Methods and apparatus for format selection for network optimization
First Claim
1. A method of operating a content delivery network to deliver programming rendered in both standard definition (SD) and high definition (HD) formats to various respective ones of a plurality of user devices associated with said network, said method comprising:
- determining at least one of said user devices as having an up-conversion capability; and
causing, via a signal sent from a network entity of said content delivery network, said at least one of said user devices to tune to a program rendered in said SD format, thereby providing said at least one of said user devices with programming at least approximating quality provided by said HD format even though said at least one user device is switched to receive said programming in said SD format;
wherein said network entity comprises a headend entity or an intermediate node entity of said network.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Method and apparatus for optimizing network bandwidth utilization by delivering to users only the minimum number of programs required by service provider policies. In one embodiment, the method comprises switching some users from lower quality versions of programs to higher quality versions of the same programs, and removing those lower quality versions of programs from a given service group. In another embodiment, some users are switched from higher quality versions of programs to lower quality versions of those same programs, and the higher quality versions of programs removed from a given service group.
151 Citations
37 Claims
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1. A method of operating a content delivery network to deliver programming rendered in both standard definition (SD) and high definition (HD) formats to various respective ones of a plurality of user devices associated with said network, said method comprising:
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determining at least one of said user devices as having an up-conversion capability; and causing, via a signal sent from a network entity of said content delivery network, said at least one of said user devices to tune to a program rendered in said SD format, thereby providing said at least one of said user devices with programming at least approximating quality provided by said HD format even though said at least one user device is switched to receive said programming in said SD format; wherein said network entity comprises a headend entity or an intermediate node entity of said network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of operating a content distribution network, comprising:
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receiving at a network server a request for programming rendered at a first level of quality from a user device; determining that said requesting user device has a quality up-conversion capability; causing via said network server said requesting user device to access the programming rendered at a second level of quality, the second level of quality being lesser than the first level; and delivering said programming rendered at said second level to enable said up-conversion capability of said requesting user device, said up-conversion providing said requesting user device with the programming at least approximating the level of quality provided by said first level while receiving only said programming rendered at said second level of quality. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of operating a content delivery network, comprising:
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delivering at least first and second versions of a program to a plurality of user devices, said first and second versions comprising standard definition (SD) and high definition (HD) versions of said program, respectively; identifying at least one bandwidth surplus or deficiency on said network; determining that at least some of said plurality of user devices are capable of up-converting from SD to HD resolution; and causing, via at least one process running on a headend or hubsite entity of said content delivery network, selectively switching of at least a portion of said user devices comprising said up-conversion capability from said SD version to said HD version of said program, or from HD version to said SD version, based at least in part on said surplus or deficiency. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A server apparatus operating within a content delivery network and in data communication with a plurality of consumer-premises equipment (CPE), said server apparatus configured to deliver a program in high definition (HD) format and standard definition (SD) format to said plurality of CPE, said apparatus comprising:
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a storage entity configured to store said HD format and SD format program; at least one interface configured to provide said HD format and SD format program to said plurality of CPE via said network; and a processor configured to run at least one computer program thereon, said computer program configured to; access information identifying at least a portion of said plurality of CPE as being capable of up-converting SD format to a format which approximates said HD format; and controllably switch said at least portion of said plurality of CPE to receive the SD format program so as to provide said at least portion of CPE with said approximated HD format program via a lower rate bitstream. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method of operating a content distribution network, comprising:
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receiving at a network server a request for programming from a user device; determining that said requesting user device has a quality up-conversion capability; where said determining indicates that said requesting user device has said quality up-conversion capability, said network server causing said requesting user device to access the programming rendered at a first level of quality, the first level of quality being lesser than a second level of quality; and delivering said programming rendered at said first level to enable said up-conversion capability of said requesting user device, said up-conversion providing said requesting user device with the programming at least approximating the level of quality provided by said second level while receiving only said programming rendered at said first level of quality. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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Specification