Methods and systems for providing video on demand over a communication network using managed quality of service, bandwidth allocation and/or user profiles

• US 20040261094A1
• Filed: 06/29/2004
• Published: 12/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Anschutz, Thomas Arnold, Shrum, Edgar Vaughan Jr., Huslak, Nicholas Steven
• Granted Patent: US 7,617,516 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/25
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25825 involving client display capabilities, e.g. screen resolution of a mobile phone optimising the visualisation of content during browsing in the Internet G06F16/9577; processing of terminal status or physical abilities in wireless networks H04W8/22; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64784 Data processing by the network data processing in packet switching systems H04L12/56; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10; intermediate storage or scheduling H04L49/90; provisioning of proxy services in data packet switching networks H04L67/56
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/152 Multipoint control units therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13166 Fault prevention
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13196 Connection circuit/link/trunk/junction, bridge, router, gateway
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13296 Packet switching, X.25, frame relay
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13298 Local loop systems, access network
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13332 Broadband, CATV, dynamic bandwidth allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13337 Picturephone, videotelephony

Abstract

Methods for providing video on demand service from an Application Service Provider (“ASP”) to a user over a Regional/Access Network (“RAN”) are provided. A request for a video on demand application flow may be received from the user. In response to the request, information may be obtained from the RAN regarding the capabilities of the user'"'"'s Customer Premises Equipment (“CPE”). A profile may then be forwarded from the ASP to the RAN that specifies at least one policy regarding the transmission of data associated with the video on demand application flow across the RAN. The data associated with the video on demand application flow may then be forwarded across the RAN in accordance with the profile. The RAN may also be provided a default profile that specifies default policies that apply with respect to video on demand application flows that are transmitted across the RAN prior to obtaining information from the RAN regarding the capabilities of the CPE of any specific user. The user specific profiles may then be used to alter one or more policies specified in the default profile.

Claims

1. A method for an Application Service Provider (“

ASP”

) to provide a video on demand service to a user over a communication network, the method comprising;

receiving a request for a video on demand application flow from the user;

forwarding a profile for the user to the communication network, wherein the forwarded profile specifies at least one policy regarding transmission of the video on demand application flow over the communication network; and

providing the video on demand application flow to the communication network for transmission to the user based on the forwarded profile.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the forwarding of the profile for the user to the communication network is done in conjunction with obtaining information from the communication network regarding at least one capability of the access associated with the user.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the communication network comprises a Regional/Access Network (“

RAN”

).

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the forwarded profile specifies a desired QoS and/or bandwidth allocation for the requested video on demand application flow.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the video on demand application flow is activated using the desired QoS and/or bandwidth allocation.

6. The method of claim 3, further comprising providing the RAN a generic VoD default profile specifying generic VoD default policies that apply with respect to video on demand application flows transmitted over the RAN prior to forwarding the profile for the user to the RAN.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the forwarded profile alters at least one policy specified in the generic VoD default profile.

8. The method of claim 3, wherein forwarding the profile is preceded by providing the user with a plurality of options relating to the quality, buffering delay and/or pricing of the requested video on demand application flow.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein at least one of the plurality of options is set based on the information obtained from the RAN regarding the capabilities of the access, including subscriber line specific elements in the RG, RAN, and Customer Premises Network, associated with the user.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising receiving from the user a selection of at least one of the plurality of options that are provided to the user.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising basing at least some of the information in the forwarded profile on the received selection.

12. The method of claim 3, wherein obtaining information from the RAN regarding the capabilities of the access associated with the user comprises forwarding a query to the RAN regarding the capabilities of the access, including subscriber line specific elements in an RG, the RAN, and in a Customer Premises Network, and receiving a response to the query from the RAN containing at least some of the information requested by the query.

13. The method of claim 3, wherein the video on demand application flow that is provided to the RAN is provided in a manner that allows the RAN to transmit the video on demand application flow to the user at a data rate that exceeds a maximum data rate specified in a service agreement between the user and a Network Service Provider.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the video on demand application flow that is provided to the communication network for transmission to the user is provided in a manner that allows the communication network to transmit the video on demand application flow to the user with a given QoS and/or up to the maximum data rate supported by the access associated with the user.

15. The method of claim 3, wherein the forwarded profile includes a bandwidth allocation and/or a precedence setting for the video on demand application flow in the downstream and/or upstream directions.

16. The method of claim 3, wherein receiving the request for the video on demand application flow from the user is preceded by authenticating the ASP with the RAN.

17. The method of claim 3, wherein a Broadband Remote Access Server (“

BRAS”

) in the RAN controls transmission of the video on demand application flow across the RAN such that the video on demand application flow is transmitted in accordance with the forwarded profile.

18. The method of claim 6, further comprising receiving an acknowledgment message responsive to receipt of the generic VoD default profile.

19. The method of claim 3, wherein the access associated with the user comprises a Customer Premises Network (“

CPN”

) associated with the user that includes a Routing Gateway (“

RG”

) and further comprising transmitting the video on demand application flow to the CPN and wherein the following is performed by the RG;

receiving packets associated with the video on demand application flow;

classifying the received packets as associated with the video on demand application flow;

marking packets associated with the video on demand application flow; and

forwarding the received packets based on the forwarded profile for the video on demand application flow.

