SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INTELLIGENT BUFFERING AND BANDWIDTH ALLOCATION

• US 20060242315A1
• Filed: 07/10/2006
• Published: 10/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Digeo Incorporated (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Digeo Incorporated (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Nichols, James B.
• Application Number:
  US11/456,482
• Publication Number:
  US 20060242315A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/231
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/30 in combination with information about buffer occupancy at either end or at transit nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/752 adapting media to network capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26291 for providing content or additional data updates, e.g. updating software modules, stored at the client deployment, distribution, installation, update of software G06F8/65; error detection or correction during software upgrading G06F11/1433; arrangements for updating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/25
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2743 Video hosting of uploaded data from client
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4131 home appliance, e.g. lighting, air conditioning system, metering devices home automation data switching networks exchanging configuration information on appliance services H04L12/2807
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4331 Caching operations, e.g. of an advertisement for later insertion during playback
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44004 involving video buffer management, e.g. video decoder buffer or video display buffer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44227 Monitoring of local network, e.g. connection or bandwidth variations; Detecting new devices in the local network configuring of peripheral devices in general G06F9/4411; monitoring connectivity in data switched networks H04L43/0811
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4424 Monitoring of the internal components or processes of the client device, e.g. CPU or memory load, processing speed, timer, counter or percentage of the hard disk space used error monitoring in general G06F11/30; arrangements for monitoring conditions of receiving stations in broadcast systems H04H60/32; diagnosis, testing or measuring for television receivers H04N17/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/458 Scheduling content for creating a personalised stream, e.g. by combining a locally stored advertisement with an incoming stream; Updating operations, e.g. for OS modules ; time-related management operations arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast or during the distribution H04H20/10
• 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 21/4627 Rights management associated to the content security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8186 specially adapted to be executed by a peripheral of the client device, e.g. by a reprogrammable remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A method comprises generating a bitrate template comprising a histogram of bitrate as a function of time for each of a plurality of previously-encoded multimedia programs, each bitrate template indicating actual bitrate requirements for every given point of time within the associated multimedia program, and, prior to transmitting one of the plurality of media programs to a multimedia node, identifying the previously-generated bitrate template for said multimedia program, and, during transmission of said multimedia program, changing a bandwidth allocation for the multimedia node in anticipation of an actual bitrate spike indicated in the bitrate template for said multimedia program.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

generating a bitrate template comprising a histogram of bitrate as a function of time for each of a plurality of previously-encoded multimedia programs, each bitrate template indicating actual bitrate requirements for every given point of time within the associated multimedia program;

prior to transmitting one of the plurality of media programs to a multimedia node, identifying the previously-generated bitrate template for said multimedia program; and

during transmission of said multimedia program, changing a bandwidth allocation for the multimedia node in anticipation of an actual bitrate spike indicated in the bitrate template for said multimedia program.

2. The method as in claim 1 wherein identifying comprises:

locating said bitrate template in a database of previously-generated bitrate templates using multimedia content identification data.

3. The method as in claim 2 wherein said identification data is a serial number associated with said multimedia program.

4. The method as in claim 2 wherein said identification data is a checksum of a known unique portion of said multimedia program.

5. The method as in claim 2 wherein said database is maintained on a remote server.

6. The method as in claim 1 further comprising:

filling an input buffer at said multimedia node by a particular amount in anticipation of the future bitrate spike indicated in said bitrate template.

7. The method as in claim 6 wherein filling said input buffer comprises increasing a transmission bitrate of the multimedia program to a second, higher bitrate.

8. A method for providing efficient bandwidth allocation on a bandwidth-limited network comprising:

generating a bitrate template comprising a histogram of bitrate as a function of time for each of a plurality of previously-encoded multimedia programs, each bitrate template indicating actual bitrate requirements for every given point of time within the associated multimedia program;

receiving a request for a one of the plurality of multimedia programs from a first multimedia node;

allocating a first amount of bandwidth to supply said multimedia program to said multimedia node; and

dynamically adjusting said first amount of bandwidth based on the previously-generated bitrate template for said multimedia program, wherein said adjusting is done prior to the occurrence of actual changes in bitrate requirements for said multimedia program indicated by the bitrate template.

9. The method as in claim 8 wherein said template of bitrate data as a function of time is retrieved from a template database.

10. The method as in claim 9 wherein said template of bitrate data as a function of time is identified in said template database using identification data associated with said multimedia program.

11. The method as in claim 10 wherein said identification data is a serial number associated with said multimedia program.

12. The method as in claim 8 further comprising:

dynamically adjusting said first amount of bandwidth based on a template of bitrate data as a function of time indicating changes in bitrate requirements of a multimedia program requested by a second multimedia node.

13. The method as in claim 8 wherein said multimedia program is a digital video disk (“

DVD”

).

