting down media servers. At a minimum, the company may experience loss of revenue for the downtime and risk customer dissatisfaction
To avoid such service disruptions, companies often maintain excess server capacity or redundant systems to handle traffic channeled away from affected servers during an upgrade. But redundant systems introduce additional overhead cost and in many cases are not available.
A system and method are disclosed for upgrading both hardware and software components of a digital media server without disrupting media delivery services In a preferred embodiment, the present system and method employ an object-oriented model that allows system servers to remain fully operational while software upgrades at both the operating system and application levels are installed. Additionally, the system and method use redundant or partitionable programmable logic devices to perform firmware upgrades without disrupting media delivery services.
In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a method of upgrading a digital media server comprising checking for the existence of an upgrade package comprising new objects; identifying new objects in the upgrade package; identifying functions and properties of the new objects; evaluating compatibility of the new objects; instantiating new objects as applications objects or services objects; determining whether a new object replaces an old object; and if the new object replaces the old object, replacing the old object.
In another aspect of the present invention, the step of replacing further comprises: locking the old object and the new object; copying fields from the old object to the new object; establishing links from the new object to objects dependent on the old object; rerouting links to the old object from other objects to the new object; unlocking the new object; and removing the old object.
In another aspect of the present invention, the step of removing comprises archiving the old object.
In another aspect of the present invention, the step of removing comprises purging the old object.
In another aspect of the present invention, the upgrade package further comprises one or more new methods for old objects, and the method further comprises: identifying the one or more new methods; evaluating compatibility of the one or more new methods; determining whether a new method replaces an old method; and if the new method replaces the old method, blocking and replacing the old method.
In another aspect of the present invention, the old method is an interface.
In another aspect of the present invention, the method further comprises downloading the upgrade package from a network source.
In another aspect of the present invention, the method further comprises loading the upgrade package from a storage medium.
In another aspect, the present invention is directed to a method of upgrading a digital media server having a partitionable programmable logic device having a first active partition and a second inactive partition, comprising: programming the second partition with new logic; transitioning the second partition from the inactive state to the active state and simultaneously assuming data processing functions from the first partition; and transitioning the first partition to an inactive state.
In another aspect of the present invention, the method further comprises programming the first partition with the new logic
In another aspect, the present invention is directed to a method of upgrading a digital media server having two or more redundant programmable logic devices, each having an active and inactive state, comprising: determining a first set of programmable logic devices that are in the active state; loading new logic into a second set of one or more logic devices in the inactive state; transitioning the second set of devices to the active state and simultaneously assuming data processing functions from the first set of devices; and transitioning the first set of devices to the inactive state.
In another aspect of the present invention, the method further comprises loading new logic into the first set of devices.
In another aspect, the present invention is directed to a method of installing upgrades on a digital media server comprising a general purpose computer and a hardware engine, the computer comprising an object oriented runtime environment, and the hardware engine comprising a programmable logic device having a first active partition and a second inactive partition, the method comprising: checking for the existence of an upgrade package comprising new objects and new logic; identifying new objects in the upgrade package; identifying functions and properties of the new objects; evaluating compatibility of the new objects, instantiating new objects as applications objects or services objects; determining whether a new object replaces an old object; if the new object replaces the old object, replacing the old object; identifying new logic in the upgrade package, programming the second inactive partition with the new logic; transitioning the second partition from an inactive state to an active state and simultaneously assuming data processing functions from the first active partition; and transitioning the first partition to an inactive state.
In another aspect of the present invention, the step of replacing further comprises: locking the old object and the new object; copying fields from the old object to the new object; establishing links from the new object to objects dependent on the old object; rerouting links to the old object from other objects to the new object; unlocking the new object; and removing the old object.
