Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided for reducing the number of write operations to a flash-based storage system that stores and replaces data. The storage system includes a first storage implemented using non-flash storage and a second storage implemented using flash memory. Missed data is first stored in the first storage, which can be less sensitive than flash to write operations. The missed data is stored in the flash-based second storage only after the missed data satisfies a storage management algorithm.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses can provide a pooling architecture for video servers and network resources. The pooling architecture can be based upon allocating content object copies to two or more nodes, intelligently selecting a primary streaming resource and a failover streaming resource, and identifying and compensating for exception asymmetries in system resource demand.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer readable media can be operable to facilitate the transfer of content between two or more storage units. The transfer of content between two or more storage units can be based upon a count of the number of hits to a storage unit entry associated with the content. In embodiments, the transfer of content between two or more storage units can be further based upon a predetermined threshold associated with a period.

Abstract: One or more I/O channels are assigned masks of message types that may pass through the channels, and one or more fields of an outbound message are set to one or more message type. A channel mask of an I/O channel is applied to a type of the outbound message, and if the channel mask matches the type of the outbound message, the outbound message is allowed to pass through the I/O channel to a switch. The outbound message is switched to an output port, and if the channel mask does not match the type of the outbound message, the outbound message is rejected from passing through the I/O channel and the channel mask of a next I/O channel is applied to the type of the outbound message.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer readable media can be operable to facilitate the transfer of content between two or more storage units. The transfer of content between two or more storage units can be based upon a count of the number of hits to a storage unit entry associated with the content. In embodiments, the transfer of content between two or more storage units can be further based upon a predetermined threshold associated with a period.

Abstract: A method of selecting a stream server of a plurality of stream servers to which to direct a content title, by (a) evaluating a cache ease-of-entry for each of a plurality of levels of a cache hierarchy for the plurality of stream servers; and (b) selecting the stream server from the plurality of stream servers to receive a content title, the selected stream server having a most favorable cache ease-of-entry over the plurality of levels of the cache hierarchy; (c) if none of the plurality of stream servers has a most favorable cache ease-of-entry over the plurality of levels of the cache hierarchy, selecting a stream server of the plurality of stream servers with a lowest miss traffic to which to direct the title; and (d) if none of the plurality of stream servers has a lowest miss traffic, selecting a stream server of the plurality of stream servers with a lowest stream traffic to which to direct the title.

Abstract: A media server comprises a plurality of nodes each comprising a gateway, each gateway providing memory and communication of data between mass storage and I/O ports of a node, and/or providing communication of data between the node and other nodes. Each node utilizes one or more central processors. The media server comprises logic to enable the processors to manage the streaming of data from the mass storage to the I/O ports via the gateways without communicating the data between the processors and any of the mass storage, I/O ports, or gateways.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided for reducing the number of write operations to a flash-based storage system that stores and replaces data. The storage system includes a first storage implemented using non-flash storage and a second storage implemented using flash memory. Missed data is first stored in the first storage, which can be less sensitive than flash to write operations. The missed data is stored in the flash-based second storage only after the missed data satisfies a storage management algorithm.

Abstract: A method for allocating content requests to a server pool includes directing a stream requesting a novel title to one of a least-busy server in a server pool and a least-miss-traffic server in the server pool; setting the server to which the novel title was directed to the requested title's preferred server; directing a stream requesting a familiar title to the title's preferred server; and directing a stream requesting a crowded title to one of a least-busy server and the least-miss-traffic server.

Abstract: “A method of selecting a stream server to which to direct a content title includes (a) comparing a top-tier cache ease of entry for each of multiple of stream servers, (b) if one of the stream servers has a more favorable top-tier cache ease of entry than each of the other stream servers, selecting the one stream server with the more favorable top-tier cache ease of entry to which to direct the title, (c) if the top-tier cache ease of entry for all of the stream servers is equal, comparing a next-lower-tier cache ease of entry for each of the plurality of stream servers, and (d) if one of the plurality of stream servers has a more favorable next-lower-tier cache ease of entry than each of the other stream servers, selecting the one stream server with the more favorable next-lower-tier cache ease of entry to which to direct the title.

