METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR BUSINESS-BASED NETWORK RESOURCE ALLOCATION

• US 20150082362A1
• Filed: 08/18/2014
• Published: 03/19/2015
• 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 9,961,383 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/96
• 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

1-40. -40. (canceled)

41. A method of operating a content delivery network having a plurality of consumer premises equipment (CPE) associated therewith, said method comprising:

receiving a request for delivery of on-demand content from one of said plurality of CPE of said network;

evaluating at least two possible delivery options for servicing said request, said act of evaluating being performed based at least in part on at least one operational consideration and at least one profit consideration relating to said network; and

based at least in part on said act of evaluating, performing one of said at least two possible delivery options in order to service said request.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein said at least two possible delivery options comprise:

(i) delivery of a high definition (HD) version of said requested on-demand content; and

(ii) a standard definition (SD) version of said requested on-demand content.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein said at least one operational consideration comprises an available bandwidth.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein said act of evaluating is performed via a supervisory session resource management process of said network.

45. The method of claim 43, wherein said act of evaluating based on at least said available bandwidth and said profit consideration comprises:

performing a revenue analysis for each of said at least two possible delivery options; and

selecting an option having an optimal revenue.

46. The method of claim 41, wherein said act of evaluating based on at least one profit consideration comprises evaluating based on at least one demographic associated with a subscriber of said requesting one of said plurality of CPE.

47. The method of claim 44, wherein said supervisory session resource management process is further configured to, based at least in part on said evaluation, utilize at least one of a most-loaded and least-loaded allocation algorithm in order to service said request.

48. A method of operating a content delivery network having a plurality of client devices associated therewith, said method comprising:

receiving from first ones of said plurality of client devices a plurality of requests for delivery of a first content element;

receiving from second ones of said plurality of client devices a plurality of requests for delivery of a second content element;

evaluating a profitability associated with servicing said plurality of requests for said first content in either of a first format or a second format, and a profitability associated with servicing said plurality of requests for said second content in either of said first format or said 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 act of evaluating.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein said first format comprises a standard definition (SD) format, and said second format comprises a high definition (HD) format.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein said act of assembling based at least in part on said act of evaluating comprises assembling said at least one transport so as to maximize said profitability.

51. The method of claim 49, further comprising identifying at least one of said first ones of said plurality of client devices or said second ones of said plurality of client devices which comprises an SD upconversion capability.

52. The method of claim 51, wherein based at least in part on said determination, delivering said requested first or second content to said ones of said plurality of client devices comprising said upconversion capability in SD format.

53. The method of claim 50, wherein said at least one transport comprises a multiplexed quadrature amplitude modulated (QAM) radio frequency carrier.

54. The method of claim 50, further comprising evaluating said at least one assembled transport for bandwidth efficiency.

55. A method of operating a content delivery network having a finite amount of available resources, said method comprising:

operating said network according to a first resource allocation model when said available resources are not constrained due to existing requests for service; and

operating said network according to a second resource allocation model when said available resources are constrained due to existing requests for service.

56. The method of claim 55, wherein said available resources comprise an amount of downstream bandwidth, and at least said second model comprises allocating said bandwidth based at least in part on a revenue associated with servicing different ones of said existing requests.

57. The method of claim 55, wherein said second resource allocation model comprises delivery according to a prescribed hierarchy of priority of a plurality of different service classes based at least in part on revenue.

58. The method of claim 55, wherein said second resource allocation model comprises replacing an existing high definition (HD) session with an standard definition (SD) session so as to maintain service continuity to a first plurality of low-revenue subscribers.

59. The method of claim 58, further comprising allocating a remaining bandwidth to service one or more sessions associated to high-revenue subscribers.

60. The method of claim 55, wherein said acts of operating are performed via a session resource manager (SRM) process of said network.