System and method for dynamically configuring a cellular radio network topology based on content demand
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A broadcast system for delivering content to a plurality of terminals, comprising:
- a plurality of transmitters having transmission characteristics which define a network topology;
a communications interface for providing a return channel for the plurality of terminals to request content from a broadcast network; and
a network controller operatively coupled with the plurality of transmitters and the communications interface, the network controller configured to determine distribution of terminals requesting common content based on information received through the communications interface and reconfiguring the network topology by varying the transmission characteristics of at least one of the transmitters, wherein the varying of the transmission characteristics is based on the determined distribution of terminals requesting common content.
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Abstract
A broadband digital broadcast 1 network is described in which the cellular topology is dynamically configurable to maintain spectral efficiency. The reconfiguration of the topology occurs in response to changes in the demand for content. Thus, a single cell could be defined to cover an area in which the same content is being delivered to a substantial number of users. Conversely, a large number of cells could be defined to cover an area in which a substantial number of users are each having different content delivered to them.
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Citations
41 Claims
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1. A broadcast system for delivering content to a plurality of terminals, comprising:
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a plurality of transmitters having transmission characteristics which define a network topology; a communications interface for providing a return channel for the plurality of terminals to request content from a broadcast network; and a network controller operatively coupled with the plurality of transmitters and the communications interface, the network controller configured to determine distribution of terminals requesting common content based on information received through the communications interface and reconfiguring the network topology by varying the transmission characteristics of at least one of the transmitters, wherein the varying of the transmission characteristics is based on the determined distribution of terminals requesting common content. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method of delivering content to a plurality of terminals, in response to one or more content requests from the plurality of terminals, over a broadcast network whose topology is defined by transmission characteristics of a plurality of transmitters, comprising the steps of:
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analyzing the content to be delivered together with its destination; determining a distribution of terminals requesting common content based on information received through a communications interface coupled to a network controller, wherein the communications interface provides a return channel for the plurality of terminals to request content from the broadcast network; and varying the transmitter transmission characteristics based on the determined distribution of terminals requesting common content. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A broadcast system having a network controller operatively coupled to a communications interface and a plurality of transmitters for delivering content to a plurality of terminals in respective locations with each transmitter operating in accordance with a set of operational characteristics comprising:
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means for determining a distribution of terminals requesting common content based on information received through the communications interface; and means for varying the operational characteristics of a transmitter based on the determined distribution of terminals requesting common content, wherein the varied operational characteristics of the transmitter define a network topology, and wherein the communications interface provides a return channel for the plurality of terminals to request content from the broadcast network.
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35. A method of using a plurality of transmitters for delivering content to terminals in respective locations comprising the steps of:
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determining a distribution of terminals requesting common content from a broadcast network; and varying a set of operational characteristics of a transmitter based on the determined distribution of terminals requesting common content, wherein the terminals request content through a return channel provided by a communications interface of the broadcast network.
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36. A terminal for receiving content transmitted from a broadcast network, the broadcast network having a network controller operatively coupled to a communications interface and a plurality of transmitters for delivering content to a plurality of terminals with each transmitter operating in accordance with a variable set of operational characteristics and each of the plurality terminals comprising means operable to receive a signal indicative of the operational characteristics of a transmitter whereby the means operable to receive is operable to receive content delivered in accordance with the signals;
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wherein the operational characteristics of the transmitter define a network topology, wherein the communications interface provides a return channel for the plurality of terminals to request content from the broadcast network; wherein the broadcast network determines a distribution of terminals requesting common content based on information received through the communications interface, and wherein the operational characteristics of each of the plurality of transmitters are varied based on the determined distribution of terminals to which common content is being delivered.
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37. A method for receiving content from a broadcast network having a network controller operatively coupled to a communications interface and a plurality of transmitters, wherein each transmitter operates in accordance with a variable set of operational characteristics, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving a signal indicative of operational characteristics of a transmitter delivering said content; and changing reception characteristics in accordance with the received signal, the operational characteristics of the transmitter defining a network topology, wherein the communications interface provides a return channel for a plurality of terminals to request content from the broadcast network, wherein the broadcast network determines a distribution of terminals in the network requesting common content based on information received through the communications interface, and wherein the set of operational characteristics of the transmitter is varied based on the determined distribution of terminals in the network receiving common content. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40)
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41. A computer program as claimed in 40, stored on a computer readable medium.
Specification