Abstract: Computer-based systems and methods measure saturation of a media server that transmits media content to a plurality of users via data links. The data buffers of the media server are sampled to ascertain whether they contain data to be transmitted to each buffer's associated destination at the time of the sampling. A saturation score is calculated based on the sampling, such as based on the number of non-empty data buffers. This saturation score can be used in routing new connection requests for the media server. The media server's saturation score can be compared to a threshold saturation score for the media server, with the difference between the scores indicating a present available bandwidth of the data links of the media serve. This process can be repeated periodically so that the saturation score of the media server is continuously updated.

Abstract: Computer-based systems and methods measure saturation of a media server that transmits media content to a plurality of users via data links. The data buffers of the media server are sampled to ascertain whether they contain data to be transmitted to each buffer's associated destination at the time of the sampling. A saturation score is calculated based on the sampling, such as based on the number of non-empty data buffers. This saturation score can be used in routing new connection requests for the media server. The media server's saturation score can be compared to a threshold saturation score for the media server, with the difference between the scores indicating a present available bandwidth of the data links of the media serve. This process can be repeated periodically so that the saturation score of the media server is continuously updated.