14. The method as in claim 8 wherein said first amount of bandwidth is dynamically adjusted upward to fill a buffer at said first multimedia node by a particular amount in anticipation of an increase in bitrate requirements for said multimedia program.

15. The method as in claim 12 wherein said first amount of bandwidth is dynamically adjusted upward to fill a buffer at said first multimedia node by a particular amount in anticipation of an increase in bitrate requirements for the multimedia program transmitted to said second multimedia node.

16. The method as in claim 8 wherein said first amount of bandwidth is maintained until a buffer at said first multimedia node is filled with at least a portion of said multimedia program.

17. The method as in claim 16 wherein said first amount of bandwidth is maintained until another multimedia node requires additional bandwidth.

18. A system comprising:

a media server to generate a template of bitrate as a function of time for each of a plurality of previously-encoded multimedia programs, each bitrate template indicating actual bitrate requirements for every given point of time within the associated multimedia program;

wherein the media server is further to allocate a first amount of bandwidth to supply one of the multimedia programs to a first multimedia node and to dynamically adjust said first amount of bandwidth based on the previously-generated bitrate template, wherein the first amount of bandwidth is dynamically adjusted prior to the occurrence of actual changes in bitrate requirements for said multimedia program indicated by the bitrate template.

19. The system as in claim 18 wherein said home media server retrieves said template based on identification data associated with said multimedia program.

20. The system as in claim 19 wherein said identification data is a serial number associated with said multimedia program.

21. The system as in claim 18 wherein said home media server is further configured to:

dynamically adjust said first amount of bandwidth based on a template of bitrate data indicating changes in bitrate requirements of a multimedia program requested by a second multimedia node.

22. The system as in claim 18 wherein said multimedia content is a digital video disk (“

DVD”

).

23. The system as in claim 18 wherein said home media server is further configured to dynamically adjust said first amount of bandwidth upward to fill a buffer at said first multimedia node by a particular amount in anticipation of an increase in bitrate requirements for said multimedia program.

24. The system as in claim 18 wherein said home media server is further configured to dynamically adjust said first amount of bandwidth upward to fill a buffer at said first multimedia node by a particular amount in anticipation of an increase in bitrate requirements for a multimedia program transmitted to a second multimedia node.

25. The system as in claim 18 wherein said home media server is further configured to maintain said first amount of bandwidth until a buffer at said first multimedia node is filled with at least a portion of said multimedia program.

26. The system as in claim 18 wherein said home media server is further configured to maintain said first amount of bandwidth until another multimedia node requires additional bandwidth.

27. A method comprising.

generating a bitrate template for each of a plurality of previously-encoded multimedia programs, each bitrate template indicating actual bitrate requirements for every given point of time within the associated multimedia program;

identifying a previously-generated bitrate template associated with a particular multimedia program to be transmitted to a multimedia node; and

delaying a start time for the multimedia program on the multimedia node for a particular period in anticipation of an actual bitrate spike in the future indicated in the bitrate template.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein delaying comprises pre-buffering a particular amount of the multimedia program at the multimedia node in order to accommodate the future bitrate spike without interruption of the multimedia program.

29. A method for providing efficient bandwidth allocation on a bandwidth-limited network comprising:

storing a bitrate template for each of a plurality of previously-encoded multimedia programs, each bitrate template indicating bitrate requirements at every given point of time within the associated multimedia program;

receiving a request for a first multimedia program from a first multimedia node;

identifying a first stored bitrate template associated with the first multimedia program;

allocating a particular amount of bandwidth to supply the first multimedia program to the first multimedia node based on the first bitrate template;

identifying a second stored bitrate template associated with a second multimedia program to be transmitted to a second multimedia node, the second bitrate template indicating an actual spike in bandwidth requirements for the second multimedia program that will occur in the future during transmission; and

throttling back the bandwidth allocated to the first multimedia program just prior to encountering the bandwidth spike associated with the second multimedia program at a time sufficient to fill a buffer of the first multimedia node.

30. A method comprising:

generating a template of bitrate as a function of time for an entire media program before a transmission thereof to a multimedia node, the bitrate template indicating bitrate requirements at every given point of time within the associated media program;

allocating a first amount of network bandwidth for transmitting the media program to the multimedia node, the first amount being a subset of available network bandwidth to the multimedia node;

identifying, during transmission of the multimedia program, an actual upcoming bitrate spike within the bitrate template for the multimedia program, the actual bitrate spike temporarily requiring more than the available network bandwidth for transmission of the multimedia program; and

temporarily increasing the bandwidth allocation for the multimedia node from the first amount to a second amount in anticipation of the actual bitrate spike indicated in the bitrate template, the temporarily increased bandwidth allocation being sufficient to fill a buffer at the multimedia node to avoid a buffer underrun at the multimedia node during the actual bitrate spike.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising:

restoring the bandwidth allocation to the first amount following the bitrate spike.