Buffer and I/O Resource Pre-allocation for Implementing Batching and Buffering Techniques for Video-on-Demand Systems

To design a cost effective VOD server, it is important to carefully manage the system resources so that the number of concurrent viewers can be maximized. Previous research results use data sharing techniques, such as batching [5], buffering [12], and piggybacking [7], to reduce the demand for I/O resources in a VOD system. However, these techniques still suffer from the problem that additional I/O resources are needed in the system for providing VCR functionality — without careful resource management, the benefits of these data sharing techniques can be lost. In this paper, we first introduce a model for determining the amount of resources required for supporting both normal playback and VCR functionality to satisfy predefined performance characteristics. Consequently, this model allows us to maximize the benefits of data sharing techniques. Furthermore, one important application of this model is its use in making system sizing decisions. Proper system sizing will result in a more cost-effective VOD system.