In another aspect, the present invention is directed to a method of installing upgrades on a digital media server comprising a general purpose computer and a hardware engine, the computer comprising an object oriented runtime environment, and the hardware engine comprising two or more programmable logic devices, each having active and inactive states, the method comprising checking for the existence of an upgrade package comprising new objects and new logic; identifying new objects in the upgrade package; identifying functions and properties of the new objects; evaluating compatibility of the new objects; instantiating new objects as applications objects or services objects; determining whether a new object replaces an old object; if the new object replaces the old object, replacing the old object; identifying new logic in the upgrade package; determining a first set of programmable logic devices that are in the active state; programming the new logic into a second set of one or more logic devices in an inactive state; transitioning the second set of devices to the active state and simultaneously assuming data processing functions from the first set of devices; and transitioning the first set of devices to the inactive state.
In another aspect of the present invention, the step of replacing further comprises: locking the old object and the new object; copying fields from the old object to the new object; establishing links from the new object to objects dependent on the old object; rerouting links to the old object from other objects to the new object; unlocking the new object; and removing the old object.
In another aspect of the present invention, the upgrade package further comprises one or more new methods for old objects, and the method further comprises: identifying the one or more new methods; evaluating compatibility of the one or more new methods; determining whether a new method replaces an old method; and if the new method replaces the old method, blocking and replacing the old method.
In another aspect of the present invention, the old method is an interface.
In another aspect, the present invention is directed to a digital media server comprising: an object store; and an object-oriented, runtime environment, comprising: service objects, application objects, and an object manager adapted to facilitate the replacement of the service objects and the application objects without disrupting data processing functionality supplied by the service and application objects.
In another aspect of the present invention, the server further comprises a network interface for downloading an upgrade package comprising replacement service and application objects.
In another aspect of the present invention, the server further comprises storage media for storing an upgrade package comprising replacement service and application objects.
In another aspect, the present invention is directed to a digital media server comprising: two or more programmable logic devices, each capable of switching between an active state and an inactive state; an input data path; and an output data path; wherein one or more programmable logic devices in the active state processes digital media arriving on the input data path and presents processed digital media to the output data path while one or more programmable logic devices in the inactive state are programmed.
In another aspect, the present invention is directed to a digital media server comprising: a partitionable programmable logic device having two or more independently programmable partitions, each partition capable of switching between an active state and an inactive state; an input data path; and an output data path; wherein one or more partitions in the active state process digital media arriving on the input data path and present processed digital media to the output data path while one or more partitions in the inactive state are programmed.
In another aspect, the present invention is directed to a digital media server comprising: an object store; an object-oriented, runtime environment, comprising: service objects, application objects, an object manager adapted to facilitate the replacement of the service objects and the application objects without disrupting data processing functionality supplied by the service and application objects; two or more programmable logic devices, each capable of switching between an active state and an inactive state; an input data path; and an output data path; wherein one or more programmable logic devices in the active state processes digital media arriving on the input data path and presents processed digital media to the output data path while one or more programmable logic devices in the inactive state are programmed with new logic.
In another aspect, the present invention is directed to a digital media server comprising: an object store, an object-oriented, runtime environment, comprising: service objects, application objects, an object manager adapted to facilitate the replacement of the service objects and the application objects without disrupting data processing functionality supplied by the service and application objects; a partitionable programmable logic device having two or more independently programmable partitions, each partition capable of switching between an active state and an inactive state; an input data path; and an output data path; wherein one or more partitions in the active state process digital media arriving on the input data path and present processed digital media to the output data path while one or more partitions in the inactive state are programmed with new logic.
For purposes of illustration and to facilitate understanding of the present invention, the preferred embodiments described below will be described in connection with a particular digital media server.
As shown in
General-purpose computer 240 preferably comprises an object-oriented runtime environment 250, an operating system 260, and hardware interfaces 270. Buses 280 provide data communication paths between hardware engine 220, general-purpose computer 240, and storage 210.
