Methods and apparatus for revenue-optimized delivery of content in a network
First Claim
1. A method of operating a content-based network having a plurality of consumer premises equipment (CPE) associated therewith, comprising:
- receiving a request for program delivery from a CPE of said network;
evaluating at least two possible delivery options for servicing said request, said evaluating being performed based on at least one operational consideration and at least one profit or revenue consideration relating to said network; and
based at least in part on said evaluating, performing one of said at least two possible delivery options in order to service said request.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for optimizing the distribution and delivery of multimedia or other content within a content-based network. In one embodiment, the network comprises a broadcast switched cable television network, which utilizes a Network optimization controller (NOC) that processes subscriber program viewing requests to identify options available to fulfill the request (including, e.g., the creation of one or more “microcasts” specifically targeting one or more users), and evaluate these options to determine one that optimizes network operation. The NOC performs these decisions by considering various parameters including network resource availability, type of CPE, subscriber'"'"'s targeted advertisement profile, and business rules programmed by operator of the network. Business methods based on such network optimization are also described.
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Citations
41 Claims
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1. A method of operating a content-based network having a plurality of consumer premises equipment (CPE) associated therewith, comprising:
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receiving a request for program delivery from a CPE of said network; evaluating at least two possible delivery options for servicing said request, said evaluating being performed based on at least one operational consideration and at least one profit or revenue consideration relating to said network; and based at least in part on said evaluating, performing one of said at least two possible delivery options in order to service said request. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of operating a content-based network having a plurality of consumer premises equipment (CPE) associated therewith, comprising:
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receiving a request for program delivery from a CPE of said network; evaluating at least two possible options for servicing said request in terms of a cost and benefit of each option; and in response to said evaluating, performing at least one of;
(i) creating a new program stream, and causing said CPE to tune thereto;
or (ii) switching said CPE to an existing program stream, in order to service said request. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of managing bandwidth within a content-based network having a plurality of consumer premises equipment (CPE) and respective users associated therewith, comprising:
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establishing a plurality of at least partly different program streams for at least some of respective ones of said CPE and users; identifying at least one bandwidth constraint on said network; and migrating at least one of said CPE to a program stream different than that to which it is presently tuned; and selectively removing one or more of said program streams from being delivered over said network; wherein said act of migrating is based at least in part on demographics associated with a user of said at least one CPE. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of operating a content-based network, comprising:
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delivering at least first and second program streams to a plurality of users, the content of said first and second streams each being at least in part tailored to one or more respective demographic variables; identifying at least one projected bandwidth deficiency on said network; and selectively switching ones of said plurality of users from said first program stream to said second program stream, or from said second program stream to said first program stream, based at least in part on said projected deficiency and a relationship between said respective demographic variables. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A software architecture for use in a content based network having a node and a plurality of consumer premises devices in operative communication with said node, the architecture comprising:
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a first process in communication with said node; a plurality of second processes operative to run on respective ones of said consumer premises devices and communicate with said first process; wherein said first process is adapted to receive information from said second processes; and wherein said first process is further adapted to evaluate individual program delivery requests from said devices and determine one of a plurality of delivery options which will best satisfy each said request, said determination being based at least in part on said information obtained from the device associated with said each request. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
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28. Apparatus for use in a content based network that delivers programming, said delivering being specifically configured for certain viewer demographics, the apparatus comprising:
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a processor; an interface in data communication with said processor, said interface adapted to communicate with a storage device; a network interface; and at least one computer program adapted to run on said processor, said at least one program being configured to; determine one or more demographics and/or psychographics associated with at least one subscriber of said network that is requesting a program; and perform an analysis between two or more possible options for servicing said program request, said analysis being based at least in part on said demographics and/or psychographics; and select one of said options for delivery based at least in part on said analysis. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A method of operating a content-based network having a plurality of CPE operating thereon to each receive at least a respective one of a plurality of program streams being delivered over said network, the method comprising:
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switching at least some of said CPE onto a fewer number of said program streams in order to allow subsequent removal of one or more of said program streams within the network; wherein said switching further comprises performing an analysis of at least a portion of said streams, said removal of said one or more streams being based at least in part on said analysis. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. For use in a content-based network, server apparatus comprising:
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a first network interface in data communication with said network for establishing plurality of user sessions; and a second interface in data communication with an advertising or promotional content source; wherein said apparatus is adapted both establish a plurality of content delivery session, and insert or splice advertising or promotional content within program content delivered via said sessions, within said network. - View Dependent Claims (40)
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41. A method of reducing real-time acquisition costs within a cable television network, comprising:
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obtaining a single real-time stream feed at a common content server of said network; and performing session establishment, advertising content acquisition, and splicing functions within said common server.
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Specification