Method and apparatus for network bandwidth conservation
First Claim
1. A method of operating a network carrying information to a plurality of users at a first service level, comprising:
- scheduling said information at said first service level onto first and second user channels of said network simultaneously, at least said first user channel having a first physical channel associated therewith;
defining a relationship between said first physical channel and said second user channel; and
selectively tuning at least one of said users to only said first physical channel in response to said at least one user attempting to tune to either of said first and second user channels based at least in part on said relationship.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for conserving bandwidth within a network based on two or more different service levels. In an exemplary embodiment, programming that is simulcast on two or more program channels is mapped to one physical channel during periods when the programming is scheduled at only one service level (e.g., standard definition), thereby conserving bandwidth on the network that would otherwise be consumed by the simultaneous broadcast on the two or more channels. When the programming service level becomes heterogeneous across the channels (e.g., SD and HD simulcast), physical channel(s) supporting the HD content are provided within a local service area only “on-demand” using, for example, a switched digital channel allocation. Accordingly, no HD broadcast occurs within a given area until at least one user requests it, thereby further conserving network bandwidth.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. A method of operating a network carrying information to a plurality of users at a first service level, comprising:
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scheduling said information at said first service level onto first and second user channels of said network simultaneously, at least said first user channel having a first physical channel associated therewith;
defining a relationship between said first physical channel and said second user channel; and
selectively tuning at least one of said users to only said first physical channel in response to said at least one user attempting to tune to either of said first and second user channels based at least in part on said relationship. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of operating CPE within a content-based network, comprising:
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receiving a plurality of scheduling information regarding programming to be broadcast, said information identifying a first period when said programming is scheduled substantially simultaneously on first and second program channels;
receiving, during said first period, user commands to tune to said first or second program channels; and
selectively tuning, based at least in part on said information, to a first physical channel irrespective of whether said user commands said CPE to tune to said first or said second channel. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. CPE adapted for use within a cable network, comprising:
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an interface configured to receive encoded content signals from said network;
processing apparatus operatively coupled to said interface and adapted to decode said encoded signals received via said interface; and
at least one computer program running on said CPE, said at least one program being adapted to;
receive a plurality of mapping data during a first period when programming is scheduled substantially simultaneously on first and second program channels of said network, said mapping data relating said first and second program channels to a first physical channel;
receive, during said first period, user commands to tune to said first or second program channels; and
selectively cause tuning of said interface, based at least in part on said data, to said first physical channel regardless of whether said user commands request tuning to said first or said second program channel. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. Network apparatus for use in a cable network having a plurality of CPE, comprising:
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an interface configured to receive signals representing content comprising at least a first and second service level from at least one of said CPE;
processing apparatus operatively coupled to said interface and adapted to process said signals received via said interface; and
at least one computer program, said at least one program being adapted to;
receive, via said interface and from said at least one CPE, first signals requesting tuning to a first program channel comprising content at said second service level;
assign at least one physical channel to said request; and
transmit second signals to said at least one CPE to permit said CPE to tune to said at least one physical channel. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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- 29. Apparatus adapted to selectively tune to a first physical channel during time periods when programming encoded at a first service level is simultaneously scheduled on first and second program channels, and a user selects either of said program channels.
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32. A method of assigning physical channels within a cable network, comprising:
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operating a first physical channel, said operating comprising broadcasting standard definition (SD) programming over said physical channel;
receiving a request to view complementary high definition (HD) programming; and
based at least in part on said request, assigning a second physical channel for broadcast of said HD programming. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34)
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Specification