Abstract: A media server comprises a plurality of nodes each comprising a gateway, each gateway providing memory and communication of data between mass storage and I/O ports of a node, and/or providing communication of data between the node and other nodes. Each node utilizes one or more central processors. The media server comprises logic to enable the processors to manage the streaming of data from the mass storage to the I/O ports via the gateways without communicating the data between the processors and any of the mass storage, I/O ports, or gateways.

Abstract: A media server comprises a plurality of nodes each comprising a gateway, each gateway providing memory and communication of data between mass storage and I/O ports of a node, and/or providing communication of data between the node and other nodes. Each node utilizes one or more central processors. The media server comprises logic to enable the processors to manage the streaming of data from the mass storage to the I/O ports via the gateways without communicating the data between the processors and any of the mass storage, I/O ports, or gateways.

Abstract: An information distribution system includes an interconnect and multiple data processing nodes coupled to the interconnect. Each data processing node includes mass storage and a cache. Each data processing node also includes interface logic configured to receive signals from the interconnect and to apply the signals from the interconnect to affect the content of the cache, and to receive signals from the mass storage and to apply the signals from the mass storage to affect the content of the cache. The content of the mass storage and cache of a particular node may also be provided to other nodes of the system, via the interconnect.

Abstract: A method for allocating content requests to a server pool includes directing a stream requesting a novel title to one of a least-busy server in a server pool and a least-miss-traffic server in the server pool; setting the server to which the novel title was directed to the requested title's preferred server; directing a stream requesting a familiar title to the title's preferred server; and directing a stream requesting a crowded title to one of a least-busy server and the least-miss-traffic server.

Abstract: A method may include assigning to one or more I/O channels masks of message types that may pass through the channels, and when a message is sent or received, assigning to the message a channel having a mask that matches a type of the message.

Abstract: A media server comprises a plurality of nodes each comprising a gateway, each gateway providing memory and communication of data between mass storage and I/O ports of a node, and/or providing communication of data between the node and other nodes. Each node utilizes one or more central processors. The media server comprises logic to enable the processors to manage the streaming of data from the mass storage to the I/O ports via the gateways without communicating the data between the processors and any of the mass storage, I/O ports, or gateways.

Abstract: An information distribution system includes an interconnect and multiple data processing nodes coupled to the interconnect. Each data processing node includes mass storage and a cache. Each data processing node also includes interface logic configured to receive signals from the interconnect and to apply the signals from the interconnect to affect the content of the cache, and to receive signals from the mass storage and to apply the signals from the mass storage to affect the content of the cache. The content of the mass storage and cache of a particular node may also be provided to other nodes of the system, via the interconnect.

Abstract: An information distribution system includes an interconnect and multiple data processing nodes coupled to the interconnect. Each data processing node includes mass storage and a cache. Each data processing node also includes interface logic configured to receive signals from the interconnect and to apply the signals from the interconnect to affect the content of the cache, and to receive signals from the mass storage and to apply the signals from the mass storage to affect the content of the cache. The content of the mass storage and cache of a particular node may also be provided to other nodes of the system, via the interconnect.

Abstract: An information distribution system includes an interconnect and multiple data processing nodes coupled to the interconnect. Each data processing node includes mass storage and a cache. Each data processing node also includes interface logic configured to receive signals from the interconnect and to apply the signals from the interconnect to affect the content of the cache, and to receive signals from the mass storage and to apply the signals from the mass storage to affect the content of the cache. The content of the mass storage and cache of a particular node may also be provided to other nodes of the system, via the interconnect.

Abstract: A parallel processor network comprised of a plurality of nodes, each node including a processor containing a number of I/O ports, and a local memory. A communication path is established through a node by comparing a target node address in a first address packet with a processor ID of the node. If node address is equal to the target node address a receive channel is allocated to the input port and a route ready command is sent over an output port paired with the input port. If the node address is not equal to the target node address, then a first unallocated output port is selected from a port vector and the address packet is forwarded to a next node over the selected output port.