Methods, systems, and devices for bandwidth conservation

• US 20070136772A1
• Filed: 12/09/2005
• Published: 06/14/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Whited, Albert, Weaver, Timothy
• Granted Patent: US 8,701,148 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/95
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0882 Utilisation of link capacity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/80 Actions related to the user profile or the type of traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44218 Detecting physical presence or behaviour of the user, e.g. using sensors to detect if the user is leaving the room or changes his face expression during a TV program methods or arrangements for recognising human body or animal bodies or body parts G06V40/10; methods or arrangements for acquiring or recognising human faces, facial parts, facial sketches, facial expressions G06V40/16; methods or arrangements for recognising movements or behaviour G06V40/20; arrangements for identifying users in broadcast systems H04H60/45
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6373 for rate control , e.g. request to the server to modify its transmission rate flow control in packet networks H04L47/10
• 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 21/658 Transmission by the client directed to the server
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

Methods, systems, and devices are disclosed for conserving bandwidth. Inputs to a user interface are accumulated and compared to a historical pattern of inputs. When inputs are accumulated, the method predicts that a user is present. When inputs are expected, but no inputs are received, then the method predicts that no user is present. Actions are them implemented to and conserve bandwidth.

Claims

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

accumulating in memory inputs to a user interface;

receiving state information comprising advertisement insertion information;

comparing the accumulated inputs to a historical pattern of inputs;

when inputs are accumulated, predicting that a user is present; and

when inputs are expected, but no inputs are received during transition to an advertisement, then predicting that no user is present and conserving bandwidth.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of conserving bandwidth comprises i) sending a message that ceases delivery of a stream of data and ii) retrieving content locally stored in memory.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of conserving bandwidth comprises sending a message that reduces resolution of a video portion of a stream of data.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of conserving bandwidth comprises retrieving a preference of the user for conserving bandwidth.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the historical pattern of inputs describes an expected activity of inputs occurring after a transition in content.

6. A method according to claim 1, further comprising tagging a stream of data to indicate a point at which the stream was degraded to conserve bandwidth.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein if an input is received after bandwidth is conserved, then resuming full resolution of a stream of data.

20. A method according to claim 1, further comprising tagging a stream of data to indicate a point at which the stream was degraded to conserve bandwidth.

8. A device, comprising:

a processor receiving inputs via a user interface;

the processor accumulating the inputs in memory;

the processor comparing the accumulated inputs to a historical pattern of inputs;

when inputs are accumulated, then the processor predicts that a user is present; and

when inputs are expected , but no inputs are received during transition to an advertisement, then predicting that no user is present and conserving bandwidth.

9. A device according to claim 8, wherein the processor conserves bandwidth by i) sending a message that ceases delivery of a stream of data and ii) retrieves content locally stored in memory.

10. A device according to claim 8, wherein the processor conserves bandwidth by sending a message that reduces resolution of a video portion of a stream of data.

11. A device according to claim 8, wherein the processor conserves bandwidth by retrieving a preference of the user for conserving bandwidth.

12. A device according to claim 8, wherein the historical pattern of inputs describes an expected activity of inputs occurring after a transition in content.

13. A device according to claim 8, wherein the processor further tags a stream of data to indicate a point at which the stream was degraded to conserve bandwidth.

14. A device according to claim 8, wherein if an input is received after bandwidth is conserved, then the processor sends a message requesting a full resolution version of a stream of data.

15. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer-readable medium; and

a presence detection application stored on the computer-readable medium, the presence detection application comprising computer code for performing the steps;

accumulating in memory inputs to a user interface;

comparing the accumulated inputs to a historical pattern of inputs;

when inputs are accumulated, predicting that a user is present; and

when inputs are expected , but no inputs are received during transition to an advertisement, then predicting that no user is present and conserving bandwidth.

16. A computer program product according to claim 15, further comprising computer code for i) sending a message that ceases delivery of a stream of data and for ii) retrieving content locally stored in memory.

17. A computer program product according to claim 15, further comprising computer code for sending a message that reduces resolution of a video portion of a stream of data.

18. A computer program product according to claim 15, further comprising computer code for retrieving a preference of the user for conserving bandwidth.

19. A computer program product according to claim 15, wherein the historical pattern of inputs describes an expected activity of inputs occurring after a transition in content.