Method and system for sizing interactive video delivery systems

• US 5,475,615 A
• Filed: 12/23/1993
• Issued: 12/12/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Comcast MO Group Incorporated (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: U.S. West Advanced Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Lin, K. David
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramirez, Ellis B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PIPALA, EDWARD J
• Application Number:
  US08/173,810
• Time in Patent Office: 719 Days
• Field of Search: 364/514, 364/514 A, 364/514 B, 364/514 C, 364/514 R, 455/4.1, 455/4.2, 455/6.3, 455/3.1, 348/13, 348/16, 370/17, 370/95.1, 370/95.2
• US Class Current: 709/226
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17327 with deferred transmission or handling of upstream communications

Abstract

A method and system for determining the required number of active video circuits in an interactive video delivery network required to meet the specified blocking probability constraints. By determining peak loading hours as well as the number of system subscribers in a given video delivery network, the user may determine the blocking probability of the interactive video delivery system in accordance with the formula: ##EQU1## This information may thereafter be used to determine the number active video circuits to meet the determined blocking probability.

Claims

1. For use in cooperation with a computer having memory, a method of placing video circuits in an interactive video delivery system, comprising:

determining peak loading hours;

determining a number of system subscribers in the video delivery system;

determining a blocking probability of the system in accordance with the formula;

##EQU11## where;

M equals the number of system subscribers,

n equals a number of movies simultaneously playing at peak loading hours,

p equals a probability that a subscriber will request a movie during a selected time window prior to peak loading hours,

C equals a number of circuits available in the video delivery system;

storing in the memory of the computer blocking probability data corresponding to the determined blocking probability;

determining from the blocking probability data a number of video circuits required to meet the determined blocking probability; and

placing the determined number of video circuits in the interactive video delivery system.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

converting the blocking probability data to graphic data; and

displaying the graphic data on a user-friendly interface.

3. For use in cooperation with a computer having memory, a system for placing video circuits in an interactive video delivery system, comprising:

means for determining peak loading hours;

means for determining a number of system subscribers in the video delivery system;

means for determining a blocking probability of the system in accordance with the formula;

##EQU12## where;

M equals the number of system subscribers,

n equals a number of movies simultaneously playing at peak loading hours,

p equals a probability that a subscriber will request a movie during a selected time window prior to peak loading hours,

C equals a number of circuits available in the video delivery system;

means for storing in the memory of the computer blocking probability data corresponding to the determined blocking probability;

means for determining from the blocking probability data a number of said video circuits required to meet the determined blocking probability such that corresponding video circuits may be placed in the interactive video delivery system.

4. The system of claim 3 further comprising:

means for converting the blocking probability data to graphic data; and

a user-friendly interface for displaying the graphic data.