Systems and Methods for Dynamically Allocating Bandwidth in a Digital Broadband Delivery System

• US 20080101460A1
• Filed: 01/04/2008
• Published: 05/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Scientific-Atlanta (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rodriguez, Arturo
• Granted Patent: US 8,032,914 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 375/240.01
• 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 21/2547 Third Party Billing, e.g. billing of advertiser
• 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 21/4263 involving specific tuning arrangements, e.g. two tuners
• 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 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47208 for requesting near-video-on-demand content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6118 involving cable transmission, e.g. using a cable modem
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6137 involving transmission via a telephone network, e.g. POTS
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6175 involving transmission via Internet broadcast-related systems characterised by the transmission system being the Internet H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6187 involving transmission via a telephone network, e.g. POTS

Abstract

Systems and methods for dynamically allocating bandwidth in a digital broadband delivery system are disclosed. One example method includes receiving information describing subscriber requests for content delivery, receiving bandwidth allocation criteria, and processing the information describing subscriber requests and the bandwidth allocation criteria according to a statistical model. The bandwidth allocation criteria comprise at least one of subscriber pricing information, content delivery mode information, and program content information. The processing produces a bandwidth allocation schedule in which one of a plurality of content delivery modes is assigned to each of a plurality of digital transmission channels for each of a plurality of time periods.

Claims

1. A method of dynamically allocating bandwidth in a digital broadband delivery method, the method comprising:

receiving information describing subscriber requests for content delivery;

receiving bandwidth allocation criteria comprising at least one of subscriber pricing information, content delivery mode information, and program content information; and

processing the information describing subscriber requests and the bandwidth allocation criteria, according to a statistical model, to produce a bandwidth allocation schedule in which one of a plurality of content delivery modes is assigned to each of a plurality of digital transmission channels for each of a plurality of time periods.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the processing further comprises:

processing the subscriber request information and the bandwidth allocation criteria according to a predetermined statistical model designed to maximize a total number of subscriber requests fulfilled.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the processing further comprises:

processing the subscriber request information and the bandwidth allocation criteria according to a predetermined statistical model designed to maximize revenue generated from the bandwidth.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the processing further comprises:

processing the subscriber request information and the bandwidth allocation criteria according to a predetermined statistical model, the model based on analysis of a history describing bandwidth consumption of subscribers over time.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the bandwidth allocation criteria further comprises subscriber priority data which prioritizes requests of one subscriber above the requests of another subscriber.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

repeating the receiving information and receiving bandwidth allocation criteria;

determining whether to revise the statistical model based on changes in bandwidth demand or changes in bandwidth consumption pattern; and

updating the statistical model with the newly received information based on the determination.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the processing further comprises producing the bandwidth allocation schedule which includes a particular program that is repeatedly broadcast at non-linear non-decreasing time intervals.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the processing further comprises producing the bandwidth allocation schedule which includes a program which is repeatedly broadcast at a non-linear progression rate with start times that double the time separation between the two previous start times.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the processing further comprises producing the bandwidth allocation schedule which includes a program which is repeatedly broadcast using a non-linear progression of the program'"'"'s start time that is proportionate to a personal activity duration, the personal activity gathered from historical subscriber viewing data.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the processing further comprises selecting the bandwidth allocation schedule from one of a plurality of pre-configured allocation schedules.

11. A headend in a digital broadband delivery system comprising:

memory having program code stored thereon; and

a processor that is programmed by the program code to;

receive information describing subscriber requests for content delivery;

receive bandwidth allocation criteria comprising at least one of subscriber pricing information, content delivery mode information, and program content information; and

process the information describing subscriber requests and the bandwidth allocation criteria, according to a statistical model, to produce a bandwidth allocation schedule in which one of a plurality of content delivery modes is assigned to each of a plurality of digital transmission channels for each of a plurality of time periods.

12. The headend of claim 11, wherein the statistical model is a predetermined statistical model designed to maximize a total number of subscriber requests fulfilled.

13. The headend of claim 11, wherein the statistical model is a predetermined statistical model designed to maximize revenue generated from the bandwidth.

14. The headend of claim 11, wherein the statistical model is a predetermined statistical model based on analysis of a history describing bandwidth consumption of subscribers over time.

15. The headend of claim 11, wherein the bandwidth allocation criteria further comprises subscriber priority data which prioritizes requests of one subscriber above the requests of another subscriber.

16. The headend of claim 11, wherein the processor is further programmed by the program code to:

repeat the receiving information and receiving bandwidth allocation criteria;

determine whether to revise the statistical model based on changes in bandwidth demand or changes in bandwidth consumption pattern; and

update the statistical model with the newly received information based on the determination.

17. A computer-readable medium having a computer program for dynamically allocating bandwidth in a digital broadband delivery system, comprising:

logic configured to receive information describing subscriber requests for content delivery;

logic configured receive bandwidth allocation criteria comprising at least one of subscriber pricing information, content delivery mode information, and program content information; and

logic configured process the information describing subscriber requests and the bandwidth allocation criteria, according to a statistical model, to produce a bandwidth allocation schedule in which one of a plurality of content delivery modes is assigned to each of a plurality of digital transmission channels for each of a plurality of time periods.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the statistical model is a predetermined statistical model designed to maximize revenue generated from the bandwidth.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the statistical model is a predetermined statistical model based on analysis of a history describing bandwidth consumption of subscribers over time.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the processor is further X programmed by the program code to:

repeat the receiving information and receiving bandwidth allocation criteria;

determine whether to revise the statistical model based on changes in bandwidth demand or changes in bandwidth consumption pattern; and

update the statistical model with the newly received information based on the determination.