Method for connection acceptance control and optimal multi-media content delivery over networks

• US 20060265512A1
• Filed: 06/02/2006
• Published: 11/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Musicqubed Innovations LLC (Ascend Innovation Management, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Burst.com
• Inventors: Allen, Arthur
• Granted Patent: US 7,568,046 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/231
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/10 Flow control; Congestion control
• 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 47/19 at layers above the network layer network arrangements for networked applications for scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/70 Admission control; Resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/741 Holding a request until resources become available
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/762 triggered by the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/826 Involving periods of time
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/62 Establishing a time schedule for servicing the requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2381 Adapting the multiplex stream to a specific network, e.g. an Internet Protocol [IP] network transmission of MPEG streams over ATM H04L12/5601
• 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 21/2396 characterized by admission policies admission control, resource allocation in open networks H04L12/5692; arrangements for network security using user profiles for access control H04L63/102; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2402 Monitoring of the downstream path of the transmission network, e.g. bandwidth available traffic monitoring in data switching networks H04L43/00; monitoring data switching networks utilization H04L43/0876
• 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 21/2662 Controlling the complexity of the video stream, e.g. by scaling the resolution or bitrate of the video stream based on the client capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 : for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6377 : directed to server one-way streaming services wherein the source is controlled by the destination H04L65/613
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/643 : Communication protocols network streaming protocols, e.g. real-time transport protocol [RTP] or real-time control protocol [RTCP], H04L65/65
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/658 : Transmission by the client directed to the server

Abstract

A system for allocating bandwidth between a server device and at least one client device. The system includes a call acceptance module operative to receive an incoming request for service; a flow regulator configured to deliver content at a modulated target flow rate, the content being delivered between the server device and a respective client device when a call is accepted by the call acceptance module; and a flow optimizer configured to modulate the target flow rate of the flow regulator in order to optimize an aggregate flow of content.

Claims

1. A system for allocating bandwidth between a server device and at least one client device, the system comprising:

a call acceptance module operative to receive an incoming request for service;

a flow regulator configured to deliver content at a modulated target flow rate, the content being delivered between the server device and a respective client device when a call is accepted by the call acceptance module; and

a flow optimizer configured to modulate the target flow rate of the flow regulator in order to optimize an aggregate flow of content, by performing the following steps;

describing a control variable which represents a target flow rate of content from the server device to each client device;

determining time-varying constraints on the target flow rate of the content;

determining a cost function of the control variables for all clients, wherein the cost function represents an aggregate flow rate and is a sum of all flow rates for all clients; and

prescribing bandwidth to all clients based upon a value of the control variables that maximize the cost function comprising performing periodic computations to update the value of the control variable such that the bandwidth can be continuously allocated to each client; and

wherein a new client is accepted by;

determining an admission capacity of the bandwidth;

admitting a prospective client if the clients minimum allowed value of the control variable is less than the admission capacity; and

wherein a client admitted for service is guaranteed to have sufficient content flow over the entire session.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the flow optimizer is configured to modulate the flow rate of the flow regulator in order to optimize charges for the content.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the flow regulator is configured to deliver the modulated flow rate of content in response to a control variable.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the flow optimizer is configured to determine a control variable which corresponds to an optimized flow rate.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the flow optimizer is configured to generate a cost function of the control variable that corresponds to a maximized value of the control variable.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the flow regulator is configured to deliver the modulated flow rate of content in response to the control variable.

7. A system for allocating bandwidth between a server device and at least one client device, the system comprising:

a call acceptance module operative to receive an incoming request for service;

a flow regulator configured to deliver content at a modulated target flow rate, the content being delivered between the server device and a respective client device when a call is accepted by the call acceptance module, and

a bandwidth manager that controls the delivery of content by performing the following steps;

describing a control variable which represents a target flow rate of content from the server device to each client device;

determining time-varying constraints on the target flow rate of the content;

prescribing bandwidth to all clients based upon a value of the control variables that satisfies the minimum and maximum flow rate constraints exploits available server capacity to force early delivery of content to client buffers; and

wherein a new client is accepted by;

determining an admission capacity of the bandwidth;

admitting a prospective client if the clients minimum allowed value of the control variable is less than the admission capacity; and

wherein a client admitted for service is guaranteed to have sufficient content flow over an entire session.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein a flow rate commitment to a new client results in a reduced flow rate to existing clients.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein a cessation of flow rate to a client results in an increased flow rate to remaining clients.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein a reduction in a flow rate commitment to an ongoing client session causes increased flow rate to other clients.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the bandwidth manager imposes a minimum flow rate that ensures that all as yet undelivered content is delivered by an implied deadline.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the implied deadline is the last moment of a play session.

13. The system of claim 11, further comprising a flow optimizer, the flow optimizer configured to modulate the target flow rate of the flow regulator in order to optimize an aggregate flow of content to ensure that all content is delivered by the implied deadline.

14. The system of claim 7, wherein the flow regulator is configured to deliver the targeted flow rate of content in response to the control variable, which varies over time.

15. The system of claim 7, wherein the call acceptance module is configured to accept a call based upon an initial value of the control variable.

16. The system of claim 7, wherein the clients are distinguished by their cost of service and bandwidth is apportioned to clients iteratively, the amount apportioned to each client in a cost category is the amount remaining from prior allocations to clients in higher cost categories.

17. The system of claim 7, wherein the target client flow rate is constrained from below or to a non-decreasing function of time that starts at some multiple of the average consumption rate, which multiple equals or exceeds one.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the constraint on target client flow rate may increase within the bounds of admission capacity.