Hardware engine 220 is preferably adapted to generate wire data packets from data stored on storage device 210 and send them to clients across a digital network. In a preferred embodiment, data is copied from storage device 210 to media buffer 225 under control of general-purpose computing device 240. A preferred architecture comprising a general-purpose computing device 240 and hardware engine 220 is described in U.S patent application Ser. No. 10/369,305, entitled “Hybrid Streaming Platform,” filed on Feb. 19, 2003 (and identified by Pennic & Edmonds LLP docket no. 11055-005-999), which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for each of its teachings and embodiments.
PLDs 227 are preferably adapted to convert the copied data in media buffer 225 from file format to wire format. Complete data packets are sent onto the network by network interface 230. A preferred system and method for implementing these steps is described in U.S. patent application Ser No. 10/369,306, entitled “Flexible Streaming Hardware,” filed on Feb. 19, 2003 (and identified by Pennie & Edmonds LLP docket No. 11055-006-999), which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for each of its teachings and embodiments.
A preferred embodiment of a streaming process implemented by digital media server 200 is illustrated in FIG. 3. As shown in
In step 330, hardware engine 220 generates data packets while reading from media buffer 225. In step 340, hardware engine 220 transfers the freshly generated data packets to network interface 230, which in turn writes the packets to a digital network. As noted, this process and a platform for implementing it are described in more detail in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/369,306, entitled “Flexible Streaming Hardware,” filed on Feb. 19, 2003 (and identified by Pennie & Edmonds LLP docket No. 11055-006-999), and Ser. No. 10/369,305, entitled “Hybrid Streaming Platform,” filed Feb, 19, 2003 (and identified by Pennic & Edmonds LLP docket No. 11055-005-999), both of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety for each of their teachings and embodiments.
In a preferred embodiment, general-purpose computing device 240 preferably has installed a runtime environment 250 adapted to run object-oriented software programs including programs for accomplishing any desired streaming solutions or other tasks. Such tasks may include session setup, management and teardown of streaming sessions, and error handling. In a preferred embodiment, these programs are designed as object-oriented programs.
Methods 415 are procedures or functions that may be used to operate on data in fields 412. Methods of an object that may be called by other objects to interact with the object are known as interfaces 417.
Dynamic references 418 represent control and data flow paths between objects 410. An object's references 418 need not be defined before runtime, and can be changed even after object 410 has been created in runtime environment 250.
Object manager 440 is preferably responsible for maintaining the state of all objects 410 included in applications 420 and services 430. In a preferred embodiment, object manager 440 validates objects 410 to ensure that these objects are properly formed and not corrupt before loading them into runtime environment 250. Object manager 440 also enumerates the objects and evaluates them to ensure compatibility with object manager 440, environment 250 generally, and other objects 410.
Runtime environment 250 is preferably built on facilities provided by general-purpose computer 240's operating system 260. Application objects can indirectly access hardware 270 by interacting with services 430 through operating system 260. One with skill in the art will recognize that operating system 260 may be implemented using object-oriented components. Such an operating system may be located within runtime environment 250, and operate as an extension of services 430. Effectively, runtime environment 250 may then be viewed as merged with operating system 260. This permits the operating system to be upgraded without interrupting the functionality it provides, as described below.
Hardware 270 preferably includes input-output interface cards 272, 274 for interfacing with objects in the runtime environment as well as data storage 210.
Data storage 210 is a repository that preferably contains definitions for objects or collections of objects known as packages 490. Such packages are typically assembled to make delivery of a collection of objects more convenient.
Upgrade Process
A preferred embodiment for upgrading object-oriented software running on general-purpose computer 240 is described in connection with FIG. 5. As shown in
Before performing the runtime extensible upgrade (step 520), object manager 440 continually tracks the state of all current instances of objects in environment 250 including their dynamic references 418 to other objects. In step 530, object manager 440 identifies any new objects in upgrade package 490, and, if so, validates that they are properly formed and not corrupt. In step 535, each object in package 490 and the object's corresponding interfaces and properties are enumerated. During this enumeration process, object manager 440 determines how the objects will interact with other objects. Next, in step 540, each object is evaluated for compatibility with other objects that may call it. Also, the object version is preferably checked to ensure that it is compatible with object manager 440 and environment 250, as well as other interacting objects.
