Methods and apparatus for business-based network resource allocation

• US 20090217326A1
• Filed: 02/26/2008
• Published: 08/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Inventors: Hasek, Charles A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,813,143 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/87
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23439 for generating different versions
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/238 Interfacing the downstream path of the transmission network, e.g. adapting the transmission rate of a video stream to network bandwidth; Processing of multiplex streams hybrid fiber coaxial [HFC] networks for downstream channel allocation for video distribution H04L12/2801; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10; real-time communication protocols in data switching networks H04L65/00; scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60
• 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 21/2543 Billing , e.g. for subscription services payment schemes, architectures or protocols G06Q20/00; e-commerce G06Q30/00; arrangements for billing for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/21
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25435 involving characteristics of content or additional data, e.g. video resolution or the amount of advertising
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25825 involving client display capabilities, e.g. screen resolution of a mobile phone optimising the visualisation of content during browsing in the Internet G06F16/9577; processing of terminal status or physical abilities in wireless networks H04W8/22; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25833 involving client hardware characteristics, e.g. manufacturer, processing or storage capabilities allocation of resources considering hardware capabilities in multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/5044; allocation of resources considering software capabilities in multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/5055
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25841 involving the geographical location of the client retrieval from the Internet by querying based on geographical locations G06F16/9537; arrangements for identifying locations of receiving stations in broadcast systems H04H60/51; location of the user terminal in data switching networks H04L67/52; services making use of the location of users or terminals in wireless networks H04W4/02; locating users or terminals in wireless networks H04W64/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25883 being end-user demographical data, e.g. age, family status or address arrangements for identifying locations of users in broadcast systems H04H60/52
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/472 End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content end-user interfaces for retrieving video data from a database G06F16/739; network services for supporting unicast streaming H04L65/612
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6118 involving cable transmission, e.g. using a cable modem
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17336 Handling of requests in head-ends

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for optimizing the distribution and delivery of content within a content-based network based on e.g., business or revenue considerations. In one embodiment, the network comprises a cable television network that utilizes a Global Session Resource Manager (GSRM). The GSRM processes subscriber program viewing requests to identify options available to fulfill the request (including, e.g., providing free on-demand (FOD), standard definition on-demand (SVOD), and/or high definition on-demand (HDVOD) content), and evaluate these options to determine the one that optimizes network revenue or profit. The GSRM performs this identification and evaluation process by considering various parameters including network resource (e.g., bandwidth) availability, and different revenue and profit implications for different classes of service, the individual or collective demographic or other profile of network subscribers, and other business or operational rules programmed by the operator of the network. Business methods based on such network optimization are also described.

Claims

1. A method of operating a content-based network having a plurality of consumer premises equipment (CPE) associated therewith, comprising:

receiving a request for on-demand content 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.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least two options comprise:

(i) an HD version of said requested content;

or (ii) an SD version of said requested content.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said at least one operational consideration comprises bandwidth.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said evaluating is performed using a supervisory session resource management process of said network.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein said evaluating based on at least said bandwidth and said revenue or profit consideration comprises performing a revenue analysis for each of said options, and selecting the option with the optimal revenue.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said evaluating based on at least one profit or revenue consideration comprises evaluating based on at least one demographic associated with a subscriber of said requesting CPE.

7. A method of operating a content-based network having a plurality of consumer premises equipment (CPE) associated therewith, comprising:

receiving a plurality of requests for content delivery from CPE of said network;

evaluating at least a portion of said plurality of requests in terms of a cost and benefit associated therewith; and

preferentially prioritizing at least one of said requests over others of said requests for resource allocation based at least in part on said evaluating.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said network comprises an on-demand delivery infrastructure, and said evaluating is performed by a session resource management (SRM) software entity associated with said on-demand infrastructure.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said plurality of requests comprise at least one request for each of:

(i) free on-demand (FOD) content;

(ii) subscription video on-demand (SVOD) content, and (iii) high definition video on-demand (HDVOD) content.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein said plurality of requests comprise at least one request for each of (i) free on-demand (FOD) content;

(ii) subscription video on-demand (SVOD) content, and (iii) high definition video on-demand (HDVOD) content, and said resource being allocated comprises bandwidth.

11. The method of claim 7, further comprising allocating said resource from one of a plurality of different sources within said network, said sources being associated with different content delivery modes.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said resource comprises bandwidth, and said different content delivery modes comprise on-demand and switched broadcast delivery modes.

13. The method of claim 7, wherein said act of evaluating comprises evaluating at least one of said cost and said benefit against a predetermined threshold value.

14. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

allocating said resource based at least in part on said act of evaluating;

subsequent to said act of allocating, re-evaluating said cost and benefit for at least a portion of then-existing ones of said requests; and

dynamically re-allocating said resource based at least in part on said re-evaluating.

