Quality of service support in a media exchange network

• US 8,358,582 B2
• Filed: 11/15/2011
• Issued: 01/22/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: James Bennett, Jeyhan Karaoguz
• Inventors: Karaoguz, Jeyhan, Bennett, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan, Tri H
• Application Number:
  US13/296,363
• Publication Number:
  US 20120079078A1
• Time in Patent Office: 434 Days
• Field of Search: 370229-238, 3703952-39543, 370400-411, 709220-245, 725105-142
• US Class Current: 370/230.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/80 characterised by transmission among terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2834 Switching of information between an external network and a home network access arrangements H04L12/2856
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/765 intermediate
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/62 Establishing a time schedule for servicing the requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/63 Routing a service request depending on the request content or context
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/222 Secondary servers, e.g. proxy server, cable television Head-end provisioning of proxy services in data packet switching networks H04L67/56
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23106 involving caching operations prefetching while addressing of a memory level in which the access to the desired data or data block requires associative addressing means within memory systems or architectures G06F12/0862; caching at an intermediate stage in a data network H04L67/568
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2343 involving reformatting operations of video signals for distribution or compliance with end-user requests or end-user device requirements video transcoding H04N19/40; media packet handling at the source H04L65/762
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234363 by altering the spatial resolution, e.g. for clients with a lower screen resolution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2408 Monitoring of the upstream path of the transmission network, e.g. client requests monitoring data switching networks utilization H04L43/0876; scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/254 Management at additional data server, e.g. shopping server, rights management server arrangements for maintenance or administration in data networks H04L41/00; network services using third party service providers H04L67/53
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2541 Rights Management protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment G06F21/10; security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2543 : Billing , e.g. for subscription services payment schemes, architectures or protocols G06Q20/00; e-commerce G06Q30/00; arrangements for billing for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/21
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25435 : involving characteristics of content or additional data, e.g. video resolution or the amount of advertising
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/258 : Client or end-user data management, e.g. managing client capabilities, user preferences or demographics, processing of multiple end-users preferences to derive collaborative data arrangements for services using the result on the distributing side of broadcast systems H04H60/66; profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25808 : Management of client data terminal profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/303
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25833 : involving client hardware characteristics, e.g. manufacturer, processing or storage capabilities allocation of resources considering hardware capabilities in multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/5044; allocation of resources considering software capabilities in multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/5055
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25875 : involving end-user authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; arrangements for secret or secure communication including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 : being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26266 : for determining content or additional data repetition rate, e.g. of a file in a DVB carousel according to its importance arrangements for broadcast or for distribution of identical information repeatedly in broadcast distribution systems H04H20/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2668 : Creating a channel for a dedicated end-user group, e.g. insertion of targeted commercials based on end-user profiles information retrieval from the Internet by querying with filtering and personalisation G06F16/9535; arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast H04H20/10; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; adaptation of message content in packet-switching networks H04L51/063
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2743 : Video hosting of uploaded data from client
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2747 : Remote storage of video programs received via the downstream path, e.g. from the server
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 : having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 : embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41422 : located in transportation means, e.g. personal vehicle arrangements specially adapted for transportation systems in broadcast systems H04H20/62
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4143 : embedded in a Personal Computer [PC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/422 : Input-only peripherals , i.e. input devices connected to specially adapted client devices, e.g. global positioning system [GPS] input devices also receiving signals from specially adapted client devices H04N21/4104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 : Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4227 : Providing Remote input by a user located remotely from the client device, e.g. at work
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42684 : Client identification by a unique number or address, e.g. serial number, MAC address, socket ID network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming H04L61/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 : involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4314 : for fitting data in a restricted space on the screen, e.g. EPG data in a rectangular grid
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4316 : for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4331 : Caching operations, e.g. of an advertisement for later insertion during playback
