Apparatus and methods for multi-stage multiplexing in a network

• US 20060171423A1
• Filed: 02/01/2005
• Published: 08/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Time Warner Cable Inc. (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Inventors: Brooks, Paul D., Helms, William L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,602,820 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/535
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/1682 Allocation of channels according to the instantaneous demands of the users, e.g. concentrated multiplexers, statistical multiplexers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23608 Remultiplexing multiplex streams, e.g. involving modifying time stamps or remapping the packet identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2365 Multiplexing of several video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23655 Statistical multiplexing, e.g. by controlling the encoder to alter its bitrate to optimize the bandwidth utilization
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/434 Disassembling of a multiplex stream, e.g. demultiplexing audio and video streams, extraction of additional data from a video stream; Remultiplexing of multiplex streams; Extraction or processing of SI; Disassembling of packetised elementary stream demultiplexing of data packets for data networks, e.g. RTP/UDP H04L65/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4347 Demultiplexing of several video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17309 Transmission or handling of upstream communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13367 Hierarchical multiplexing, add-drop multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13376 Information service, downloading of information, 0800/0900 services

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for performing multiplexing of video or other content (e.g., programs) within a network using feed-back from a subsequent digital program insertion stage, and/or feed-forward information from a prior multiplexing stage. In one embodiment, the network comprises a hybrid fiber coax (HFC) cable network having headend and hub-based statistical multiplexing stages, and communication between the two stages is used to improve the visual quality performance and bandwidth utilization of the output multi-program stream during conditions where downstream content is inserted into the transport stream. Business methods associated with the various multiplexing features described above are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A content distribution system adapted for the transmission of a plurality of programs over a cable network, comprising:

a first statistical multiplexing apparatus associated with a first entity within said network;

a second statistical multiplexing apparatus associated with a second entity within said network, said second apparatus receiving a multiplex of said programs generated by said first apparatus;

wherein said first and second apparatus communicate through at least one of a feed-back or feed-forward signal path, said communication comprising information useful in configuring the operation of one of said first or second apparatus in response to actions taken at the other of said first or second apparatus.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said first entity comprises the head end of the network, and said second entity comprises a hub of the network.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said second statistical multiplexing apparatus comprises a plurality of statistical multiplexing apparatus associated with respective ones of hubs within said network.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said first multiplexing apparatus is configured to selectively utilize individual ones of a plurality of said information transmitted via respective feed-back paths associated with each of said plurality of hubs.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising intermediate multiplexing apparatus disposed in the transmission path between said first apparatus and said second apparatus.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein said intermediate multiplexing apparatus is in signal communication with at least one of said first or second multiplexing apparatus, said signal communication being used to configure the operation of said intermediate apparatus.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said signal path comprises a feed-back signal path, and said information comprises information relating to the insertion of programs or other content into said multiplex at said second apparatus.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said signal path comprises a feed-forward signal path, and said information comprises information relating to said plurality of programs comprising said multiplex.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of said first or second multiplexing apparatus comprises a wideband multiplex apparatus, said wideband apparatus adapted to multiplex content onto two or more carriers.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said wideband apparatus comprises:

a first process adapted to selectively extract content data packets associated with a plurality of different programs from a plurality of N input queues; and

a second process adapted to selectively allocate said extracted content data packets to a plurality of M RF channels;

wherein the packets associated with at least one of said plurality of different programs are distributed across multiple ones of said M RF channels.

11. Headend multiplexing apparatus adapted for the transmission of a plurality of content elements over a cable network, comprising:

first multiplexing apparatus adapted to receive said plurality of content elements from one or more sources, and create at least one output multiplex based thereon;

a process in communication with said first multiplexing apparatus and adapted to control at least one aspect of said first apparatus in the creation of said output multiplex; and

a data interface adapted to communicate data between said headend apparatus and a second multiplexing apparatus within said network, said data comprising information which allows for bandwidth or rate shaping applied by at least one of said first and second multiplexing apparatus.

12. The headend apparatus of claim 11, wherein said data further comprises information relating to at least one of (i) the insertion or removal of content elements by said second apparatus;

and (ii) the bandwidth requirements of said first apparatus in said creation of said multiplex.

13. The headend apparatus of claim 12, wherein said bandwidth or rate shaping comprises at least a temporary reduction in the bandwidth allocated to at least one of said content elements by said first apparatus during a first time period, said temporary reduction providing additional bandwidth to be used by at least one content element inserted into said multiplex by said second apparatus.

14. The headend apparatus of claim 13, wherein said additional bandwidth is utilized by said at least one inserted content element during a second time period subsequent to said first time period.

15. The headend apparatus of claim 11, wherein said bandwidth or rate shaping comprises at least a temporary reduction in the bandwidth allocated to at least one content element inserted into said multiplex by said second apparatus during a first time period.

16. The headend apparatus of claim 11, wherein said first apparatus and said process collectively comprise an integrated circuit having software running thereon.

17. The headend apparatus of claim 16, wherein said headend apparatus comprises a server including said integrated circuit, said server further comprising a first network interface to one or more sources, and a second interface to said cable network.

18. The headend apparatus of claim 11, wherein said headend apparatus further comprises a user interface adapted to allow a user to configure at least one aspect of said process.

