Method and apparatus for network bandwidth allocation

• US 20050289618A1
• Filed: 06/29/2004
• Published: 12/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Inventors: Hardin, Glen
• Granted Patent: US 8,843,978 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/95
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/15 in relation to multipoint traffic arrangements for broadcast or multicast in data networks H04L12/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/70 Admission control; Resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/788 Autonomous allocation of resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/805 QOS or priority aware
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/822 Collecting or measuring resource availability data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2383 Channel coding or modulation of digital bit-stream, e.g. QPSK modulation arrangements for detecting or preventing errors in the information received by adapting the channel coding H04L1/0009; analogue front ends or means for connecting modulators, demodulators or transceivers to a transmission line H04L27/0002
• 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 21/26216 involving the channel capacity, e.g. network bandwidth admission control, resource allocation in open networks H04L12/5692; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10; establishing a schedule or organising the servicing of application requests taking into account QoS H04L67/61
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6118 involving cable transmission, e.g. using a cable modem
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64761 directed to the server
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17309 Transmission or handling of upstream communications

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for assigning bandwidth to a network based on two or more different service levels. In an exemplary embodiment, video on-demand (VOD) session requests within a service group of an HFC cable network are assigned bandwidth such that maximum opportunity is given to grant HD VOD request among SD VOD requests, while meeting the goal of minimizing service disruption by spreading the sessions over multiple QAM channels, and limiting the maximum number of active VOD sessions of any kind.

Claims

1. A method of allocating bandwidth within a data network, comprising:

providing a session request for at least one of first data having a first encoding and second data having a second encoding;

evaluating said session request to determine its relationship to at least one first parameter; and

allocating bandwidth on said network based at least in part on said act of evaluating.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said act of allocating comprises:

selecting at least one of a plurality of allocation methods based at least in part on said act of evaluating; and

allocating said bandwidth according to said at least one selected allocation method.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said act of selecting comprises selecting one of either a Least-Loaded or Most-Loaded algorithm.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said act of allocating comprises allocating said bandwidth within one of a plurality of channels based at least in part on said Least-Loaded or Most-Loaded algorithm.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said act of providing comprises providing a session request for SD encoded data or HD encoded data.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein said act of evaluating comprises:

identifying whether said session request has requested said first or second data;

selecting said first parameter based at least in part on said act of identifying;

evaluating said session request with respect to said first parameter; and

determining, based at least in part on said act of evaluating said session request, whether said act of allocating shall be performed.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said act of allocating comprises:

selecting at least one of a plurality of allocation methods; and

allocating said bandwidth according to said at least one selected allocation method.

8. A method of allocating channel bandwidth between SD and HD sessions in a cable network adapted for on-demand (OD) content delivery, said channel bandwidth comprising a plurality of substantially similar channels formed within a service group, the method comprising:

receiving a plurality of OD session requests from other entities connected to said network, said plurality of requests comprising a first plurality of requests for data encoded according to a first scheme, and a second plurality of requests data encoded according to a second scheme;

identifying each request as belonging to said first or second plurality;

evaluate existing bandwidth allocation on said channels of said service group in relation to a first predetermined allocation variable relating to the maximum number of SD or HD sessions for that service group;

determining if the lowest existing bandwidth allocation in said channels of said service group is below a second allocation variable relating to total bandwidth for a given channel; and

allocating at least a portion of said requests to one or more of said channels using at least one of a Least-Loaded or Most-Loaded algorithm based at least in part on said acts of and evaluating and determining.

9. A method of allocating bandwidth within a data network, comprising:

providing a plurality of session requests for first data having a first encoding and second data having a second encoding;

identifying each of said requests as relating to said first or second encodings;

evaluating, based on said identifying, each of said session requests to determine its relationship to a relevant one of a plurality of first parameters;

determining, for each of said session requests, a proper loading algorithm to be used for allocating bandwidth to said request; and

allocating bandwidth on said network based at least in part on said determined loading algorithm.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

providing a plurality of requests for third data having a third encoding; and

identifying each of said requests for third data along with said act of identifying said requests relating to first and second data.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein said first encoding comprises an encoding having a first data rate associated therewith, and said second encoding comprises an encoding having a second data rate, said first and second data rates being different.