In step 550, object manager 440 creates instances of the new objects in appropriate areas of environment 250. Object manager 440 also establishes the logical connections between the new objects and existing services 430 or applications 420.
With respect to new objects that wholly or partially replace functions provided by existing objects, object manager 440 is preferably adapted to direct an orderly transition from those existing objects being replaced to the new objects being installed. This process is referred to herein as staging, and is described in more detail below in connection with FIG. 6. In step 560, object manager 440 copies fields 412 from existing objects into their corresponding replacement objects. Next, in step 570, new dynamic references 418 are established between existing objects that are to remain on line and any new objects. In step 575, existing dynamic references 418 are re-routed to the new objects. This permits an orderly rerouting of object references 418 from existing objects to new objects.
In step 580, objects 410 that are no longer in active use are either permanently purged from environment 250 by object manager 440, or archived to storage 210 for possible later retrieval.
Because an upgrade may include a partial or complete replacement of existing objects, a potential exists for suspension of services or functions provided by objects being replaced. In a preferred embodiment, the present system and method address this issue by staging new replacement objects to avoid service disruption as existing objects are replaced. More specifically, staging allows object manager 440 to transfer active data communication paths from existing objects to new objects during an upgrade rather than disrupting or terminating these data communication paths.
An exemplary staging process is illustrated in FIG. 6. In the exemplary scenario of
Next, in step 625, object manager 440 locks object A and object B in environment 250. Locking prevents fields 412 of either object from changing, and provides object manager 440 with exclusive access to these objects during the transition from object A to object B.
While the objects are locked in step 630, object manager 440 copies the value of fields found in object A to object B. Then, in step 635, references 418 to upstream objects are copied from object A to object B. Likewise, in step 640, references to object A found in downstream objects are redirected to object B. In step 645, object B is unlocked by object manager 440, thus restoring the services and functionality originally provided by object A but now provided by object B and making available any new services and functionality provided by object B. In step 650, object manager 440 purges or archives object A, thus completing the staging process.
Staging may also comprise a finer-grained approach where an object's methods are changed without replacing the entire object. In such cases, the entire object need not be locked; instead, access to the upgraded method is restricted. For example, suppose that a log writer interface contained in a stream manager object requires upgrading. The stream manager object continues to provide functions to other objects through other methods. The staging process blocks object access to the log writer interface, but does not lock the stream manager object. After the code for the log writer interface has been replaced, objects can resume interaction with the log writer interface.
Run Time Extensible Digital Media Servers
Programmable logic devices 227 in hardware engine 220 do not typically comprise an operating system like general-purpose computer 240. Instead, PLDs 227 are typically designed with programmable logic to efficiently accomplish a relatively limited set of data processing tasks, as described above. Two preferred embodiments for maintaining media delivery at full capacity during an upgrade of the programmable logic found in a PLD 227 are described below.
In the first preferred embodiment, each PLD 227 is capable of selectively partitioning and reprogramming specific portions of the device, leaving other non-affected portions operating normally. In the second preferred embodiment, hardware engine 220 comprises redundant PLDs. These embodiments are described in connection with
An example of a firmware upgrade process for partitionable PLD 700 is illustrated in more detail in FIG. 8. As shown in
With this redundant approach, one PLD may be left available for reprogramming while the other responds to requests from general-purpose computer 240. Later, the two PLDs may again swap control so that the other may be upgraded. A firmware upgrade may thus be completed without disrupting digital media delivery service.
An example of a firmware upgrade process for redundant PLD pipeline 750 is illustrated in more detail in FIG. 9. As shown in
While the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments, it is evident that numerous alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those persons skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description.
Oesterreicher, Richard T., Murphy, Craig
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