Adaptive scheduling and delivery of television services

• US 20040133907A1
• Filed: 12/18/2003
• Published: 07/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: NDS Limited (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: NDS Limited (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Jerding, Dean F., Rodriguez, Arturo A.
• Application Number:
  US10/740,138
• Publication Number:
  US 20040133907A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/10 Arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast or the distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/38 Arrangements for distribution where lower stations, e.g. receivers, interact with the broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/42 Arrangements for resource management
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/06 Arrangements for scheduling broadcast services or broadcast-related services
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/46 for recognising users' preferences
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/66 for using the result on distributors' side
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 17/04 for receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2385 Channel allocation H04N21/266 takes precedence; Bandwidth allocation H04N21/24 takes precedence ; allocation of channels according to the instantaneous demands of the users in time-division multiplex systems H04J3/1682; admission control, resource allocation in open networks H04L12/5692; arrangements for maintenance or administration in data switching networks involving bandwidth and capacity management H04L41/0896; negotiating bandwidth in wireless networks H04W28/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2393 involving handling client requests scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/262 Content or additional data distribution scheduling, e.g. sending additional data at off-peak times, updating software modules, calculating the carousel transmission frequency, delaying a video stream transmission, generating play-lists scheduling strategies for dispatcher in multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/4881; arrangements for scheduling broadcast services or broadcast-related services H04H60/06; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10; establishing a time schedule or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/62
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26208 the scheduling operation being performed under constraints
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/485 End-user interface for client configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8166 involving executable data, e.g. software arrangements for executing specific programs G06F9/44; broadcasting computer programmes in broadcast systems H04H20/91; involving the movement of software or configuration parameters H04L67/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17309 Transmission or handling of upstream communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 : Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17336 : Handling of requests in head-ends
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17354 : in an intermediate station common to a plurality of user terminals

Abstract

A method for assigning content delivery modes includes the steps of: receiving information identifying at least a first user preference selected by a first user for a first video program that is to be provided to the first user at a future time, receiving information identifying at least a second user preference selected by a second user for a second video program that is to be provided to the second user at a future time, and assigning a content delivery mode for the second video program responsive to at least the first user preference and the second user preference, the second video program being provided to at least the second user at a future time.

Claims

1. A method comprising the steps of:

receiving information identifying at least a first user preference selected by a first user for a first video program that is to be provided to the first user at a future time;

receiving information identifying at least a second user preference selected by a second user for a second video program that is to be provided to the second user at a future time;

assigning a content delivery mode for the second video program responsive to at least the first user preference and the second user preference, the second video program being provided to at least the second user at a future time.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second user preferences corresponds to a desired delivery mode for a respective one of the first and second video programs.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second user preferences corresponds to a desired level of random access functionality for a respective one of the first and second video programs.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second user preferences corresponds to a desired price for a respective one of the first and second video programs.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second user preferences corresponds to a desired picture quality for a respective one of the first and second video programs.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second user preferences corresponds to a desired viewing time for a respective one of the first and second video programs.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the content delivery mode for at least one of the first and second video programs is broadcast.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the content delivery mode for at least one of the first and second video programs is selected from a group consisting of video-on-demand and near-video-on-demand.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein a start time of the second video program is responsive to at least the first user preference and the second user preference.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second user preferences corresponds to a desired start time.

11. The method claim 1, wherein the step of assigning includes assigning content delivery modes to a plurality of instances of the second video program that are to be provided at a plurality of respective times.

12. A method comprising the steps of:

receiving a first user-input;

assigning content transmission bandwidth to a first subscriber at a first location responsive to the first user-input;

receiving a second user-input from a second subscriber at a second location; and

canceling the assignment of the content transmission bandwidth responsive to at least the second user-input.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the content transmission bandwidth is reassigned to the second subscriber responsive to the second user-input.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising receiving a third user-input from the first subscriber.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein canceling the assignment of the content transmission bandwidth is also responsive to the third user-input.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein at least one of the second user-input and the third user-input corresponds to a random access function.

17. A method comprising the steps of:

receiving from a user user-input corresponding to a first desired start time for a video program; and

responsive to receiving the user-input, providing the user with information identifying a second start that is available for the video program.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the user-input corresponds to a desired first delivery mode.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising providing the user with information identifying a second delivery mode as an alternative to the first delivery mode.

20. A method comprising the steps of:

receiving from a user user-input corresponding to a first video program and to a first start time; and

responsive to the user-input, providing the user with information identifying a second video program available at the first start time.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the user-input corresponds to a desired delivery mode for the first video program.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the information identifies the second video program as being available via the desired delivery mode.

23. A method comprising the steps of:

receiving from a user user-input corresponding to a first video program and to a first delivery mode; and

responsive to the user-input, providing the user with information identifying a second video program available via the first delivery mode.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the user-input corresponds to a start time for the first video program.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the information identifies the second video program as available at the start time for the first video program.

26. A method comprising the steps of:

receiving from a user user-input corresponding to a first delivery mode and to a first start time for a video program; and

responsive to the user-input, providing the user with information identifying a second delivery mode and a second start time for the video program.

27. A method comprising the steps of:

receiving information identifying a user preference selected by a user for a video program that is to be provided to the user at a future time; and

enabling the user preference responsive to at least a history of video program purchases by the user.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the user preference corresponds to a desired delivery mode for the video program.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the user preference corresponds to a desired level of random access functionality for the video program.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein the user preference corresponds to a desired price for the video program.

31. The method of claim 27, wherein the user preference corresponds to a desired picture quality for the video program.

32. The method of claim 27, wherein the user preference corresponds to a desired viewing time for the video program.

33. A method comprising the steps of:

receiving information identifying a user preference selected by a user for a video program that is to be provided to the user at a future time; and

enabling the user preference for the video program responsive to at least a priority level corresponding to the user.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the priority level is determined responsive to at least billing information corresponding to the user.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein the user preference corresponds to a desired delivery mode for the video program.

36. The method of claim 33, wherein the user preference corresponds to a desired level of random access functionality for the video program.

37. The method of claim 33, wherein the user preference corresponds to a desired price for the video program.

38. The method of claim 33, wherein the user preference corresponds to a desired picture quality for the video program.

39. A method comprising the steps of:

determining a characteristic of a user'"'"'s past viewing pattern; and

enabling a user preference for a video program requested by the user responsive to at least the determined characteristic.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the user preference corresponds to a desired delivery mode for the video program.