Dynamic callback technique

• US 5,157,716 A
• Filed: 08/15/1990
• Issued: 10/20/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Scientific-Atlanta Incorporated (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Naddor, David J., Schaubs, Randolph J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dwyer, James L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chan, Wing F.
• Application Number:
  US07/567,612
• Time in Patent Office: 797 Days
• Field of Search: 379/92, 379/106, 379/107, 379/105, 358/84, 358/86, 455/2, 340/825.5, 340/825.07, 340/825.08, 370/79, 370/83, 370/90, 370/96
• US Class Current: 379/92.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/46 Arrangements for calling a number of substations in a predetermined sequence until an answer is obtained
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/48 Arrangements for recalling a calling subscriber when the wanted subscriber ceases to be busy
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2007/17372 the upstream transmission being initiated or timed by a signal from upstream of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2007/17381 the upstream transmission being initiated by the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17327 with deferred transmission or handling of upstream communications

Abstract

A dynamic global callback technique which is capable of maintaining a manageable number of incoming calls to a central location from a plurality of remote units. A plurality of remote units are prompted to initiate callback attempts to a central location during a given callback period. The number of successful callback attempts from the remote units to the central location is monitored. The callback period if dynamically adjusted so as to cause the monitored number of successful callback attempts to approximately equal the number of successful callback attempts capable of being handled by the central location without overloading the telephone network.

Claims

1. A method of dynamically controlling the transfer of stored data from a plurality of remote units to a central location over a communication network, said central location capable of processing a fixed number of successful data transfers from said plurality of remote units, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) prompting each of said plurality of remote units to attempt to transfer stored data to said central location at a random time within a callback time period of a predetermined length;

(b) monitoring the number of successful transfers of stored data from said plurality of remote units to said central location over said communication network; and

(c) dynamically controlling the length of the callback time period during such period in response to the monitored number of successful data transfers.

2. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of:

(d) prompting remote units which unsuccessfully attempt to transfer stored data to said central location to attempt to transfer stored data after a time interval equal to the callback time period has elapsed from the last unsuccessful transfer attempt.

3. The method according to claim 2 wherein the length of the callback time period is increased if the monitored number of successful data transfers is approximately equal to the fixed number of successful data transfers capable of being processed by said central location.

4. The method according to claim 3 wherein the length of the callback time period is increased until the monitored number of successful data transfers is less than the fixed number of successful data transfer capable of being processed by said central location.

5. The method according to claim 2 wherein the length of the callback time period is decreased if the monitored number of successful data transfers is less than the fixed number of successful data transfers capable of being processed by said central location.

6. The method according to claim 5 wherein the length of the callback time period is decreased until the monitored number of successful data transfers is approximately equal to the fixed number of successful data transfers capable of being processed by said central location.

7. The method according to claim 4 wherein after the length of the callback time period has been increased until the monitored number of successful data transfer is less than the fixed number of successful data transfers capable of being processed by said central location, the length of the callback time period is decreased until the monitored number of successful data transfer is approximately equal to the number of successful data transfers capable of being processed by said central location.

8. The method according to claim 1 wherein said communication network comprises a telephone network.

9. The method according to claim 1 wherein the length of the callback time period is controlled so as to generate a number of successful data transfers approximately equal to the fixed number of successful data transfers capable of being processed by said central location.

10. The method according to claim 1 wherein said remote units are prompted so as to generate a uniform distribution of attempts to transfer stored data within the callback time period.

11. A method of dynamically controlling the transfer of stored billing information from a plurality of modules in an impulse pay-per-view system to a headend over a telephone network, each module in said impulse pay-per-view system having a digital identifier comprising a plurality of bits arranged in a predetermined order, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) prompting each of said plurality of modules to transfer stored billing information to the headend at a random time within a callback time period of a predetermined length;

(b) monitoring the number of successful transfers of stored billing information from said plurality of modules to said headend over said telephone network; and

(c) dynamically controlling the length of the callback time period during such period in response to the monitored number of successful billing information transfers.

