Video and data network load balancing with video placeholder

• US 8,395,993 B2
• Filed: 04/16/2010
• Issued: 03/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ViaSat Incorporated
• Original Assignee: ViaSat Incorporated
• Inventors: Kimmich, Kevin, Mo, Fan, Vanderaar, Mark, Harel, Richard, Fuerst, Russell
• Primary Examiner(s): Shah, Chirag
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kang, Suk Jin
• Application Number:
  US12/762,285
• Publication Number:
  US 20100260045A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,061 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/235
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0003 by switching between different modulation schemes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0009 by adapting the channel coding H04L1/1812 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0014 by adapting the source coding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0046 Code rate detection or code type detection H04L1/0038 takes precedence; detection of the data rate H04L25/0262; for packet format H04L1/0091
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1812 Hybrid protocols; Hybrid automatic repeat request [HARQ]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2001/0098 Unequal error protection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/136 Incoming video signal characteristics or properties
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/156 Availability of hardware or computational resources, e.g. encoding based on power-saving criteria
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/164 Feedback from the receiver or from the transmission channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/30 using hierarchical techniques, e.g. scalability H04N19/63 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/40 using video transcoding, i.e. partial or full decoding of a coded input stream followed by re-encoding of the decoded output stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/61 in combination with predictive coding
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/66 involving data partitioning, i.e. separation of data into packets or partitions according to importance
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/89 involving methods or arrangements for detection of transmission errors at the decoder
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234327 by decomposing into layers, e.g. base layer and one or more enhancement layers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23439 for generating different versions
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2383 Channel coding or modulation of digital bit-stream, e.g. QPSK modulation arrangements for detecting or preventing errors in the information received by adapting the channel coding H04L1/0009; analogue front ends or means for connecting modulators, demodulators or transceivers to a transmission line H04L27/0002
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25808 Management of client data terminal profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/303
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44209 Monitoring of downstream path of the transmission network originating from a server, e.g. bandwidth variations of a wireless network arrangements for maintenance or administration in data switching networks involving bandwidth and capacity management H04L41/0896
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/631 Multimode Transmission, e.g. transmitting basic layers and enhancement layers of the content over different transmission paths or transmitting with different error corrections, different keys or with different transmission protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64792 : Controlling the complexity of the content stream, e.g. by dropping packets intermediate media network packet handling H04L65/765; proxy provisioning conversion or adaptation for reducing the amount or size of exchanged application data H04L67/5651; negotiation of resources in wireless networks H04W28/16
• 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

Abstract

A network access unit includes: a source data receiver module to receive multiple first source data representing video content and second source data representing broadband data content; a network control module to generate a master schedule indicating whether each first source data is to be transmitted with one or two layers; a pre-coder module to pre-code each first source data using a first pre-coding scheme to generate a first set of representation data, and if the first source data is to be transmitted with two layers, to pre-code the first source data using a second pre-coding scheme to generate a second set of representation data; and an ACM module to associate each first set of representation data with a first coding and modulation scheme, and associate, for each first source data to be transmitted with two layers, the second set of representation data with a second coding and modulation scheme.

Claims

1. A network access unit of a load balancing communications network configured to communicate with a plurality of data terminals configured to receive transmissions over a satellite link, the network access unit comprising:

a source data receiver module configured to receive a plurality of first source data, each first source data representing respective video content, and second source data representing broadband data content;

a network control module configured to receive link condition data about data terminals in the plurality of data terminals and configuration data about the plurality of first source data and the second source data, calculate priority data for the plurality of first source data and the second source data based on the link condition data and the configuration data, use the priority data to generate a master schedule including program data indicating, for each of the plurality of first source data, whether the respective first source data is to be transmitted with one or two layers, and transmit the master schedule to other components of the network access unit to configure parameters for a next sequence;

a pre-coder module configured to pre-code, for each first source data of the plurality of first source data, the respective first source data using a respective first pre-coding scheme to generate a respective first set of representation data decodable independently to provide a set of first-level playback data representing the respective first source data, to determine if the program data of the master schedule indicates that the respective first source data is to be transmitted with two layers, and if the program data is determined to indicate that the respective first source data is to be transmitted with two layers, to pre-code the respective first source data using a respective second pre-coding scheme to generate a respective second set of representation data decodable in combination with the respective first set of representation data to provide a set of second-level playback data representing the respective first source data; and

an adaptive coding and modulation (ACM) module configured to associate, for each first source data of the plurality of first source data, the respective first set of representation data with a respective first coding and modulation scheme, and associate, for each first source data indicated for transmission with two layers, the respective second set of representation data with a respective second coding and modulation scheme, wherein the respective second coding and modulation scheme is of a higher order than the respective first coding and modulation scheme.

