A distributed streaming media server system including a plurality of
streaming media servers that each store a selection of multimedia files.
A master streaming media server is communicatively coupled to the
plurality of streaming media servers and compiles mapping information
regarding a location of each of the multimedia files that are stored on
each of the plurality of streaming media servers. Also included in the
system is at least one streaming media client that requests access to a
multimedia file through the master streaming media server. The streaming
media client receives setup information regarding the requested
multimedia file such that the at least one streaming media client may
directly access the multimedia file from one of the plurality of
streaming media servers. Various aspects of the present invention may
also be found in a method by which a distributed streaming media server
system having a plurality of streaming media servers, a master streaming
media server, and at least one streaming media client provides a media
presentation to a user. The method, not necessarily in this order,
includes receiving a user request for a media file at the at least one
streaming media client; forwarding the user request to the master
streaming media server; analyzing the user request with the master
streaming media server to determine which of the plurality of streaming
media servers is appropriate for sending the media file of the user
request; establishing a streaming media connection between the at least
one server media client and one of the plurality of streaming media
servers; and initiating transmission of a media stream that includes the
media file from the one of the plurality of streaming media servers to
the at least one streaming media clients.