Methods and apparatus for revenue-optimized delivery of content in a network

• US 8,099,757 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2007
• Issued: 01/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Time Warner Cable Inc. (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Inventors: Riedl, Steven, Santangelo, Bryan, Zimbelman, Gabe
• Primary Examiner(s): Saltarelli, Dominic D
• Application Number:
  US11/974,700
• Publication Number:
  US 20090100459A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,555 Days
• Field of Search: 725114-116, 725144-146
• US Class Current: 725/116
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23424 involving splicing one content stream with another content stream, e.g. for inserting or substituting an advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23439 for generating different versions
• 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 21/2402 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 21/2405 Monitoring of the internal components or processes of the server, e.g. server load allocation of resources in multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/50; performance measurement of computer activity G06F11/34
• 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 21/26225 involving billing parameters, e.g. priority for subscribers of premium services
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64738 Monitoring network characteristics, e.g. bandwidth, congestion level data switched network analysis H04L41/14; monitoring functioning in data switched networks H04L43/0817; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for optimizing the distribution and delivery of multimedia or other content within a content-based network. In one embodiment, the network comprises a broadcast switched cable television network, which utilizes a Network optimization controller (NOC) that processes subscriber program viewing requests to identify options available to fulfill the request (including, e.g., the creation of one or more “microcasts” specifically targeting one or more users), and evaluate these options to determine one that optimizes network operation. The NOC performs these decisions by considering various parameters including network resource availability, type of CPE, subscriber'"'"'s targeted advertisement profile, and business rules programmed by operator of the network.

Claims

1. A method of managing bandwidth within a content delivery network having a plurality of consumer premises equipment (CPE) and respective users associated therewith, comprising:

establishing a plurality of at least partly different program streams for at least some of respective ones of said CPE and users;

identifying at least one bandwidth constraint on said network;

migrating at least one of said CPE from a first program stream having content which is logically correlated to a demographic associated with said CPE to which it is presently tuned to a second program stream less logically correlated to said demographic than said first program stream, said migrating being based at least in part on an evaluation of a level of said logical correlation; and

selectively removing one or more of said program streams from being delivered over said network.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said establishing a plurality of at least partly different program streams comprises creating a streams having content at least partly determined based on a demographic associated with a user of a requesting CPE.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said act of migrating comprises:

identifying at least one of said existing program streams that shares a common demographic with said demographic; and

migrating said at least one CPE to said identified existing program stream.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said act of identifying at least one bandwidth constraint comprises identifying said at least one constraint based on analysis of a predicted value of bandwidth consumption based at least in part on historical data.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said act of migrating said at least one of said CPE from said first program stream to said second program stream is based at least in part on at least one operational consideration relating to said network.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said at least one operational consideration comprises bandwidth availability.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein said act of migrating said at least one of said CPE from said first program stream to said second program stream is based at least in part on at least one profit or revenue consideration relating to said network.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said at least one profit or revenue consideration is related to said demographic associated with said CPE.

9. A method of managing bandwidth within a content delivery network having a plurality of premises devices and respective users associated therewith, comprising:

establishing a plurality of at least partly different program streams for at least some of respective ones of said premises devices;

identifying at least one bandwidth constraint on said network;

migrating at least one of said premises devices from a first program stream to a second program stream, the first program stream having content which is logically correlated to a demographic associated with a user of said premises device, the second program stream being less logically correlated to said demographic than said first program stream; and

selectively removing said first program stream when no other premises devices are tuned to said first stream, thereby conserving bandwidth.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said network comprises a broadcast switched architecture network, and said migrating is performed by a software entity disposed at least partly at a switching hub of said network.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein said acts of migrating and selectively removing are performed substantially in response to said identification of said at least one bandwidth constraint.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein said migrating said at least one of said premises devices comprises switching enough ones of said plurality of premises devices to substantially mitigate said bandwidth constraint.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein said second program stream comprises a minimum level of correlation to said demographic associated with said user.

14. A method of operating a content distribution network, the method comprising:

delivering at least first and second program streams to a plurality of users, the content of said first and second streams each being tailored to one or more respective demographic variables;

identifying at least one bandwidth deficiency on said network;

selectively switching ones of said plurality of users from said first program stream to said second program stream based at least in part on said deficiency, said second stream being less logically correlated to a demographic of said plurality of users than a correlation thereto by said first stream; and

removing said first program stream after said selective switching, said removing conserving bandwidth within said network.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said selective switching comprises switching enough ones of said plurality of users to substantially mitigate said deficiency.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein said identifying comprises:

determining a projected available bandwidth some time in the future;

determining a projected demand for said program; and

determining said deficiency based at least on said projected available bandwidth and said projected demand.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein at least one of said projected available bandwidth and said projected demand is based on historical data for a network.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein said relationship between said respective demographic variables comprises a match between at least some of said variables.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein said relationship between said respective demographic variables comprises a graded correlation between at least some of said variables.

26. The method of claim 14, wherein said selective switching is further based on a determination of a minimal level of correlation of said one or more demographic variables of said first stream and said second stream.

20. Apparatus for use in a content delivery network that delivers programming specifically configured for certain viewer demographics, the apparatus comprising:

a processor;

an interface in data communication with said processor, said interface adapted to communicate with a storage device;

a network interface; and

at least one computer program adapted to run on said processor, said at least one program being configured to;

determine one or more demographics and/or psychographics associated one or more subscribers of said network;

establish a plurality of at least partly different program streams for at least some of respective ones of said subscribers;

identify at least one bandwidth constraint on said network;

selectively switch at least one of said subscribers from receiving a first program stream having content which is logically correlated to a demographic associated with said at least one subscriber to a second program stream that is less logically correlated to said demographic than said first program stream; and

remove said first program stream from being delivered over said network.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said computer program is further adapted to cause a premises device of said subscriber to tune to a transport channel corresponding with said second program stream.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said apparatus comprises a control apparatus used in a broadcast switched architecture (BSA) network switching hub.

23. A method of operating a content distribution network having a plurality of client devices operating in communication therewith, the method comprising:

causing at least some of said client devices to receive at least a respective one of a first plurality of program streams being delivered over said network; and

consolidating at least some of said client devices onto a second plurality of streams, said second plurality being fewer than said first plurality of streams, said consolidating allowing subsequent removal of one or more of said program streams within the network;

wherein said consolidating further comprises causing said at least some of said client devices to be switched to a program stream which is less correlated to demographics of users of said at least some client devices than a program stream received at said at least some client devices before said switching.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein said consolidating is further based at least in part on a cost-benefit analysis of at least a portion of said streams.

25. The method of claim 23, further comprising determining that a bandwidth constraint exists, or will exist in the future, on said network;

wherein said act of consolidating is based at least in part on said bandwidth constraint.