2. The network access unit of claim 1, wherein each of the first pre-coding schemes and the second pre-coding schemes includes a data partitioning scheme using scalable video coding.

3. The network access unit of claim 1 further comprising:

a transceiver module configured to generate, for each first source data of the plurality of first source data, a respective first transmission by applying the respective first coding and modulation scheme to the respective first set of representation data and applying, for each first source data indicated for transmission with two layers, the respective second coding and modulation scheme to the respective second set of representation data, to generate a second transmission from the second source data, and to communicate each of the first transmissions and the second transmission to respective data terminals of the plurality of data terminals over the satellite link.

4. The network access unit of claim 3, wherein the satellite link has a given bandwidth;

and the network control module is configured to generate the master schedule to indicate that available bandwidth is allocated to one or more of the first transmissions and the second transmission communicated to the respective data terminals, wherein the available bandwidth is made available by not transmitting a second layer for one or more of the plurality of first source data.

5. The network access unit of claim 1, wherein the network control module is further configured to generate the master schedule to include bit rate data indicating, for each first source data of the plurality of first source data, a first bit rate for a first layer and a second bit rate for a second layer, wherein a sum of the first bit rate and the second bit rate equals a given bit rate of the respective first source data;

and for each first source data indicated for transmission with one layer, the bit rate data for the respective first source data indicates that the first bit rate is lower than the first bit rates of other first source data indicated for transmission with two layers.

6. The network access unit of claim 1, wherein for each first source data indicated for transmission with one layer, the respective set of first-level playback data representing the respective first source data provides, on playback, a single frame, a title screen, a lower frame rate version, a lower resolution version, or a lower bit rate version of the respective video content represented by the respective first source data.

7. The network access unit of claim 1, wherein the network control module is configured to use the priority data to generate the master schedule including program data indicating that a particular first source data is to be transmitted with one layer if the link condition data indicates that an audience metric of the respective video content represented by the particular first source data is less than a threshold amount.

8. The network access unit of claim 7, wherein the threshold amount for the audience metric is one of the following:

a determined number of one or more viewers, a determined number of program requests from one or more viewers, or a program request from a network operator.

9. The network access unit of claim 7, wherein when the network control module receives updated link condition data indicating that the audience metric of the respective video content represented by the particular first source data is equal to or greater than the threshold amount, the network control module is further configured to generate an updated master schedule including updated program data indicating that the particular first source data is to be transmitted with two layers during a following sequence.

10. The network access unit of claim 9, wherein the updated master schedule also includes bit rate data indicating, for each first source data of the plurality of first source data, a first bit rate for a first layer and a second bit rate for a second layer, wherein a sum of the first bit rate and the second bit rate equals a given bit rate of the respective first source data;

and

for the particular first source data indicated for transmission with two layers during the following sequence, the bit rate data of the updated master schedule indicates that the first bit rate for the particular first source data is to be higher during the following sequence.

11. The network access unit of claim 1, wherein the network control module is further configured to receive network congestion data, to calculate the priority data based in part on the network congestion data, and to use the priority data to generate the master schedule including program data indicating that a particular first source data is to be transmitted with one layer if the network congestion data received indicates a network congestion level that is equal to or greater than a threshold amount and the configuration data received indicates that a priority level of the particular first source data is lower than priority levels of other first source data and a priority level of the second source data.

12. The network access unit of claim 11, wherein when the network control module receives updated network congestion data indicating that the network congestion level is less than the threshold amount or receives updated configuration data indicating that the priority level of the particular first source data has increased relative to the priority levels of the other first source data and the priority level of the second source data, the network control module is further configured to generate an updated master schedule including updated program data indicating that the particular first source data is to be transmitted with two layers during a following sequence.