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 : Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/436 : Interfacing a local distribution network, e.g. communicating with another STB or one or more peripheral devices inside the home
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 : Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43632 : involving a wired protocol, e.g. IEEE 1394 high-speed IEEE 1394 serial bus H04L12/40052
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 : involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/442 : Monitoring of processes or resources, e.g. detecting the failure of a recording device, monitoring the downstream bandwidth, the number of times a movie has been viewed, the storage space available from the internal hard disk arrangements for monitoring broadcast services or broadcast-related services H04H60/29; arrangements for identifying or recognising characteristics with a direct linkage to broadcast information H04H60/35; monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; monitoring in wireless networks H04W24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44222 : Analytics of user selections, e.g. selection of programs or purchase activity monitoring of user selections in data processing systems G06F11/34; arrangements for monitoring the user's behaviour or opinions in broadcast systems H04H60/33
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 : involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/458 : Scheduling content for creating a personalised stream, e.g. by combining a locally stored advertisement with an incoming stream; Updating operations, e.g. for OS modules ; time-related management operations arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast or during the distribution H04H20/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 : Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4627 : Rights management associated to the content security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4668 : for recommending content, e.g. movies
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 : for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47214 : for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; notification of incoming messages in packet switching networks H04L51/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4751 : for defining user accounts, e.g. accounts for children
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4753 : for user identification, e.g. by entering a PIN or password cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4755 : for defining user preferences, e.g. favourite actors or genre retrieval personalisation and generation of user profiles for the retrieval of video data G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4758 : for providing answers, e.g. voting
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 : Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4786 : e-mailing message switching systems, e.g. electronic mail systems H04L51/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4788 : communicating with other users, e.g. chatting arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 : End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4821 : using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4826 : using recommendation lists, e.g. of programs or channels sorted out according to their score
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4828 : for searching program descriptors retrieval of video data G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4856 : for language selection, e.g. for the menu or subtitles
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4882 : for displaying messages, e.g. warnings, reminders arrangements for providing short real-time information to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1895
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 : involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6143 : involving transmission via a satellite
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6187 : involving transmission via a telephone network, e.g. POTS
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/632 : using a connection between clients on a wide area network, e.g. setting up a peer-to-peer communication via Internet for retrieving video segments from the hard-disk of other client devices broadcast-related systems characterised by transmission among terminal devices H04H60/80; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/637 : Control signals issued by the client directed to the server or network components
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6402 : Address allocation for clients address allocation in data networks H04L61/50
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64322 : IP
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6581 : Reference data, e.g. a movie identifier for ordering a movie or a product identifier in a home shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6582 : Data stored in the client, e.g. viewing habits, hardware capabilities, credit card number arrangements where receivers interact with the broadcast H04H20/38
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6583 : Acknowledgement
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6587 : Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8113 : comprising music, e.g. song in MP3 format
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 : involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/814 : comprising emergency warnings arrangements specially adapted for emergency or urgency in broadcast systems H04H20/59; arrangements for providing alarms, notifications, alerts to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1895
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8146 : involving graphical data, e.g. 3D object, 2D graphics
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 : Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/141 : between two video terminals, e.g. videophone telephonic communication systems combined with television receiver for reception of entertainment or information matter H04M11/085
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 : by receiver means only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17309 : Transmission or handling of upstream communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 : Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17336 : Handling of requests in head-ends
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 : Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

