Apparatus and methods for utilizing statistical multiplexing to ensure quality of service in a network
First Claim
1. A multiplexing apparatus adapted for the transmission of a plurality of content elements over a network, said apparatus comprising:
- a multiplexing element, said multiplexing element adapted to receive said plurality of content elements from one or more content sources, and create at least one output multiplex based thereon; and
a process in communication with said multiplexing element, said process being adapted to;
evaluate at least one aspect of at least one of said plurality of content elements;
generate data based at least in part on said evaluation;
wherein said multiplexing element is further adapted to incorporate said generated data into said at least one output multiplex for extraction and use by a receiving device associated with said network.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for utilizing bitrate or other data associated with statistically multiplexed video (e.g., programs) or other content within a network to ensure quality of service (QoS) at a subscriber premises or local network. In one embodiment, the present invention provides improved multiplexing apparatus and methods that allow a consumer premises device to obtain QoS data and employ that data to enforce and maintain one or more QoS policies. In another embodiment of the present invention, an improved consumer premises device is provided which is adapted to receive a multiplexed program stream and subsequently demultiplex and time stamp the resulting single program streams. The time stamps are then utilized to generate QoS data which is utilized to enforce and maintain a QoS policy. Business methods associated with the various features described above are also disclosed.
-
Citations
48 Claims
-
1. A multiplexing apparatus adapted for the transmission of a plurality of content elements over a network, said apparatus comprising:
-
a multiplexing element, said multiplexing element adapted to receive said plurality of content elements from one or more content sources, and create at least one output multiplex based thereon; and a process in communication with said multiplexing element, said process being adapted to; evaluate at least one aspect of at least one of said plurality of content elements; generate data based at least in part on said evaluation; wherein said multiplexing element is further adapted to incorporate said generated data into said at least one output multiplex for extraction and use by a receiving device associated with said network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. Consumer premises equipment (CPE), comprising:
-
a tuner, said tuner adapted to receive a multiplex, said multiplex comprising a plurality of content elements and descriptive data relating to at least one aspect of at least one content element; a demultiplexer, said demultiplexer further comprising a program ID (PID) filter, said PID filter adapted to locate and retrieve said data; and a processor element, said processor element adapted to utilize said data to implement at least one quality of service (QoS) policy for said content element. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
-
-
24. A content distribution system adapted for the transmission of a plurality of programs over a cable network, said system comprising:
-
at least one content source, said content source adapted to provide a plurality of content elements; a statistical multiplexing apparatus, said statistical multiplexing apparatus adapted to; receive said plurality of content elements; generate data relating to said at least one aspect of said plurality of content elements; create at least one output multiplex based on said plurality of content elements and said data; and a consumer premises device, said premises device adapted to; receive said at least one output multiplex; demultiplex said output multiplex into individual content elements; utilize said data to enforce at least one quality of service (QoS) policy for at least one of said individual content elements. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
-
-
30. A method of operating a content-based network, comprising:
-
receiving a plurality of content elements from at least one content source; generating data based at least in part on at least one aspect of said plurality of content elements; generating at least one output multiplex based at least in part on said plurality of content elements and said data; providing said output multiplex to a consumer premises device; demultiplexing said output multiplex into individual content elements; and utilizing said data to configure a quality of service policy for at least one of said individual content elements. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
-
-
36. A method of doing business within a content-based network, comprising:
-
providing an output multiplex of program content having associated quality of service information; providing to a subscriber of said network apparatus for demultiplexing said program content and for selectively utilizing said quality of service information; and ensuring a quality of service for said subscriber based at least in part on said selective utilization of said quality of service information. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39)
-
-
40. Consumer premises equipment (CPE), comprising:
-
a tuner adapted to receive a multiplexed transport; a demultiplexer element, said demultiplexer adapted to; demultiplex said multiplexed transport to derive a plurality of program streams; and affix a time stamp to at least a portion of said program streams; a process, said process adapted to; map said program streams; and generate data based at least in part on at least one aspect of said program stream; and a processor, said processor adapted to utilize said data to configure one or more parameters to establish at least one quality of service policy for at least one of said program streams. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44)
-
-
45. A method of operating a content-based network, comprising:
-
generating at least one output multiplex based at least in part on a plurality of content elements; providing said output multiplex to a consumer premises device; demultiplexing said output multiplex into a plurality of demultiplexed content elements; affixing time stamps to respective ones of packets within at least one of said demultiplexed content elements; utilizing said time stamps to evaluate at least one aspect of said demultiplexed content elements; generating data based at least in part on said evaluating; and utilizing said data to provide at least one quality of service policy for at least one of said demultiplexed content elements. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48)
-
Specification