Self-monitoring and optimizing network apparatus and methods
First Claim
1. A method of allocating bandwidth in a broadcast switched architecture network, comprising:
- causing data to be gathered from a plurality of client devices in communication with said network, said data relating to the tuning operation of said client devices over a period of time;
receiving said data from said client devices at a server in communication with said network;
storing said data into a database;
analyzing data from said database to identify one or more features of significance therein;
using at least one of said features to determine the value of at least one operational parameter used in operating said broadcast switched architecture network; and
applying said at least one value to said network to control the operation thereof in anticipation of an event.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for dynamically and automatically allocating network resources through anticipatory analysis and control. In an exemplary embodiment, the network comprises a broadcast switched digital architecture, and network bandwidth allocation to multiple digital program streams is performed by processing historical user tuning data, which is obtained directly from the subscriber'"'"'s consumer premises equipment (e.g., DSTB). When an increase or decrease in bandwidth required to support certain programs is anticipated, network resource re-allocation is performed automatically by a software process running on the switching server. In this fashion, speculative but “intelligent” projections of bandwidth and program stream requirements can be made automatically by the server software, without operator intervention. The server also optionally dictates the optimal monitoring and data collection parameters to the DSTB.
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Citations
43 Claims
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1. A method of allocating bandwidth in a broadcast switched architecture network, comprising:
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causing data to be gathered from a plurality of client devices in communication with said network, said data relating to the tuning operation of said client devices over a period of time;
receiving said data from said client devices at a server in communication with said network;
storing said data into a database;
analyzing data from said database to identify one or more features of significance therein;
using at least one of said features to determine the value of at least one operational parameter used in operating said broadcast switched architecture network; and
applying said at least one value to said network to control the operation thereof in anticipation of an event. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of allocating bandwidth in a content-based network, comprising:
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causing data to be gathered from a plurality of client devices in communication with said network;
receiving said data from said client devices at a server in communication with said network;
analyzing said data to identify one or more features therein;
using at least one of said features to determine the value of at least one operational parameter used in operating said network; and
applying said at least one value to said network to control the operation thereof. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. Apparatus for allocating bandwidth in a content based network having at least one server and a plurality of consumer premises equipment (CPE), comprising:
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at least one client side process operative to run on a corresponding at least on CPE, said client side process being adapted to collect data relating to the operation of said CPE; and
a network side process running on said at least one server and adapted to receive said data;
wherein said network side process comprises at least one computer program adapted to analyze said data and automatically generate one or more values of control parameters used in controlling the operation of said network. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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22. Network server apparatus adapted for use in a broadcast switched digital network, said network having a plurality of client devices in communication therewith and being adapted to carry a plurality of program streams, said apparatus comprising:
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a processor;
a storage device in data communication with said processor;
a network interface adapted to at least receive messages from said client devices; and
a computer program operative to run on said server apparatus, said computer program being adapted to automatically;
receive, over time, data from said client devices via said messages and relating to the operation of individual ones of said client devices;
store said data on said storage device so as to form a historical database relating to the operation of a plurality of said client devices;
analyze at least portions of said database to identify artifacts of interest therein; and
generate one or more control values relating to the operation of said switched digital network based at least in part on said analysis. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. Digital consumer premises equipment (CPE) adapted for use in a broadcast switched digital network having a server, said CPE comprising:
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a processor;
a network interface adapted to at least receive first messages directly or indirectly from said server, and transmit second messages directly or indirectly to said server; and
at least one computer program operative to run on said CPE, said computer program being adapted to;
receive one or more configuration messages relating to the collection of tuning data by said CPE;
configure said CPE according to at least one of said messages;
over time, collect data relating to the operation of said CPE; and
transmit at least portions of said collected data back to said server via said second messages. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32)
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33. A method of selectively providing program streams over a broadcast switched digital network having a server and a plurality of subscribers, said subscribers each having a client device coupled to said network, the method comprising:
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operating said client devices in said network;
collecting data via each of said client devices, said collected data relating to the usage of said program streams by respective ones of said subscribers;
transmitting at least portions of said collected data to said server;
adding said transmitted data to a database comprising historical usage data within said network;
analyzing at least portions of said database at said server to identify statistically significant variations or artifacts within at least said historical usage data;
automatically and algorithmically generating one or more operational control values for said network based at least in part on said analysis; and
implementing said control values within said network, said implementing comprising speculatively instantiating or terminating one or more of said program streams for at least one of said plurality of subscribers.
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34. Storage apparatus, comprising:
a storage medium adapted to store a plurality of data thereon, said plurality of data comprising a computer program, said program being operative to run on a computerized apparatus, said computer program being adapted to;
receive, over time, data from a plurality of client devices of a network via messages and relating to the operation of individual ones of said client devices;
store said data on a storage device in data communication with said computerized apparatus so as to form a historical database relating to the operation of a plurality of said client devices;
analyze at least portions of said database to identify artifacts of interest therein; and
generate one or more control values relating to the operation of a switched digital network based at least in part on said analysis.
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35. A method of doing business within a content based network, said network being adapted to selectively provide program streams, and having a server and a plurality of subscribers, said subscribers each having a client device coupled to said network, the method comprising:
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operating said client devices in said network to view at least certain ones of said program streams as part of a subscription service;
collecting data via each of said client devices, said collected data relating to the usage of said program streams by respective ones of said subscribers;
transmitting at least portions of said collected data to said server;
transmitting information relating to the identity of individual ones of said client devices to said server, said information at some point being cryptographically processed in order to maintain the anonymity of said subscribers;
associating said collected data to respective ones of said client devices using at least said cryptographically processed information;
analyzing at least portions of said data to identify one or more artifacts within said data; and
selectively including or excluding at least one of said subscribers in or from a service group, respectively, based on said acts of associating and analyzing. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A method of allocating resources within a content based network having a plurality of CPE and first and second content delivery subsystems, the method comprising:
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obtaining data from said CPE;
storing said data in a database; and
analyzing said data to generate operational control signals for said network, said control signals controlling allocation of said resources between said first and second delivery sub-systems. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43)
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Specification