SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INCREMENTAL IMPLEMENTATION OF NEW SERVICE CAPABILITIES

• US 20090210921A1
• Filed: 02/15/2008
• Published: 08/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Time Warner Cable Inc. (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Inventors: Ramsdell, Scott W.
• Granted Patent: US 8,566,895 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/120
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3672 Test management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0813 characterised by the conditions triggering a change of settings
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5054 Automatic deployment of services triggered by the service manager, e.g. service implementation by automatic configuration of network components
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2408 Monitoring of the upstream path of the transmission network, e.g. client requests monitoring data switching networks utilization H04L43/0876; scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26291 for providing content or additional data updates, e.g. updating software modules, stored at the client deployment, distribution, installation, update of software G06F8/65; error detection or correction during software upgrading G06F11/1433; arrangements for updating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/25
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/475 End-user interface for inputting end-user data, e.g. personal identification number [PIN], preference data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6405 Multicasting data broadcast and multicast in packet switching networks H04L12/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8453 by locking or enabling a set of features, e.g. optional functionalities in an executable program

Abstract

A system for gradually implementing network services to end users includes substantially redundant first and second control networks, connectable to the end users through a routable communications network. The first control network provides a first service capability to all the end users. The second control network provides a second service capability to a first portion of the end users, the second service capability replacing the first service capability of the first portion of the end users. The second control network subsequently provides the second service capability to a second portion of the end users, while continuing to provide the second service capability to the first portion, the second service capability replacing the first service capability of the second portion of the end users. The second service capability provided to the second portion of the end users may include revisions based on feedback from the first portion of end users.

Claims

1. A method for incrementally implementing network service capabilities to a plurality of end users through a first control network and a second control network, which is substantially redundant to the first control network, the method comprising:

providing a first service capability to the plurality of end users through the first control network;

providing a second service capability to a first testing portion of the plurality of end users through the second control network, the second service capability replacing the first service capability of the first testing portion of the plurality of end users; and

subsequently providing the second service capability to a second testing portion of the plurality of end users, in addition to the first testing portion, through the second control network, the second service capability replacing the first service capability of the second testing portion of the plurality of end users.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein a sum of the first testing portion of the plurality of end users and the second testing portion of the plurality of end users substantially equals the plurality of end users.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

subsequently providing a third service capability to the first testing portion of the plurality of end users through the first control network, the third service capability replacing the second service capability of the first testing portion of the plurality of end users.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving feedback from the first testing portion of the plurality of end users regarding at least one of a quality and desirability of the second service capability before subsequently providing the second service capability to the second testing portion of the plurality of end users.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

revising the second service capability based on the feedback received from the first testing portion of the plurality of end users before subsequently providing the second service capability to the second testing portion of the plurality of end users.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the first service capability comprises service application software, and the second service capability comprises a newer version of the service application software.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the first service capability comprises one of movies on demand, premiums on demand or pay per view service application software, and the second service capability comprises a newer version of the movies on demand, the premiums on demand, or the pay per view service application software.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein the first service capability comprises bootloader firmware, and the second service capability comprises a newer version of the bootloader firmware.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first testing portion of the plurality of end users comprises a first service group of a plurality of service groups, and the second testing portion of the plurality of end users comprises a second service group of the plurality of service groups.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the first service group is serviced by a first hub and the second service group is serviced by a second hub, the first and second hubs being accessible to both the first control network and the second control network.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

returning at least one of the first testing portion and the second testing portion of the plurality of end users to the first service capability, provided through the first control network.

12. A system for gradually implementing network services to a plurality of end users, the system comprising:

a first control network connectable to a plurality of end users through a routable communications network, the first control network providing a first service capability to the plurality of end users; and

a second control network, which is substantially redundant to the first control network, connectable to the plurality of end users through the routable communications network, the second control network providing a second service capability to a first portion of the plurality of end users, the second service capability replacing the first service capability of the first portion of the plurality of end users;

wherein the first control network continues to provide the first service capability to a second portion of the plurality of end users, separate from the first portion of the plurality of end users.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the second control network subsequently provides the second service capability to the second portion of the plurality of end users, while continuing to provide the second service capability to the first portion, the second service capability replacing the first service capability of the second portion of the plurality of end users.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the second service capability provided to the second portion of the plurality of end users comprises a subsequent version of the second service capability, which includes at least one revision based on feedback from the first portion regarding the second service capability.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the first control network comprises a first service complex, comprising at least one of first application software and first bootloader firmware associated with the first service capability, and a first digital network control system (DNCS) controller, and

wherein the second control network comprises a second service complex, comprising at least one of second application software and second bootloader firmware associated with the second service capability, and a second DNCS controller.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the first and second DNCS controllers are selectively connectable to the plurality of users through the routable communications network and a plurality of hubs comprising a corresponding plurality of service groups.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the first portion of the plurality of end users is accessible through a first hub of the plurality of hubs, and the second portion of the plurality of end users is accessible through a second hub of the plurality of hubs.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the routable communications network comprises a first application carousal and a first bootloader carousal for respectively broadcasting information corresponding to the first service capability to the first portion of the plurality of end user, and

wherein the routable communications network comprises a second application carousal and a second bootloader carousal for respectively broadcasting information corresponding to the second service capability to the second portion of the plurality of end users.

19. A method for incrementally implementing media services to a plurality of customers through a first control network and a second control network, which is substantially redundant to the first control network, the method comprising:

providing a first service capability to the plurality of customers through the first control network;

providing a second service capability to a first test group of the plurality of customers through the second control network, the second service capability replacing the first service capability of the first test group;

receiving feedback from the first test group regarding the second service capability;

revising the second service capability in response to the received feedback; and

providing the revised second service capability to a second test group of the plurality of customers through the second control network, the second test group comprising at least the first test group.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

receiving feedback from the second test group regarding the revised second service capability;

revising the revised second service capability in response to the received feedback to obtain a final service capability; and

providing the final service capability to the plurality of customers through the second control network, and discontinuing the providing of the first service capability.