12. The method according to claim 11 wherein said plurality of modules are prompted so as to generate a uniform distribution of attempts to transfer billing information within the callback time period.

13. The method according to claim 12 wherein the uniform distribution is generating using the digital identifiers of said plurality of modules.

14. The method according to claim 13 wherein the uniform distribution is generated so that modules having consecutive digital identifiers attempt to transfer billing information at spaced times during the callback time period.

15. The method according to claim 11 further comprising the step of:

(d) prompting modules which unsuccessfully attempt to transfer billing information to said headed to attempt to transfer stored billing information after a time interval equal to the callback time period has elapsed from the last unsuccessful transfer attempt.

16. The method according to claim 15 wherein the length of the callback time period is decreased until the monitored number of successful billing information transfers is approximately equal to the number of successful billing information transfers capable of being processed by the headend.

17. The method according to claim 15 wherein the length of the callback time period is increased until the monitored number of successful billing information transfers is approximately equal to the number of successful billing information transfers capable of being processed by said headend.

18. The method according to claim 13 wherein the uniform distribution is generated by shifting the plurality of bits comprising the digital identifier of each of said modules in a predetermined manner.

19. The method according to claim 11 wherein the length of the callback time period is controlled so as to generate a number of successful billing information transfers approximately equal to the number of successful billing information transfers capable of being processed by said headend.

20. A method of dynamically controlling the transfer of stored data from a plurality of remote units to a central location over a communication network, the method of comprising the steps of:

(a) prompting each of said plurality of remote units to attempt to transfer stored data to said central location within a callback time period of a predetermined length;

(b) monitoring the number of successful transfers of stored data from said plurality of remote units to said central location; and

(c) dynamically controlling the length of the callback time period during such period in response to the monitored number of successful data transfers.

21. The method according to claim 20 further comprising the step of:

(d) prompting remote units which unsuccessfully attempt to transfer stored data to said central location to attempt to transfer stored data after a time interval equal to the callback time period has elapsed from the last unsuccessful transfer attempt.

22. The method according to claim 20 wherein said communication network comprises a telephone network.

23. The method according to claim 20 wherein the length of the callback time period is controlled so as to generate a number of successful data transfers approximately equal to the number of successful data transfers capable of being processed by said central location.

24. The method according to claim 20 wherein each of said plurality of remote units attempts to transfer stored data to said central location at a unique predetermined time within the callback time period.

25. The method according to claim 24 wherein the unique time associated with each remote is generated by shifting the bits of the associated digital identifier in a predetermined manner.

26. A data recovery system comprising:

a plurality of remote units for storing data;

a central location for receiving data transferred from said plurality of remote units;

prompt means for prompting each of said plurality of remote units to attempt to transfer stored data to said central location within a time period of a predetermined length;

wherein said remote units which unsuccessfully attempt to transfer stored data to said central location again attempt to transfer stored data after a time interval equal to the time period has elapsed from the last unsuccessful transfer attempt;

monitoring means for monitoring the number os successful transfers of stored data from said remote units to said central location; and

control means for dynamically controlling the length of the time period during such period in response to the monitored number of data transfers.

27. The data recovery system according to claim 26 wherein said central location is adapted to receive data transferred from said plurality of remote units over a telephone network.

28. The data recovery system according to claim 26 wherein said control means controls the length of the time period such that the number of successful data transfers is approximately equal to the number of successful data transfers capable of being processed by said central location.

29. The data recovery system according to claim 26 wherein said control means increases the length of the time period if the number of successful data transfers monitored by said monitoring means is approximately equal to the number of successful data transfers capable of being processed by said central location.

30. The data recovery system according to claim 26 wherein said control means decreases the length of the time period if the number of successful data transfers monitored by said monitoring means is less than the number of successful data transfers capable of being processed by said central location.

31. The data recovery system according to claim 29 wherein said control means increases the length of the time period until the number of successful data transfers monitored by said monitoring means is less than the number of successful data transfers capable of being processed by said central location.