12. A cable network apparatus having a service manager and adapted to:

receive a plurality of OD session requests for at least first and second levels of service; and

assign bandwidth such that maximum opportunity is given to grant OD requests at said second level among OD requests at said first level, said service manager further being configured to;

(i) minimize service disruption by spreading said sessions associated with said requests over multiple QAM channels; and

(ii) limit the maximum number of active OD sessions associated with both said first and second levels of service.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said first service level comprises a standard definition data encoding, and said second level comprises a high-definition data encoding.

14. Network server apparatus adapted for coupling to a data network, comprising:

a digital processor;

a storage device operatively coupled to said processor;

a network interface operatively coupled to said processor, and

a computer program stored at least partly on said storage device and operative to run on said processor, said computer program being adapted to;

receive a request for at least one of first and second data having respective first and second encodings;

determine the relationship of said at least one data to at least one first parameter;

select one of a plurality of methods for allocating bandwidth based at least in part on said determination of the relationship; and

allocate bandwidth to said at least one data on said network based at least in part on said one method.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said apparatus comprises a VOD server and said network comprises a content-based network.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said computer program comprises an object-oriented Session Manager Program.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said first and second data comprise standard definition (SD) and high definition (HD) encoded video data.

18. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said computer program is further adapted to identify third data having a third encoding.

19. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein determination of the relationship of said at least one data to at least one first parameter further comprises selecting said at least one first parameter from a plurality of possible parameters based at least in part on said determination of identity.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said first and second data comprise SD and HD video data respectively, and said at least one first parameter comprises either (i) an SD session number limit, or (ii) an HD session number limit.

21. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said selection of one of a plurality of methods comprises selecting one of either a Least-Loaded or Most-Loaded algorithm.

22. Network apparatus adapted to selectively allocate bandwidth within a plurality of RF channels existing on a network, comprising:

a processor;

a storage device in operative communication with said processor;

a plurality of units adapted to selectively modulate data onto said RF channels; and

a session manager adapted to receive a plurality of OD session requests from other entities connected to said network, said plurality of requests comprising a first plurality of requests for data encoded according to a first scheme, and a second plurality of requests data encoded according to a second scheme, said session manager further being adapted to;

identify each request as belonging to said first or second plurality;

evaluate existing bandwidth allocation on said channels in relation to a plurality of predetermined allocation variables; and

allocate at least a portion of said requests to one or more of said channels based at least in part on said acts of identifying and evaluating.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said session manager comprises at least a computer program adapted to run on said processor.

24. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said RF channels are divided into service groups, said session manager being adapted to perform said allocation within said service group only.

25. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said evaluation of existing bandwidth allocation comprises:

comparing the number of HD or SD sessions currently in process on said channels to a first parameter; and

comparing the total bandwidth utilized by at least one of said channels to a second parameter.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein said first parameter comprises an SD or HD session limit number, and said second parameter comprises an HD bandwidth threshold.

27. A hub station in a content delivery network capable of supplying content on demand (COD) services, the content delivery network having a central headend station coupled to the hub station using a network, the hub station comprising:

a hub media server having at least one content port;

a radio frequency management infrastructure, the radio frequency management infrastructure coupled to the at least one content port of the hub media server and adapted to receive a content stream from a content transport network; and

the radio frequency management infrastructure adapted to transmit the content stream to a plurality of set-top boxes over a distribution network;

wherein said hub media server further comprises a session manager adapted to receive a plurality of COD session requests from said set-top boxes, said plurality of requests comprising a first plurality of requests for data encoded according to a first scheme, and a second plurality of requests data encoded according to a second scheme, said session manager further being adapted to;

identify each request as belonging to said first or second plurality;

evaluate existing bandwidth allocation on channels of said radio frequency management infrastructure in relation to a plurality of predetermined allocation variables; and

allocate at least a portion of said requests to one or more of said channels based at least in part on said acts of identifying and evaluating.

28. Network server apparatus adapted for coupling to a data network, comprising:

a digital processor;

a storage device operatively coupled to said processor;

a network interface operatively coupled to said processor, and

a computer program stored at least partly on said storage device and operative to run on said processor, said computer program being adapted to;

receive a request for at least one of a plurality of data, said data encoded according to respective ones of a plurality of different encoding schemes;

determine the relationship of said at least one data to at least one first parameter;

select one of a plurality of methods for allocating bandwidth based at least in part on said determination of the relationship; and

allocate bandwidth to said at least one data on said network based at least in part on said one method.

