Methods and apparatus for format selection for network optimization

• US 20090031384A1
• Filed: 07/24/2007
• Published: 01/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Time Warner Cable Inc. (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Inventors: Rieger, Remi, Brooks, Paul D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,802,286 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/127
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23439 for generating different versions
• 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 21/2405 Monitoring of the internal components or processes of the server, e.g. server load allocation of resources in multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/50; performance measurement of computer activity G06F11/34
• 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 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64792 Controlling the complexity of the content stream, e.g. by dropping packets intermediate media network packet handling H04L65/765; proxy provisioning conversion or adaptation for reducing the amount or size of exchanged application data H04L67/5651; negotiation of resources in wireless networks H04W28/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6582 Data stored in the client, e.g. viewing habits, hardware capabilities, credit card number arrangements where receivers interact with the broadcast H04H20/38

Abstract

Method and apparatus for optimizing network bandwidth utilization by delivering to users only the minimum number of programs required by service provider policies. In one embodiment, the method comprises switching some users from lower quality versions of programs to higher quality versions of the same programs, and removing those lower quality versions of programs from a given service group. In another embodiment, some users are switched from higher quality versions of programs to lower quality versions of those same programs, and the higher quality versions of programs removed from a given service group.

Claims

1. A method of utilizing bandwidth on a content-based network, comprising:

evaluating the bandwidth available on said network;

generating a version of a program delivered to at least one user device over said network, said generating based at least in part on said evaluating; and

selectively substituting said generated version of said program for another version of said program that is delivered over said network.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said generated version comprises a lower quality version of said program than said another version, and said selective substituting conserves bandwidth on said network relative to if said substituting was not performed.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said generated version comprises a standard definition (SD) version, and said another version comprises a high definition (HD) version.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying a plurality of user devices associated with said network that are capable of utilizing said generated version; and

causing at least a portion of said devices to tune said program rendered in said generated version, thereby reducing instances of duplicate programming delivery in said network.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said generated version comprises a high definition (HD) version, and said another version comprises a standard definition (SD) version.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said substituting comprises substituting said generated version within a given service group of said network.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said network comprises a broadcast switched architecture (BSA) network, and said substituting comprises switching off said another version for at least a portion of said service group.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said generated version comprises an AVC encoded format, and said another version comprises an MPEG-2 encoded format.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said generated version comprises a version encoded according to a first bitrate, and said another version comprises a aversion encoded according to said second bitrate, said first and second bitrates being not equal.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said evaluating indicates that available bandwidth on said network is decreasing over time; and

said generating comprises generating a down-rated version of said program as compared to said another version.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said evaluating indicates that available bandwidth on said network is increasing over time; and

said generating comprises generating an up-rated version of said program as compared to said another version.

12. A method of operating a content-based network, comprising:

providing a plurality of versions of at least one program stream, at least two of said plurality of different versions being substantially clamped to different bitrates; and

selectively delivering at least one of said clamped at least two versions to a multiplexer for statistical multiplexing.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said delivering comprises selecting said at least one clamped version based at least in part on available bandwidth within said network.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said available bandwidth within said network comprises a bandwidth projected for some time in the future.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein said available bandwidth within said network comprises a bandwidth determined or projected using historical data.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein said available bandwidth is decreasing over time, and said delivering comprises selecting said at least one clamped version based on having a lower bitrate than another available version.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein said at least two of said plurality of versions comprises three versions each with progressively lower bitrates, and said selecting said at least one clamped version based at least in part on available bandwidth within said network comprises selecting the lowest bitrate version immediately after the highest bitrate version.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein:

said available bandwidth is decreasing over time, and said delivering comprises selecting said at least one clamped version based on having a lower bitrate than another available version; and

said method further comprises maintaining said lower bitrate version for a period of time after said bandwidth is increasing.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein said selectively delivering comprises selecting said at least one clamped version based at least in part on the content of said at least one program stream.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said selecting said at least one clamped version based at least in part on the content of said at least one program stream comprises selecting a higher bitrate version of said at least one program stream when said content comprises a program stream with high actual or projected viewership.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein said selecting said at least one clamped version based at least in part on the content of said at least one program stream comprises selecting a higher bitrate version of said at least one program stream when said content comprises a program stream where at least one of picture or audio quality is considered critical.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein said program stream where at least one of picture or audio quality is considered critical comprises a movie.

23. The method of claim 12, wherein said network comprises a video-on-demand (VOD) capable network including version selection logic, and said plurality of different versions comprise a plurality of cached versions having different encoding bitrates;

wherein said selection logic selects at least one of said cached versions based at least in part on a selection criterion.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein said selection criterion comprises at least one of:

(i) available or projected network bandwidth, and (ii) the capabilities of the user device to which requested VOD content will be delivered.

25. A method of operating a content based network to achieve a desired operational goal, comprising:

delivering a first version of a program stream to at least one user of said network;

providing a second version of said program stream, said second version being encoded differently than said first version;

identifying at least one time where said second version can be substituted for said first version; and

substituting said second version for said first version at least at said one time so as to achieve said goal.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein said operational goal comprises reduced bandwidth consumption, said first version comprises an encoding consuming a first bandwidth, and said second encoding comprises an encoding consuming a second bandwidth, said second bandwidth being less than said first bandwidth.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein said first version comprises an MPEG-2 encoding, and said second version comprises an MPEG-4 or AVC encoding.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein said at least one time when said second version can be substituted for said first comprises at least one time when there is no demand for said first version.

29. The method of claim 25, wherein said operational goal comprises reduced duplication of programming, said first version comprises a standard definition (SD) program stream, and said second encoding comprises a high definition (HD) program stream, and said method further comprises tuning a plurality of other users of said network to said high definition program stream after said substitution.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein said at least one time when said second version can be substituted for said first comprises at least one time when all users tuned to said SD program stream have HD-capable receivers.

31. The method of claim 25, wherein said second version comprises a program stream encoded at a different bitrate than said first version.

32. The method of claim 25, wherein said second version comprises a bitrate selected based at least in part on the display resolution capabilities of at least one user of said network.