Network bandwidth optimization by dynamic channel allocation
First Claim
1. A method for increasing channel utilization in a video broadcast system, comprising:
- receiving, at a head-end, a request for a video program from one of a plurality of subscriber stations;
determining, at said head-end, whether said requested video program is associated with one of a predetermined plurality of subsets of video channels, wherein said plurality of subsets of video channels comprises a first subset of video channels representing a first subset of video broadcast channels having a first subscriber viewership level greater than a threshold level, a second subset of video channels representing a second subset of video broadcast channels having a second subscriber viewership level less than said threshold level, and a third subset of video channels representing on-demand channels having a third subscriber viewership associated with video-on-demand;
causing substantially continuous transmission of said first subset of video broadcast channels from said head-end to said plurality of subscriber stations;
causing transmission of said second subset of video broadcast channels from said head-end to said plurality of subscriber stations based upon availability of channels in said second subset of channels and assigning video programming corresponding to said request to an available one of said second subset of channels; and
causing transmission of said third subset of video channels from said head-end to said plurality of subscriber stations upon assigning video programming corresponding to said request to an available one of said third subset of channels.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for increasing channel utilization in a video broadcast system includes receiving, at a head-end, a request for a video program from one of a plurality of subscriber stations. Determining whether the requested video program is associated with a first subset of channels representing broadcasted channels having a first subscriber viewership level greater than a threshold level, a second subset of channels representing broadcasted channels having a second subscriber viewership level less than the threshold level, and a third subset of channels representing on-demand channels having a third subscriber viewership. The first subset of broadcast channels is substantially continuously transmitted. The second subset of broadcast channels is transmitted based upon channel availability and programming assignments. The third subset of on-demand channels are transmitted from the head-end to at least one of the plurality of subscriber stations upon assigning video programming corresponding to the requesting subscriber station.
46 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A method for increasing channel utilization in a video broadcast system, comprising:
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receiving, at a head-end, a request for a video program from one of a plurality of subscriber stations; determining, at said head-end, whether said requested video program is associated with one of a predetermined plurality of subsets of video channels, wherein said plurality of subsets of video channels comprises a first subset of video channels representing a first subset of video broadcast channels having a first subscriber viewership level greater than a threshold level, a second subset of video channels representing a second subset of video broadcast channels having a second subscriber viewership level less than said threshold level, and a third subset of video channels representing on-demand channels having a third subscriber viewership associated with video-on-demand; causing substantially continuous transmission of said first subset of video broadcast channels from said head-end to said plurality of subscriber stations; causing transmission of said second subset of video broadcast channels from said head-end to said plurality of subscriber stations based upon availability of channels in said second subset of channels and assigning video programming corresponding to said request to an available one of said second subset of channels; and causing transmission of said third subset of video channels from said head-end to said plurality of subscriber stations upon assigning video programming corresponding to said request to an available one of said third subset of channels. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An apparatus comprising:
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a processor; memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to perform; receiving a request for a video program from one of a plurality of subscriber stations; determining whether said requested video program is associated with one of a predetermined plurality of subsets of video channels, wherein said plurality of subsets of video channels comprises a first subset of video channels representing a first subset of video broadcast channels having a first subscriber viewership level greater than a threshold level, a second subset of video channels representing a second subset of video broadcast channels having a second subscriber viewership level less than said threshold level, and a third subset of video channels representing on-demand channels having a third subscriber viewership associated with video-on-demand; substantially continuously transmitting said first subset of video broadcast channels to said plurality of subscriber stations; transmitting said second subset of video broadcast channels to said plurality of subscriber stations based upon availability of channels in said second subset of channels and assigning video programming corresponding to said request to an available one of said second subset of channels; and transmitting said third subset of video channels to said plurality of subscriber stations upon assigning video programming corresponding to said request to an available one of said third subset of channels. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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Specification