29. The server apparatus of claim 28, wherein said plurality of different encoding schemes comprise at least a standard definition (SD) encoding scheme and a high definition (HD) encoding scheme.

30. The server apparatus of claim 29, wherein said at least a standard definition (SD) encoding scheme and high definition (HD) encoding scheme each comprise a plurality of service sub-levels.

31. The server apparatus of claim 30, wherein said plurality of service sub-levels comprise levels having different data rates.

32. A method of allocating assets within a content-based network, comprising:

categorizing a plurality of users of said network according to a tiered service structure;

receiving a plurality of service requests from at least a portion of said plurality of users; and

selectively allocating said assets to said at least portion of users based on said tiered service structure.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein said assets comprise available RF bandwidth associated with at least first and second service groups, said tiered service structure comprises a plurality of service levels, and said act of selectively allocating comprises allocating to said users based at least in part on their membership within one or more of said service groups.

34. The method of claim 32, wherein said service requests comprises service requests each relating to one of a plurality of service levels, and said act of allocating further comprises allocating based at least in part on said service levels.

35. A method of allocating bandwidth within a data network, comprising:

providing a session request for at least one of first data having a first association and second data having a second association;

evaluating said session request to determine its relationship to at least one first parameter; and

allocating bandwidth on said network based at least in part on said act of evaluating.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein said act of allocating comprises:

selecting at least one of a plurality of allocation methods based at least in part on said act of evaluating; and

allocating said bandwidth according to said at least one selected allocation method.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein said act of selecting comprises selecting one of either a Least-Loaded or Most-Loaded algorithm.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein said act of allocating comprises allocating said bandwidth within one of a plurality of channels based at least in part on said Least-Loaded or Most-Loaded algorithm.

39. The method of claim 35, wherein said act of providing comprises providing a session request for advertising data or MPEG encoded data.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein said act of evaluating comprises:

identifying whether said session request has requested said first or second data;

selecting said first parameter based at least in part on said act of identifying;

evaluating said session request with respect to said first parameter; and

determining, based at least in part on said act of evaluating said session request, whether said act of allocating shall be performed.

41. The method of claim 35, wherein said act of allocating comprises allocating said session to a local service group and, thereafter allocating at least a portion of a plurality of subsequent session requests to a global service group.

42. A method of increasing the likelihood of having sufficient bandwidth to provide high definition (HD) VOD sessions within one or more service groups of a cable network, comprising:

receiving a plurality of service requests, each request relating to one of at least HD or standard definition (SD) service;

evaluating said plurality of requests in order to determine an allocation scheme; and

allocating said bandwidth based at least in part on allocation scheme;

wherein said scheme is adapted to minimize wasted or unused bandwidth within said one or more service groups, said minimizing substantially providing said increased likelihood.

43. A session resource manager (SRM) entity for use in a content-based network, said manager being adapted to:

receive a plurality of session requests for at least first and second levels of service; and

assign bandwidth such that maximum opportunity is given to grant session requests corresponding to said second level among session requests at said first level, said service manager further being configured to minimize service disruption by spreading said sessions associated with said requests over multiple QAM channels, and limit the maximum number of active sessions associated with both said first and second levels of service.

44. A method of spreading OD sessions associated with a first level of service across different QAMs so as to minimize the impact of QAM failures on said OD sessions, comprising:

receiving a plurality of session requests for at least first and second levels of service; and

assigning bandwidth so as to spread said sessions associated with at least said requests for said first level of service over multiple QAM channels while simultaneously minimizing stranded or unused bandwidth within said QAMs.

45. A method of conducting business via a cable network having a plurality of users, comprising:

receiving from said users a plurality of service session requests each relating to one of at least two different levels of service;

identifying at least one criterion which is desired to be met; and

allocating assets within said network to said session requests so as to satisfy said at least one criterion.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein said at least one criterion comprises providing increased advertising revenue, and said act of allocating comprises allocating bandwidth to at least those session requests which are associated with increased advertising content.

47. The method of claim 45, wherein said at least one criterion comprises providing preferential access to session requests associated with only one of said at least two service levels, and said act of allocating comprises allocating bandwidth within one or more service groups of said network to those session requests which are associated with said only one service level.