Methods, systems, and devices for bandwidth conservation

• US 20070133603A1
• Filed: 12/09/2005
• Published: 06/14/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Whited, Albert, Weaver, Timothy
• Granted Patent: US 8,104,054 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/468
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0882 Utilisation of link capacity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/16 Threshold monitoring

Abstract

Methods, systems, and devices are disclosed for conserving bandwidth. A user'"'"'s bandwidth consumption is monitored and compared to a threshold value. When the user'"'"'s bandwidth consumption equals or exceeds the threshold value, then behavior is incentivized that reduces the user'"'"'s bandwidth consumption.

Claims

1. A method to conserve bandwidth, comprising the steps of:

monitoring a user'"'"'s bandwidth consumption;

comparing the user'"'"'s bandwidth consumption to a threshold value; and

when the user'"'"'s bandwidth consumption equals or exceeds the threshold value, then incentivizing behavior that reduces the user'"'"'s bandwidth consumption.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising prompting the user to forego a high definition stream of data and to instead receive a standard definition stream of data, thus reducing the user'"'"'s bandwidth consumption.

3. A method according to claim 1, further comprising prompting the user to retrieve locally stored content, thus reducing the user'"'"'s bandwidth consumption.

4. A method according to claim 1, further comprising restricting the user'"'"'s access to content, thus reducing the user'"'"'s bandwidth consumption.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein when inputs are expected to a user interface, but no inputs are received during transition to an advertisement, then further comprising predicting that no user is present and conserving bandwidth, thus reducing the user'"'"'s bandwidth consumption.

6. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a request for content;

retrieving a known bitrate for delivering that content to the user;

summing the known bitrate with the user'"'"'s current bandwidth consumption;

comparing the sum to the threshold value; and

when the sum equals or exceeds the threshold value, then prompting the user to reduce bandwidth consumption.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of incentivizing behavior comprises:

retrieving locally stored content to reduce bandwidth consumption;

simultaneously receiving a reduced resolution stream of data; and

simultaneously processing the locally stored content and the reduced resolution stream of data such that a first window presents the locally stored content and a second window presents the reduced resolution stream of data.

8. A device, comprising:

a processor receiving inputs via a user interface;

the processor monitoring a user'"'"'s bandwidth consumption;

the processor compares the user'"'"'s bandwidth consumption to a threshold value; and

when the user'"'"'s bandwidth consumption equals or exceeds the threshold value, then the processor executes instructions that incentivize behavior to reduce the user'"'"'s bandwidth consumption.

9. A device according to claim 8, wherein the processor prompts the user to forego a high definition stream of data and to instead receive a standard definition stream of data, thus reducing the user'"'"'s bandwidth consumption.

10. A device according to claim 8, wherein the processor prompts the user to retrieve locally stored content, thus reducing the user'"'"'s bandwidth consumption.

11. A device according to claim 8, wherein the processor restricts the user'"'"'s access to content, thus reducing the user'"'"'s bandwidth consumption.

12. A device according to claim 8, wherein when inputs are expected to the user interface, but no inputs are received during transition to an advertisement, then the processor predicts that no user is present and conserves bandwidth, thus reducing the user'"'"'s bandwidth consumption.

13. A device according to claim 8, wherein the processor:

receives a request for content;

retrieves a known bitrate for delivering that content to the user;

sums the known bitrate with the user'"'"'s current bandwidth consumption;

compares the sum to the threshold value; and

when the sum equals or exceeds the threshold value, the processor prompts the user to reduce bandwidth consumption.

14. A device according to claim 8, wherein the processor:

retrieves locally stored content to reduce bandwidth consumption; and

simultaneously processes a reduced resolution stream of data; and

simultaneously processes the locally stored content and the reduced resolution stream of data such that a first window presents the locally stored content and a second window presents the reduced resolution stream of data.

15. A computer program product storing computer readable instructions for performing the steps:

monitoring a user'"'"'s bandwidth consumption;

comparing the user'"'"'s bandwidth consumption to a threshold value; and

when the user'"'"'s bandwidth consumption equals or exceeds the threshold value, then incentivizing behavior that reduces the user'"'"'s bandwidth consumption.

16. A computer program product according to claim 15, further comprising instructions for prompting the user to forego a high definition stream of data and to instead receive a standard definition stream of data, thus reducing the user'"'"'s bandwidth consumption.

17. A computer program product according to claim 15, further comprising instructions for:

prompting the user to retrieve locally stored content, thus reducing the user'"'"'s bandwidth consumption; and

restricting the user'"'"'s access to content, thus reducing the user'"'"'s bandwidth consumption.

18. A computer program product according to claim 15, wherein when inputs are expected to a user interface, but no inputs are received during transition to an advertisement, then further comprising instructing for predicting that no user is present and conserving bandwidth, thus reducing the user'"'"'s bandwidth consumption.

19. A computer program product according to claim 15, further comprising instructions for:

receiving a request for content;

retrieving a known bitrate for delivering that content to the user;

summing the known bitrate with the user'"'"'s current bandwidth consumption;

comparing the sum to the threshold value; and

when the sum equals or exceeds the threshold value, then prompting the user to reduce bandwidth consumption.

20. A computer program product according to claim 15, further comprising instructions for:

retrieving locally stored content to reduce bandwidth consumption;

simultaneously receiving a reduced resolution stream of data; and

simultaneously processing the locally stored content and the reduced resolution stream of data such that a first window presents the locally stored content and a second window presents the reduced resolution stream of data.