20. The method of claim 3, wherein the video on demand application flow is associated with a point-to-point protocol session.

21. A method for providing a video on demand service to a user from an Application Service Provider (“

ASP”

) over a Regional/Access Network (“

RAN”

), the method comprising;

forwarding a generic VoD default profile to the RAN that specifies generic VoD default policies for the video on demand service;

receiving a request for a video on demand application flow from the user;

determining if the requested video on demand application flow can be supported under the policies of the generic VoD default profile; and

providing the video on demand application flow to the RAN for transmission to the user.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising obtaining information from the RAN regarding the capabilities of the access, including subscriber line specific elements in the RG, RAN, and Customer Premises Network, associated with the user then forwarding a profile to the RAN that changes at least one of the policies in the generic VoD default profile.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising providing the user with a plurality of options relating to the quality of the transmitted video on demand application flow.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein at least one of the plurality of options is set based on the information obtained from the RAN regarding the capabilities of the access associated with the user.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein the generic VoD default profile specifies a desired QoS and/or bandwidth allocation for a video on demand session that will deliver the requested video on demand application flow.

26. A method of providing video on demand using Quality of Service (“

QoS”

) in a Regional/Access Network (“

RAN”

) that provides end-to-end transport between an Application Service Provider (“

ASP”

) and an access associated with a user, the method comprising;

receiving a request for a video on demand application flow from the user;

requesting from the RAN a desired QoS and/or a maximum downstream data rate for a video on demand session that will deliver the requested video on demand application flow; and

activating the video on demand application flow using the desired QoS and/or maximum downstream data rate.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the request for the desired QoS and/or maximum downstream data rate for the video on demand application flow is provided to the RAN via a generic VoD default profile.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein the request for the desired QoS and/or maximum downstream data rate for the video on demand application flow is provided to the RAN via a user specific profile forwarded from the ASP to the RAN.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein requesting the desired QoS and/or maximum downstream data rate is preceded by requesting identification of a capability associated with the access from the RAN and selecting the desired QoS and/or maximum downstream data rate based on the identified capability.

30. The method of claim 26, wherein requesting a desired QoS and/or maximum downstream data rate is preceded by authenticating the ASP with the RAN.

31. The method of claim 26, wherein requesting a desired QoS and/or maximum downstream data rate from the RAN is followed by receiving confirmation of the request from the RAN.

32. The method of claim 26, further comprising using a Broadband Remote Access Server (BRAS) in the RAN to allocate the desired QoS and/or maximum downstream data rate.

33. The method of claim 26, further comprising requesting a desired QoS and/or maximum upstream data rate.

34. The method of claim 28, wherein the access comprises a Customer Premises Network (“

CPN”

) that includes a Routing Gateway (“

RG”

), and wherein the method further comprises;

identifying the RG associated with the user;

sending information from the user specific profile to the identified RG; and

establishing the video on demand application flow to the user in accordance with the user specific profile.

35. The method of claim 34, further comprising the following performed at the identified RG and/or the RAN:

receiving packets associated with the video on demand application flow;

classifying the received packets as associated with the video on demand application flow; and

forwarding the received packets based on the QoS and/or maximum downstream data rate for the video on demand session flow.

36. The method of claim 34, wherein the video on demand application flow is associated with a point-to-point protocol session.

37. The method of claim 34, wherein the RG comprises an xDSL modem.

38. A method for a Regional/Access Network (“

RAN”

) to forward a video on demand application flow from an Application Service Provider (“

ASP”

) to a user, the method comprising;

determining at least one capability of one or more items of an access associated with the user;

providing information regarding the at least one capability of the one or more items of access associated with the user to the ASP;

receiving a profile for the user forwarded from the ASP that specifies at least one policy regarding transmission of the video on demand application flow over the RAN responsive to providing information regarding the at least one capability of the one or more items of the access associated with the user to the ASP; and

forwarding the video on demand application flow from the ASP to the user based on the received profile.

39. A system for use by an Application Service Provider (“

ASP”

) to provide a video on demand service to a user over a communication network, the comprising;

means for receiving a request for a video on demand application flow from the user;

means for obtaining information from the communication network regarding the capabilities of an access associated with the user;

means for forwarding a profile for the user to the communication network in response to obtaining the information regarding the capabilities of the access associated with the user, wherein the forwarded profile specifies at least one policy

regarding transmission of the video on demand application flow over the communication network; and

means for providing the video on demand application flow to the communication network for transmission to the user based on the forwarded profile.

40. A system for providing a video on demand service to a user from an Application Service Provider (“

ASP”

) over a Regional/Access Network (“

RAN”

), comprising;

means for forwarding a generic VoD default profile to the RAN that specifies generic VoD default policies for the video on demand service;

means for receiving a request for a video on demand application flow from the user;

means for determining if the requested video on demand application flow can be supported under the policies of the generic VoD default profile; and

means for providing the video on demand application flow to the RAN for transmission to the user.