A Scalable Architecture for Multimedia Storage

In this paper we present a multimedia storage architecture that exhibits a high degree of scalability by exploiting the scalable properties of fast packed switched networks and scalable compression technologies. Storage scalability is achieved by the dynamic replication of high performance storage instances which store multimedia files as compressed components of a scalable compression algorithm. Load balancing and resource expandability is achieved as compressed file components reside on multiple server instances and dynamically migrate / replicate as demand dictates. Distributed codec servers, located at strategic locations within the network, transparently handle the interactions between clients and multiple servers, performing stream compression / decompression, synchronisation and filtering. 1.0 INTRODUCTION The term storage scalability is used to describe the ability of a number of co-operating storage devices to interact so as to allow additional devices to be introduced to in..