A method for controlling communication of media content by a network device in a communication network includes providing, by the network device, a plurality of quality of service options corresponding to at least one media file selected for communication to a remote user via a communication channel; receiving a quality of service selection specifying at least one of the plurality of quality of service options; and communicating the at least one media file to the remote user utilizing the received quality of service selection. The providing may include displaying, by the network device, the plurality of quality of service options. At least a portion of specified parameters may be transferred to a first communication device coupled to the communication network. At least a portion of the communication channel may be configured by a second device utilizing the transferred at least a portion of the specified parameters.

Claims

1. A method for controlling communication of media content by a network device in a communication network, the method comprising:

providing, by the network device, a plurality of quality of service options corresponding to at least one media file of a plurality of media files from a plurality of different media sources selected for communication to a remote user via a communication channel and further corresponding to at least one of a media source characteristic and a channel or end user device characteristic;

receiving a quality of service selection specifying at least one of said plurality of quality of service options; and

communicating said at least one media file to said remote user utilizing said received quality of service selection.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said providing comprises displaying, by the network device, said plurality of quality of service options.

3. The method according to claim 2, comprising configuring at least a portion of said communication channel by a second device utilizing said transferred at least a portion of said specified parameters.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein said first communication device is at least one of a broadband headend and a media server.

5. The method according to claim 1, comprising transferring at least a portion of specified parameters to a first communication device coupled to the communication network.

6. The method according to claim 1, comprising one or both of queuing and/or buffering at least a portion of said at least one media file during said communicating.

7. The method according to claim 1, comprising presenting a cost for said communicating of said at least one media file via said communication channel utilizing said quality of service selection.

8. The method according to claim 7, comprising varying said cost depending on said quality of service selection.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein said quality of service selection for said communicating of said at least one media file comprises at least one of:

a resolution, color content, encoding type, encoding rate, compression type, display size, a bandwidth to be utilized for transfer of said at least one media file, a time to be utilized for said transfer, and/or a cost for said transfer.

10. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon, a computer program having at least one code section for controlling communication of media content by a network device in a communication network, the at least one code section being executable by a computer for causing the computer to perform steps comprising:

providing, by the network device, a plurality of quality of service options and associated costs corresponding to at least one media file of a plurality of media files from a plurality of different media sources selected for communication to a remote user via a communication channel and further corresponding to at least one of a media source characteristic and a channel or end user device characteristic;

receiving a quality of service selection specifying at least one of said plurality of quality of service options; and

communicating said at least one media file to said remote user utilizing said received quality of service selection.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 10, wherein said providing comprises code for displaying, by the network device, said plurality of quality of service options.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 11, comprising code for configuring at least a portion of said communication channel by a second device utilizing said transferred at least a portion of said specified parameters.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 10, wherein said first communication device is at least one of a broadband headend and a media server.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 10, comprising code for transferring at least a portion of specified parameters to a first communication device coupled to the communication network.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 10, comprising code for one or both of queuing and/or buffering at least a portion of said at least one media file during said communicating.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 10, comprising code for presenting a cost for said communicating of said at least one media file via said communication channel utilizing said quality of service selection.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 16, comprising code for varying said cost depending on said quality of service selection.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 10, wherein said quality of service selection for said communicating of said at least one media file comprises at least one of:

a resolution, color content, encoding type, encoding rate, compression type, display size, a bandwidth to be utilized for transfer of said at least one media file, a time to be utilized for said transfer, and/or a cost for said transfer.

19. A system for controlling communication of media content by a network device in a communication network, the system comprising:

at least one processor within the network device, said at least one processor configured to provide a plurality of quality of service options and associated costs corresponding to at least one media file of a plurality of media files from a plurality of different media sources selected for communication to a remote user via a communication channel and further corresponding to at least one of a media source characteristic and a channel or end user device characteristic;

said at least one processor configured to receive a quality of service selection specifying at least one of said plurality of quality of service options; and

said at least one processor configured to communicate said at least one media file to said remote user utilizing said received quality of service selection.

20. The system according to claim 19, wherein during said providing, said at least one processor enables displaying of said plurality of quality of service options.

21. The system according to claim 20, wherein said at least one processor enables configuring at least a portion of said communication channel by a second device utilizing said transferred at least a portion of said specified parameters.

22. The system according to claim 20, wherein said first communication device is at least one of a broadband headend and a media server.

23. The system according to claim 19, wherein said at least one processor is configured to transfer at least a portion of specified parameters to a first communication device coupled to the communication network.

24. The system according to claim 19, wherein said at least one processor is configured to one or both of queue and/or buffer at least a portion of said at least one media file during said communicating.

25. The system according to claim 19, wherein said at least one processor is configured to present a cost for said communicating of said at least one media file via said communication channel utilizing said quality of service selection.

26. The system according to claim 25, wherein said at least one processor is configured to vary said cost depending on said quality of service selection.

27. The system according to claim 19, wherein said quality of service selection for said communicating of said at least one media file comprises at least one of:

a resolution, color content, encoding type, encoding rate, compression type, display size, a bandwidth to be utilized for transfer of said at least one media file, a time to be utilized for said transfer, and/or a cost for said transfer.