Method for connection acceptance control and optimal multi-media content delivery over networks

• US 7,568,046 B2
• Filed: 06/02/2006
• Issued: 07/28/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Musicqubed Innovations LLC (Ascend Innovation Management, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Burstcom Incorporated (Burst.com)
• Inventors: Allen, Arthur Douglas
• Primary Examiner(s): ZIA, SYED
• Application Number:
  US11/446,027
• Publication Number:
  US 20060265512A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,152 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 709/233
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/10 Flow control; Congestion control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/15 in relation to multipoint traffic arrangements for broadcast or multicast in data networks H04L12/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/19 at layers above the network layer network arrangements for networked applications for scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/70 Admission control; Resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/741 Holding a request until resources become available
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/762 triggered by the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/826 Involving periods of time
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/62 Establishing a time schedule for servicing the requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2381 Adapting the multiplex stream to a specific network, e.g. an Internet Protocol [IP] network transmission of MPEG streams over ATM H04L12/5601
• 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 21/2396 characterized by admission policies admission control, resource allocation in open networks H04L12/5692; arrangements for network security using user profiles for access control H04L63/102; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• 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 21/26216 involving the channel capacity, e.g. network bandwidth admission control, resource allocation in open networks H04L12/5692; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10; establishing a schedule or organising the servicing of application requests taking into account QoS H04L67/61
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2662 Controlling the complexity of the video stream, e.g. by scaling the resolution or bitrate of the video stream based on the client capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 : for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• 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 21/643 : Communication protocols network streaming protocols, e.g. real-time transport protocol [RTP] or real-time control protocol [RTCP], H04L65/65
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/658 : Transmission by the client directed to the server

Abstract

A system for allocating bandwidth between a server device and at least one client device. The system includes a call acceptance module operative to receive an incoming request for service; a flow regulator configured to deliver content at a modulated target flow rate, the content being delivered between the server device and a respective client device when a call is accepted by the call acceptance module; and a flow optimizer configured to modulate the target flow rate of the flow regulator in order to optimize an aggregate flow of content.

Claims

1. A method for allocating bandwidth for the delivery of content between a server device and at least two client devices, the method comprising:

delivering content at a modulated target flow rate, the content being delivered between the server device and a respective client device; and

modulating the target flow rate to each client device in order to increase an aggregate flow of content to the at least two client devices, wherein modulating the target flow rate includes;

representing a target flow rate of content from the server device to each client device as a control variable,

determining one or more time-varying constraints on the target flow rate, determining a cost function that incorporates the control variables for the at least two client devices, wherein the cost function is associated with an aggregate flow rate associated with the at least two client devices,

performing periodic computations using the cost function and control variables such that the bandwidth can be continuously allocated among the at least two client devices according to values of the cost function, and

allocating bandwidth to the at least two client devices based upon values of the control variables that maximize the cost function.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein modulating the target flow rate includes maximizing one or more financial charges for the content.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein modulating the target flow rate occurs in response to a change in one or more control variables.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining one or more control variables that correspond to an optimal flow rate of content.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating a cost function of one or more control variables that corresponds to a maximized value of the one or more control variables.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the modulation of the target flow rate results from changes in the values of two or more control variables.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining an admission capacity of the bandwidth associated with the at least two client devices;

receiving an incoming request for content from a prospective client device;

calculating a prospective client target flow rate associated with prospective delivery of content to the prospective client device; and

accepting the prospective client device when the admission capacity is greater than the prospective client target flow rate.

8. A method for allocating bandwidth between a server device and at least two client devices, the method comprising:

delivering content between the server device and each client device at a flow rate associated with the client device;

determining a controlled target flow rate associated with an aggregate content, the aggregate content being delivered between the server device and the at least two client devices;

controlling the delivery of the aggregate content by representing a target flow rate of the aggregate content as one or more control variables;

determining one or more time-varying constraints on the target flow rate; and

allocating bandwidth to the at least two client devices based upon values of the control variables associated with the at least two client devices that satisfy the target flow rate constraints.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein an increase in the flow rate associated with a first client device results in a reduced flow rate to a second client device.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising using an available server capacity to burst transmit content to one or more client buffers associated with the respective client devices.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising controlling the target flow rate in order to maximize an aggregate flow rate of the aggregate content to the at least two client devices.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein a minimum constraint for a flow rate associated with a first client device ensures that undelivered content associated with the first client device is delivered by an implied deadline associated with the first client device.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the implied deadline is the last moment of a play session associated with the content associated with the first client device.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the controlled target flow rate ensures that all content is delivered to the at least two client devices by their respective implied deadlines.

15. The method of claim 8, wherein the target flow rate is modulated in response to at least one control variable, and the control variable varies over time.

16. The method of claim 8, further comprising calculating an acceptance condition for a prospective client device, the acceptance condition based upon a value of one or more control variables associated with the at least two client devices.

17. The method of claim 8, wherein the at least two client devices are distinguished by their respective costs of service, the bandwidth allocated to each client device varies over time, and an amount of bandwidth allocated to a client device in a first cost of service category corresponds to an amount of bandwidth remaining from prior allocations to one or more second clients in one or more higher cost of service categories.

18. The method of claim 8, wherein the flow rate associated with a client device is constrained to be less than or equal to a non-decreasing function of time that starts at a multiple of an average consumption rate that equals or exceeds one.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the constraint on the flow rate may increase within the bounds of an admission capacity.

20. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

determining an admission capacity of the bandwidth associated with the at least two client devices,

receiving an incoming request for content from a prospective client device;

calculating a prospective client flow rate associated with a prospective delivery of content to the prospective client device; and

accepting the prospective client device when the admission capacity is greater than the prospective client flow rate.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising reducing the flow rate of one or more of the at least two client devices in order to accommodate a flow rate of the prospective client device after the prospective client device has been accepted.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein a prospective client device is accepted based upon values of one or more control variables associated with the at least two client devices prior to the acceptance of the prospective client device.