32. The data recovery system according to claim 31 wherein after said control means has increased the length of the time period until the number of successful data transfers monitored by said monitoring means is less than the number of successful data transfers capable of being processed by said central location, said control means decreases the length of the time period until the number of successful data transfers monitored by said monitoring means is approximately equal to the number of successful data transfers capable of being processed by said central location.

33. Apparatus for dynamically controlling the transfer of stored data from a plurality of remote units to a central location over a communication network, said apparatus comprising:

prompt means for prompting each of said plurality of remote units to attempt to transfer stored data to said central location within a time period of a predetermined length;

wherein said remote units which unsuccessfully attempt to transfer stored data to said central location again attempt to transfer stored data after a time interval equal to the time period has elapsed from the last unsuccessful transfer attempt;

monitoring means for monitoring the number of successful transfers of stored data from said plurality of remote units to said central location over said communication network; and

control means for dynamically controlling the length of the time period during such period in response to the monitored number of successful data transfers.

34. The apparatus according to claim 33 wherein said communication network comprises a telephone network.

35. The apparatus according to claim 33 wherein said control means controls the length of the time period such that the number of successful data transfers is approximately equal to the number of successful data transfers capable of being processed by said central location.

36. The apparatus according to claim 33 wherein said control means increases the length of the time period if the number of successful data transfers monitored by said monitoring means is approximately equal to the number of successful data transfers capable of being processed by said central location.

37. The apparatus according to claim 33 wherein said control means decreases the length of the time period if the number of successful data transfers monitored by said monitoring means is less than the number of successful data transfers capable of being processed by said central location.

38. The apparatus according to claim 36 wherein said control means increases the length of the time period until the number of successful data transfers monitored by said monitoring means is less than the number of successful data transfer capable of being processed by said central location.

39. The apparatus according to claim 38 wherein after said control means has increased the length of the time period until the number of successful data transfers monitored by said monitoring means is less than the number of successful data transfers capable of being processed by said central location, said control means decreases the length of the time period until the number of successful data transfers monitored by said monitoring means is approximately equal to the number of successful data transfers capable of being processed by said central location.

40. An impulse pay-per-view system comprising:

a plurality of modules for storing billing information related to impulse pay-per-view transactions;

central receiving means for receiving billing information transferred from said plurality of modules over a communication network;

prompt means for prompting each of said plurality of modules to transfer stored billing information to said central receiving means within a time period of a predetermined length;

wherein said modules which unsuccessfully attempt to transfer stored billing information to said central receiving means again attempt to transfer stored billing information after a time interval equal to the time period has elapsed from the last unsuccessful transfer attempt;

monitoring means for monitoring the number of successful transfers of stored information from said modules to said central receiving means; and

control means for dynamically controlling the length of the time period during said period in response to the monitored number of billing information transfers.

41. The impulse pay-per-view system according to claim 40 wherein said central receiving means is adapted to receive billing information from said plurality of modules over a telephone network.

42. The impulse pay-per-view system according to claim 40 wherein said control means controls the length of the time period such that the number of successful billing information transfers is approximately equal to the number of successful billing information transfers capable of being processed by said central receiving means.

43. The impulse pay-per-view system according to claim 40 wherein said control means increases the length of the time period if the number of successful billing information transfer monitored by said monitoring means is approximately equal to the number of successful billing information transfers capable of being processed by said central receiving means.

44. The impulse pay-per-view system according to claim 40 wherein said control means decreases the length of the time period if the number of successful billing information transfers monitored by said monitoring means is less than the number of successful billing information transfers capable of being processed by said central receiving means.

45. The impulse pay-per-view system according to claim 43 wherein said control means increases the length of the time period until the number of successful billing information transfers monitored by said monitoring means is less than the number of successful billing information transfers capable of being processed by said central receiving means.

46. The impulse pay-per-view system according to claim 45 wherein after said control means has increased the length of the time period until the number of successful billing information transfers monitored by said monitoring means is less than the number of successful billing information transfers capable of being processed by said central receiving means, said control means decreases the length of the time period until the number of successful billing information transfers monitored by said monitoring means is approximately equal to the number of successful billing information transfers capable of being processed by said central receiving means.