Real time stream provisioning infrastructure

Abstract

There is disclosed a system and a method of real time stream provisioning. The method includes dynamically allocating one of a plurality of servers in a server cluster for use in a chat, the chat including an audio component for each of n chat participants and encoding the audio component for each of the n chat participants, using at least one graphical processing unit, into n audio streams, where the n audio streams each include audio components for n−1 of the n chat participants where each of the n audio streams does not include the audio component for a different one of the n chat participants. The method further comprises transmitting one of the n audio streams to the n chat participants such that a chat participant of each of the n chat participants receives an audio stream excluding the audio component associated with the chat participant.

It is claimed: 
     
       1. A real time stream provisioning system comprising:
 a cluster controller system for responding to chat requests by dynamically allocating one of a plurality of servers in a server cluster for use in a chat, the chat including an audio component for each of n chat participants, where n is greater than 2; 
 the server cluster, including a plurality of servers, each of the plurality of servers incorporating at least one central processing unit and at least one graphical processing unit, each of the plurality of servers for
 encoding the audio component for each of the n chat participants, using the at least one graphical processing unit, into n audio streams, where the n audio streams each include audio components for n−1 of the n chat participants where each of the n audio streams does not include the audio component for a different one of the n chat participants, and 
 transmitting one of the n audio streams to the n chat participants such that a chat participant of each of the n chat participants receives an audio stream excluding the audio component associated with the chat participant. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The real time stream provisioning system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 encoding the audio component for each of the plurality of chat participants, using the at least one graphical processing unit, into one master audio stream including the audio components for each of the n chat participants; and 
 transmitting the master audio stream to a plurality of chat viewers. 
 
     
     
       3. The real time stream provisioning system of  claim 2  wherein the chat further includes a video component for each of the n chat participants and wherein the server cluster is further for:
 encoding the video component for each of the plurality of chat participants into a combined video stream using the at least one graphical processing unit; and 
 transmitting the combined video stream to the chat participants and to the plurality of chat viewers. 
 
     
     
       4. The real time stream provisioning system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the chat participants take part in the chat using chat software operating on a mobile device. 
     
     
       5. The real time stream provisioning system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of servers in the server cluster relies upon the at least one graphical processing unit in order to perform encoding of the audio component for each of the plurality of chat participants for a plurality of simultaneous chats. 
     
     
       6. The real time stream provisioning system of  claim 5  wherein each of the plurality of servers in the server cluster is capable of maintaining more than five simultaneous chats, each involving a distinct plurality of chat participants. 
     
     
       7. The real time stream provisioning system of  claim 1  wherein the transmitting relies upon user datagram protocol (UDP). 
     
     
       8. The real time stream provisioning system of  claim 1  further comprising a communication system for:
 receiving chat requests and communicating the chat requests to the cluster controller system; and 
 receiving chat initiation messages from the cluster controller system and communicating those messages to the plurality of chat participants and to the chat viewers. 
 
     
     
       9. A method of provisioning a real time stream, comprising:
 responding to chat requests by dynamically allocating one of a plurality of servers in a server cluster for use in a chat, the chat including an audio component for each of n chat participants, where n is greater than 2; 
 encoding the audio component for each of the n chat participants, using at least one graphical processing unit, the graphical processing unit physically distinct from a central processing unit, into n audio streams, where the n audio streams each include audio components for n−1 of the n chat participants where each of the n audio streams does not include the audio component for a different one of the n chat participants, and 
 transmitting one of the n audio streams to the n chat participants such that a chat participant of each of the n chat participants receives an audio stream excluding the audio component associated with the chat participant. 
 
     
     
       10. The method of provisioning a real time stream of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 encoding the audio component for each of the plurality of chat participants, using the at least one graphical processing unit, into one master audio stream including the audio components for each of the n chat participants; and 
 transmitting the master audio stream to a plurality of chat viewers. 
 
     
     
       11. The method of provisioning a real time stream of  claim 10 , wherein chat further includes a video component for each of the n chat participants and further comprising:
 encoding the video component for each of the plurality of chat participants into a combined video stream using the at least one graphical processing unit; and 
 transmitting the combined video stream to the chat participants and to the plurality of chat viewers. 
 
     
     
       12. The method of provisioning a real time stream of  claim 9 , wherein each of the chat participants take part in the chat using chat software operating on a mobile device. 
     
     
       13. The method of provisioning a real time stream of  claim 9 , wherein each of a plurality of servers in a server cluster relies upon the at least one graphical processing unit in order to perform encoding of the audio component for each of the plurality of chat participants for a plurality of simultaneous chats. 
     
     
       14. The method of provisioning a real time stream of  claim 13  wherein each of the plurality of servers in the server cluster is capable of maintaining more than five simultaneous chats, each involving a distinct plurality of chat participants. 
     
     
       15. The method of provisioning a real time stream of  claim 9  wherein the transmitting relies upon user datagram protocol (UDP). 
     
     
       16. The method of provisioning a real time stream of  claim 9  further comprising:
 receiving chat requests and communicating the chat requests to a cluster controller system; and 
 receiving chat initiation messages from the cluster controller system and communicating those messages to the plurality of chat participants and to the chat viewers.