This paper proposes a load balancing algorithm for a distributed VoD architecture using agents. A mobile agent is used to frequently update the popularity of the videos based on which channel allocation is done effectively. The proposed approach groups a set of local proxy servers into a Local Proxy Server Group [LPG] for load balancing among the proxy servers, to reduce the load on the central multimedia server, to reduce storage redundancy among the proxy servers and to maximize the channel utilization. The simulation results prove the load balancing among the local proxy servers, reduction of load on central multimedia server, maximum channel utilization and more channel allocation for popular videos.

Abstract. Large-scale Video-on-Demand (VoD) systems with high storage and high bandwidth requirements need a substantial amount of resources to store, distribute and transport all of the content and deliver it to the clients. We define an extension to the VoD equipment allocation problem as determining the number and model of VoD servers to install at each potential replica location to minimize deployment costs for a given set of distributed demand and available VoD server models. We propose three novel heuristics that generate near-optimal solutions and show that the number of replica sites for networks where the load is unevenly distributed is low (35 − 45 % of potential locations), but that the hit ratios at deployed replicas are high (> 85%). 1

IP network based deployments of interactive video-on-demand (VoD) systems are today very limited in scope, but there is a strong belief among telecommunication companies that this market will expand exponentially in the next few years. In this article, we outline the components of VoD architectures and survey the current approaches to their design. We strive to identify the research challenges that must be addressed in the development of design tools that can determine how to expand upon an existing network infrastructure to support video-on-demand. The long tail of content and extensive growth in usage are expected to have a major impact on the streaming and storage requirements of such systems. Hybrid VoD architectures that incorporate peer-to-peer exchange are an extremely promising paradigm, but there are many challenges in developing operational and economically feasible peer-to-peer systems. VoD networks generate sufficient traffic that their impact should be considered in planning general network infrastructure expansions.

Video-on-Demand (VoD) services are very user-friendly, but also complex and resource demanding. Deployments involve careful design of many mechanisms where content attributes and usage models should be taken into account. We define, and propose a methodology to solve, the VoD Equipment Allocation Problem of determining the number and type of streaming servers with directly attached storage (VoD servers) to install at each potential location in a metropolitan area network topology such that deployment costs are minimized. We develop a cost model for VoD deployments based on streaming, storage and transport costs and train a parametric function that maps the amount of available storage to a worst-case hit ratio. We observe the impact of having to determine the amount of storage and streaming co-jointly, and determine the minimum demand required to deploy replicas as well as the average hit ratio at each location. We observe that common video-on-demand server configurations lead to the installation of excessive storage, because a relatively high hit-ratio can be achieved with small amounts of storage so streaming requirements dominate.

Abstract—This paper proposes an efficient bandwidth allocation algorithm in which higher priority is given to the videos with higher weights using agent technology. The popularity and weight profile of the videos which is used for efficiently allocating bandwidth is periodically updated by a mobile agent. The proposed approach allocates more bandwidth for higher weight videos [popular videos], reduces the load on the central multimedia server and maximizes the channel utilization between the neighboring proxy servers and the central multimedia server and lowers video rejection ratio. The simulation results prove the reduction of load on central multimedia server by load sharing among the neighboring proxy servers, maximum bandwidth utilization, and more bandwidth allocation for higher weight videos.