TECHNIQUE FOR PROVIDING UNINTERRUPTED SWITCHED DIGITAL VIDEO SERVICE

• US 20140201799A1
• Filed: 03/14/2014
• Published: 07/17/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Inventors: Smith, Matthew C.
• Granted Patent: US 9,131,255 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/116
• 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 21/2402 Monitoring of the downstream path of the transmission network, e.g. bandwidth available traffic monitoring in data switching networks H04L43/00; monitoring data switching networks utilization H04L43/0876
• 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 21/437 Interfacing the upstream path of the transmission network, e.g. for transmitting client requests to a VOD server flow control in data networks H04L47/10; streaming protocols, e.g. RTP or RTCP, H04L65/65; scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests in data packet switching networks H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6118 involving cable transmission, e.g. using a cable modem
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6377 directed to server one-way streaming services wherein the source is controlled by the destination H04L65/613
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8193 dedicated tools, e.g. video decoder software or IPMP tool

Abstract

A request is received from a subscriber of a video content network offering a switched digital video service, to establish a new switched digital video session within a service group of the video content network, which group includes both preferred and standard subscribers and has a plurality of existing sessions. It is determined whether adequate bandwidth is available to establish the new switched digital video session without tearing down any of the existing sessions. Responsive to the determination indicating that adequate bandwidth is not available without tearing down any of the existing sessions, at least one of the existing sessions is torn down. In this step, those of the existing sessions corresponding to the preferred subscribers are exempted from teardown. The new switched digital video session is established in accordance with the request. A switched digital video control apparatus, a set-top terminal, and a system are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method of a set-top terminal for use in a video content network offering a switched digital video service, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving, from a head end of said video content network, a ping message requiring a response to exclude a session of said set-top terminal from a teardown; and

responding, automatically, to said ping message based on a preferred status of associated with said set-top terminal.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising loading a software routine onto said set top terminal during a provisioning process based on said preferred status of associated with said set-top terminal, said software routine comprising computer readable program code which causes said set top terminal to automatically respond to said ping signal.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said provisioning process comprises an initial provisioning process.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein said provisioning process comprises a periodic update.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein responding, automatically, to said ping message based on a preferred status of associated with said set-top terminal comprises activating a software routine pre-existing on said set top terminal by sending a flag thereto based on said preferred status of associated with said set-top terminal, said software routine comprising computer readable program code which causes said set top terminal to automatically respond to said ping signal upon activation by said flag.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining said preferred status associated with said set-top terminal based on a program channel currently tuned to on said set-top terminal.

7. A method comprising the steps of:

receiving, from a subscriber of a video content network, a request to establish a new switched digital video session within a service group of said video content network, said service group comprising a plurality of subscribers and having a plurality of existing sessions;

responsive to said request,

sending a ping signal to selected ones of said subscribers within said service group who have not changed channels for a predetermined time and who are not preferred subscribers, wherein said preferred subscribers are not sent said ping signal,

requiring a manual response to said ping signal from said selected ones of said subscribers, and

tearing down at least one of said existing sessions corresponding to at least one of said selected ones of said subscribers from which no manual response to said ping signal is received, wherein said existing sessions corresponding to said preferred subscribers are exempted from teardown; and

establishing said new switched digital video session in accordance with said request.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

determining said preferred subscribers exempted from said teardown from among said subscribers; and

determining said selected ones of said subscribers as subscribers associated with set top terminals inactive for at least said predetermined time and who are not preferred subscribers.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said determining said preferred subscribers comprises accessing a computerized list, said computerized list indicating preferred status of said preferred subscribers.

10. A method comprising the steps of:

receiving, from a subscriber of a video content network, a request to establish a new switched digital video session within a service group of said video content network, said service group comprising a plurality of subscribers and having a plurality of existing sessions;

responsive to said request,

sending a ping signal to selected ones of said subscribers within said service group associated with set top terminals inactive for at least a predetermined time,

receiving an automatic response to said ping signal from a first set top terminal of said selected ones of said subscribers within said service group, said first set top terminal associated with a preferred status,

requiring a manual response to said ping signal from a second set top terminal of said selected ones of said subscribers within said service group, said second set top terminal associated with a standard subscriber, and

tearing down at least one of said existing sessions associated with a third set top terminal of said selected ones of said subscribers within said service group from which no response to said ping signal is received; and

establishing said new switched digital video session in accordance with said request.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein receiving said automatic response comprises causing said first set top terminal associated with said preferred status to automatically respond to said ping signal according to a software routine loaded onto said first set top terminal during a provisioning process, said software routine comprising computer readable program code which causes said first set top terminal to automatically respond to said ping signal.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said provisioning process comprises an initial provisioning process.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein said provisioning process comprises a periodic update.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein receiving said automatic response comprises causing said first set top terminal associated with said preferred status to automatically respond to said ping signal according to a software routine pre-existing on said first set top terminal by sending a flag thereto, said software routine comprising computer readable program code which causes said first set top terminal to automatically respond to said ping signal upon activation by said flag.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising determining said preferred status associated with said first set-top terminal based on a program channel currently tuned to on said first set-top terminal.