APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR UTILIZING VARIABLE RATE PROGRAM STREAMS IN A NETWORK

• US 20110128961A1
• Filed: 02/09/2011
• Published: 06/02/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Inventors: Rieger, Remi, Brooks, Paul D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,559,465 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/392
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2801 Broadband local area networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2007/045 Fill bit or bits, idle words
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2221 being a cable television head-end CATV in broadcast systems H04H20/78
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23611 Insertion of stuffing data into a multiplex stream, e.g. to obtain a constant bitrate synchronisation arrangements in time-division multiplex systems using bit stuffing for systems with different or fluctuating information rates H04J3/073
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6118 involving cable transmission, e.g. using a cable modem
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17309 Transmission or handling of upstream communications

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for transparently using otherwise wasted bandwidth associated with variable-rate program streams to deliver additional content. In one embodiment, the network comprises a broadcast switched architecture (BSA), and the program streams are loaded up to a target rate using “null” packets and then delivered over the network infrastructure to a plurality of hub sites. The streams are then unloaded to reproduce the original variable streams, and the bandwidth vacated by removal of the null packets used as the transport mechanism for additional (e.g., non time-sensitive) content to be delivered to the subscribers. The process can also be substantially automated and anticipatory (through, e.g., transmission of null bit insertion data downstream). The invention can also advantageously be implemented with minimal modifications to existing infrastructure, and supports business and operational supervisory processes. Network server, QAM modulator, and CPE apparatus implementing the aforementioned methodologies are also disclosed.

Claims

1-38. -38. (canceled)

39. Consumer premises equipment (CPE) for use in a content delivery network, comprising:

a processor;

a storage device in data communication with said processor;

a network interface in signal communication with said processor, said interface adapted to receive one or more constant bitrate data streams from said content delivery network, said one or more constant bitrate data streams each comprising at least a first amount of primary content and a second amount of non-time sensitive secondary content, said second amount comprising an amount which when combined with said first amount maintains said constant bitrate; and

a computer program operative to run on said processor, said computer program being configured to;

identify at least a portion of said non-time sensitive secondary content being transmitted in said one or more streams;

extract said identified at least portion of said non-time sensitive secondary content; and

store said extracted identified at least portion of said non-time sensitive secondary data in said storage device.

40. The CPE of claim 39, wherein said computer program is further configured to make use of said stored extracted at least portion of said non-time sensitive secondary data.

41. The CPE of claim 39, further comprising tuner apparatus, said tuner apparatus adapted to receive quadrature amplitude modulated signals comprising said data streams, and decoder apparatus configured to decode at least said primary content, said decoding being performed substantially contemporaneously with said identification and extraction of said non-time sensitive secondary content.

42. The CPE of claim 41, wherein said identification of said secondary content is based at least in part on one or more packet headers belonging to packets of which said secondary content is part.

43. The CPE of claim 42, wherein said packets are routed to a computerized device based at least in part on an Internet Protocol (IP) transport mechanism.

44. The CPE of claim 39, wherein said equipment further comprises a demultiplexer adapted to demultiplex said one or more data streams.

45. In a data delivery network, a method of providing a plurality of variable rate program streams having at least primary and secondary data therein to a plurality of users having a client device coupled to said network, said method comprising:

receiving at a node of said data delivery network, a plurality of constant bitrate streams, said constant bitrate streams comprising;

a first variable amount of said primary data; and

a second variable amount of null data;

removing at least a portion of said null data from said plurality of constant bitrate streams to produce second variable bitrate streams;

selectively inserting a second variable amount of secondary data into said second variable bitrate streams, said amount inserted comprising an amount necessary to substantially generate third constant bitrate streams; and

transmitting said third constant bitrate streams to at least one client device associated to at least one of said plurality of users;

wherein said act of selectively inserting is performed substantially in response to said at least one user selecting said secondary data for download.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein said network comprises a switched digital network, and said act of transmitting comprises selectively switching one or more of said third constant bitrate streams for delivery to said at least one user.

47. The method of claim 45, wherein said second variable amount of said secondary data inserted into said second variable bitrate streams is substantially equal to said removed at least portion of said null data.

48. The method of claim 45, wherein said secondary data comprises at least one of:

Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) data files;

Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG) data files; and

/or

software applications.

49. The method of claim 45, wherein said generation of said third constant bitrate streams comprises utilization of said second variable amount of said secondary data and a third amount of said null data.

50. The method of claim 45, wherein said secondary data comprises content generated local to a geographic location of said at least one client device.

51. The method of claim 45, wherein said act of removing at least a portion of said null data from said plurality of constant bitrate streams comprises identification of said null data based on a packet headers thereof.

52. A method for transmission of content to a plurality of client devices in a content distribution network, said method comprising:

receiving information identifying at a future time during which an amount of contiguous bandwidth will be available within one or more variable rate program streams;

identifying second data for insertion into said one or more of said variable rate program streams;

at said future time, inserting said secondary data into said one or more of said variable rate program streams; and

transmitting a substantially constant bit rate stream generated from one or more said variable rate program streams and said inserted secondary data to said plurality of client devices.

53. The method of claim 52, wherein said second data comprises time-sensitive content, and said act of inserting comprises determining based at least in part on said future time and said amount of contiguous bandwidth available whether a temporal requirement associated with said time sensitive secondary content can be met and if so, inserting said time sensitive content.

54. The method of claim 53, wherein if said temporal requirement cannot be met, inserting non-time sensitive secondary data rather than said time-sensitive secondary content.

55. The method of claim 52, wherein an amount of said secondary content for insertion is based at least in part on a calculation of a difference between rates of said one or more variable rate program streams and a maximum rate for said network.

56. The method of claim 52, wherein said secondary content comprises content generated for consumption by ones of said client devices disposed in a prescribed geographic area.

57. The method of claim 52, wherein said network comprises a broadcast switched digital network.

58. The method of claim 52, further comprising receiving a plurality of constant rate streams comprised of said one or more variable rate program streams and null data, and wherein said act of inserting of said secondary content comprises removal of said null data and replacement with said secondary content.

59. A non-transitory computer readable medium for use in a content distribution network, said network being configured to carry a plurality of data streams, said computer readable medium comprising a plurality of instructions which when executed:

receive a message from a first entity of said distribution network, said message comprising descriptive data of one or more of said plurality of data streams;

receive a first one of said plurality of data streams comprising variable rate data and non-content data;

remove at least a portion of said non-content data from said first one of said plurality of data streams;

identify secondary data for combination with said variable rate data;

combine said secondary data with said variable rate data based at least in part on said descriptive data to create a second data stream; and

deliver said second data stream to one or more client devices in said network.

60. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 59, wherein said variable rate data and said non-content data collectively form one or more substantially constant rate streams.

61. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 59, wherein said variable rate data and said secondary data collectively form one or more substantially constant rate streams.

62. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 59, wherein said secondary content comprises non-time sensitive data selected from the group consisting of:

(i) application program files;

(ii) image data files, or (iii) audio data files.

63. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 59, wherein said secondary content comprises time-sensitive data, and said descriptive data comprises data received in advance of said first one of said plurality of data streams, thereby enabling a determination in advance of said combination of said time-sensitive data with said variable rate data whether a temporal-related requirement associated with said time-sensitive data can be accommodated.