19. The headend apparatus of claim 18, wherein said configuration of said at least one aspect of said process comprises imposing an operational profile onto said process, said operational profile implementing at least one operational constraint and at least one content-related priority rule using said process.

20. A method of providing a plurality of programs via a cable network having a first statistical multiplexing apparatus and a second statistical multiplexing apparatus, said second apparatus receiving a multiplex of said programs generated by said first apparatus, the method comprising communicating at least one of a feed-back or feed-forward signal between said first and second apparatus, said signal comprising information useful in configuring the operation of one of said first or second apparatus in response to actions taken at the other of said first or second apparatus.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein said first apparatus is associated with the head end of the network, and said second apparatus is associated with a hub of the network.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein said second multiplexing apparatus comprises a plurality of multiplexing apparatus associated with respective ones of hubs within said network.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein said network further comprises intermediate multiplexing apparatus disposed in the transmission path between said first apparatus and said second apparatus, and said method further comprises placing said intermediate multiplexing apparatus in signal communication with at least one of said first or second multiplexing apparatus;

and

configuring the operation of said intermediate apparatus based at least in part on said signal communication.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein said act of communicating comprises communicating a feed-back signal, and said information comprises information relating to the insertion of programs or other content into said multiplex at said second apparatus.

25. The method of claim 20, wherein said act of communicating comprises communicating a feed-forward signal, and said information comprises information relating to said plurality of programs comprising said multiplex.

26. A method of providing advertising or promotions over a cable network having multiple multiplexing stages disposed within said network, comprising:

multiplexing a plurality of content elements together at a first multiplexing stage within said network to form a first multiplex;

providing feed-back information to said first stage from a second multiplexing stage within said network, said second stage being downstream in a transmission path from said first stage;

wherein said feed-back information relates to one or more advertising or promotion content elements to be inserted into said first multiplex at said second stage in order to form a second multiplex; and

wherein said first multiplexing stage utilizes said feed-back information to adjust at least one parameter associated with its operation in order to accommodate said one or more inserted advertising or promotion content elements.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein said act of utilizing to adjust at least one parameter comprises adjusting the bitrate associated with at least one of said plurality of content elements.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein said act of adjusting the bitrate associated with at least one of said plurality of content elements comprises adjusting so as to mitigate transients in bandwidth requirements caused by said insertion at said second stage.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein said act of adjusting the bitrate associated with at least one of said plurality of content elements comprises adjusting so as to maintain substantial uniformity in profile of required bandwidth during said insertion at said second stage.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein said act of adjusting the bitrate associated with at least one of said plurality of content elements comprises substantially reducing the bitrate allocated to one of said plurality of content elements, said one of said plurality being replaced by said advertising or promotion content at said second stage.

31. The method of claim 26, wherein said second stage comprises a plurality of multiplexing processes associated with respective ones of hubs of said cable network, and said act of providing feed-back information comprises:

collecting information from two or more of said multiplexing processes;

processing said collected information to generate said feed-back information; and

transmitting said feed-back information to said first stage.

32. The method of claim 26, wherein said second stage comprises a plurality of multiplexing processes associated with respective ones of hubs of said cable network, and said act of providing feed-back information comprises:

collecting first information from selective ones of said multiplexing processes;

transmitting said collected information to said first stage as first feed-back information; and

collecting second information from others of said multiplexing processes;

processing said second information to generate second feed-back information; and

transmitting said second feed-back information to said first stage.

33. A method of doing business within a cable network having at least first and second multiplex stages, comprising:

providing opportunities for content insertion within one or more designated zones of said network;

accepting requests for said insertion;

generating a first content multiplex at said first stage; and

inserting content into said first multiplex within selected ones of said zones based at least in part on said requests;

wherein said act of generating is based at least in part on information relating to said act of inserting.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein said information comprises at least one of information selected from the group consisting of:

(i) characteristics of said inserted content; and

(ii) timing information related to said inserted content.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein said act of generating based at least in part on said information comprises at least one of:

(i) reducing the bandwidth allocated to at least one of a plurality of constituent content elements within said first multiplex; and

(ii) reducing the number of a plurality of constituent content elements within said first multiplex.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein said inserted content comprises advertisements or promotional content.

37. A method of operating a content-based network having a plurality of multiplexing stages, comprising:

receiving a plurality of content elements at a first of said plurality of stages;

generating a multiplex based at least in part on said content elements;

providing said multiplex to a second of said plurality of stages, said second stage being downstream from said first stage, said act of providing comprising introducing a delay; and

providing data relating to said multiplex to said second stage at least contemporaneously with the expiration of said delay.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein said act of providing data at least contemporaneously comprises providing said data in advance of said expiration of said delay, said data providing said second stage with anticipatory information regarding said multiplex, said anticipatory information being used by said second stage to adjust at least one parameter relating to the modification of said multiplex.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein said content elements comprise respective ones of content streams, and said act of providing data comprises providing data relating to bitrate requirements of one or more of said streams.

40. The method of claim 37, wherein said content elements comprise respective ones of content streams, and said act of introducing a delay comprises introducing a delay uniformly to said multiplex and to all of said content streams.

41. The method of claim 38, wherein said act of introducing a delay comprises at least one of (i) buffering at least a portion of said multiplex before transmission;

and (ii) introducing a delay on the basis of a temporal parameter.