15. A method of operating a content based network comprising a first network portion and a second network portion, the method comprising:

receiving a request to deliver first content to a first subset of subscribers of said network via at least said first portion;

receiving a request to deliver second content to a second subset of said subscribers via at least said second portion;

evaluating at least one revenue or profit consideration relating to said first and second content delivery requests; and

selectively allocating bandwidth between said first and second portions of said network based at least in part on said act of evaluating.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said first portion comprises an on-demand delivery network, and said second portion comprises a broadcast delivery network.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein said act of evaluating comprises prioritizing one of said requests over the other based at least in part on the revenue or profitability associated with servicing each of said requests.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein said act of selectively allocating comprises at least taking bandwidth that was otherwise allocated to said first portion, and allocating it to said second portion.

19. A method of operating a content based network having a plurality of client devices associated therewith, the method comprising:

receiving from at least a portion of said plurality of client devices a plurality of requests for delivery of a first content element;

receiving from at least a portion of said plurality of client devices a plurality of requests for delivery of a second content element;

evaluating the revenue or profitability associated with servicing at least one of said requests for said first and second content in either of a first format or a second format; and

assembling at least one transport using said first content in one of said first or second formats, and said second content in one of said first or second formats, based at least in part on said evaluating.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said first format comprises a standard definition (SD) format, and said second format comprises a high definition (HD) format.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein said assembling based at least in part on said evaluating comprises assembling said at least one transport so as to maximize revenue or profitability.

22. The method of claim 20, further comprising identifying at least one of said at least portion of said plurality of client devices comprises an SD upconversion capability.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein said at least one transport comprises a multiplexed quadrature amplitude modulated (QAM) radio frequency carrier.

24. The method of claim 21, further comprising evaluating said at least one assembled transport for bandwidth efficiency.

25. For use in an on-demand content delivery network, server apparatus comprising:

a processor;

a storage device in data communication with said processor; and

a computer program disposed on said storage device and operative to run on said processor, said program comprising a plurality of instructions which when executed, selectively prioritizes session allocation among a plurality of requests associated with different service classes within said network.

26. The server apparatus of claim 25, wherein said different service classes comprise a first class delivering standard definition (SD) content, and a second class delivering high definition (HD) content.

27. The server apparatus of claim 25, wherein said different service classes comprise a first class having a first cost-benefit implication for said network, and a second class having a second cost-benefit implication for said network different than said first implication.

28. The server apparatus of claim 25, wherein said different service classes comprise a first class having a first quality-of-service (QoS) level, and a second class having a second QoS level different than said first level.

29. The server apparatus of claim 25, wherein said different service classes comprise a first on-demand class having a first cost-benefit model, a second on-demand class having a second cost-benefit model, and a third on-demand class having a third cost-benefit model.

30. The server apparatus of claim 29, wherein said first on-demand class comprises free video on-demand (FOD), said second class comprises standard definition video on-demand (SVOD), and said third class comprises high definition video on-demand (HDVOD).

31. The server apparatus of claim 25, wherein said different service classes comprise a first class having a first maximum duration, and a second class having a second maximum duration different than said first duration.

32. For use in an on-demand content delivery network, server apparatus comprising:

a processor;

a storage device in data communication with said processor; and

a computer program disposed on said storage device and operative to run on said processor, said program comprising a plurality of instructions which, when executed;

receives a plurality of session requests;

evaluates said requests in terms of at least one of financial benefit and network cost associated with servicing said requests;

prioritizes at least a portion of said requests based at least in part on said evaluation; and

allocates sessions on said network based at least in part on said prioritization.

33. The server apparatus of claim 32, wherein said at least one computer program comprises a session resource manager (SRM) process, and said server apparatus comprises a VOD server.

34. The server apparatus of claim 32, wherein said at least one computer program when executed further dynamically optimizes bandwidth efficiency by selectively assigning high definition (HD) and standard definition (SD) programs to a plurality of available QAMs within said network.

35. A method of operating a content based network having a finite resource, comprising:

operating said network according to a first resource allocation model when said resource is not constrained relative to existing requests for service; and

operating said network according to a second resource allocation model when said resource is constrained relative to existing requests for service.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein said resource comprises downstream bandwidth, and at least said second model bases allocation of said bandwidth on at least the revenue or profitability associated with servicing different ones of said existing requests.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein said second resource allocation model comprises a plurality of different service classes, said service classes having a prescribed hierarchy of priority based on at least revenue or profitability.

38. A method of doing business via a content-based network, comprising:

providing a plurality of on-demand service classes, each of said classes having a different revenue implication for said network; and

selectively allocating resources within said network to said service classes based at least in part on a business rule, said business rule evaluating said different revenue implications with respect to a desired business goal.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein said desired business goal comprises maximized revenue, and said selectively allocating resources comprises selectively allocating bandwidth in a bandwidth-constrained environment.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein said selectively allocating comprises dynamically evaluating a plurality of requests for delivery of services within said plurality of classes, and prioritizing said requests.