13. A load balancing communications network configured to communicate with data terminals in a satellite environment, the network comprising:

a plurality of data terminals, each configured to receive a transmission over a satellite link; and

a gateway, in communication with the plurality of data terminals and comprising;

a source data receiver module configured to receive a plurality of first source data, each first source data representing respective video content, and second source data representing broadband data content;

a network control module configured to receive link condition data about data terminals in the plurality of data terminals and configuration data about the plurality of first source data and the second source data, calculate priority data for the plurality of first source data and the second source data based on the link condition data and the configuration data, use the priority data to generate a master schedule including program data indicating, for each of the plurality of first source data, whether the respective first source data is to be transmitted with one or two layers, and transmit the master schedule to other components of the gateway to configure parameters for a next sequence;

a pre-coder module configured to pre-code, for each first source data of the plurality of first source data, the respective first source data using a respective first pre-coding scheme to generate a respective first set of representation data decodable independently to provide a set of first-level playback data representing the respective first source data, to determine if the program data of the master schedule indicates that the respective first source data is to be transmitted with two layers, and if the program data is determined to indicate that the respective first source data is to be transmitted with two layers, to pre-code the respective first source data using a respective second pre-coding scheme to generate a respective second set of representation data decodable in combination with the respective first set of representation data to provide a set of second-level playback data representing the respective first source data; and

an adaptive coding and modulation (ACM) module configured to associate, for each first source data of the plurality of first source data, the respective first set of representation data with a respective first coding and modulation scheme, and associate, for each first source data indicated for transmission with two layers, the respective second set of representation data with a respective second coding and modulation scheme, wherein the respective second coding and modulation scheme is of a higher order than the respective first coding and modulation scheme.

14. A method for hierarchical communication of a set of source data in a load balancing communications network configured to communicate with a plurality of data terminals in a satellite environment, each of the data terminals configured to receive a transmission over a satellite link, the method comprising:

receiving a plurality of first source data, each first source data representing respective video content;

receiving second source data representing broadband data content;

receiving link condition data about data terminals in the plurality of data terminals and configuration data about the plurality of first source data and the second source data;

calculating priority data for the plurality of first source data and the second source data based on the link condition data and the configuration data;

using the priority data to generate a master schedule including program data indicating, for each of the plurality of first source data, whether the respective first source data is to be transmitted with one or two layers;

transmitting the master schedule to configure parameters for a next sequence;

for each first source data of the plurality of first source data, pre-coding the respective first source data using a respective first pre-coding scheme to generate a respective first set of representation data decodable independently to provide a set of first-level playback data representing the respective first source data;

determining if the program data of the master schedule indicates that the respective first source data is to be transmitted with two layers; and

if the program data is determined to indicate that the respective first source data is to be transmitted with two layers, pre-coding the respective first source data using a respective second pre-coding scheme to generate a respective second set of representation data decodable in combination with the respective first set of representation data to provide a set of second-level playback data representing the respective first source data; and

for each first source data of the plurality of first source data, associating the respective first set of representation data with a respective first coding and modulation scheme; and

for each first source data indicated for transmission with two layers, associating the respective second set of representation data with a respective second coding and modulation scheme, wherein the respective second coding and modulation scheme is of a higher order than the respective first coding and modulation scheme.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein each of the first pre-coding schemes and the second pre-coding schemes includes a data partitioning scheme using scalable video coding.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

generating, for each first source data of the plurality of first source data, a respective first transmission by applying the respective first coding and modulation scheme to the respective first set of representation data and applying, for each first source data indicated for transmission with two layers, the respective second coding and modulation scheme to the respective second set of representation data;

generating a second transmission from the second source data; and

communicating each of the first transmissions and the second transmission to respective data terminals of the plurality of data terminals over the satellite link.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein

the satellite link has a given bandwidth;

and

using the priority data to generate the master schedule further comprises generating the master schedule to indicate that available bandwidth is allocated to one or more of the first transmissions and the second transmission communicated to the respective data terminals, wherein the available bandwidth is made available by not transmitting a second layer for one or more of the plurality of first source data.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein

using the priority data to generate the master schedule further comprises generating the master schedule to include bit rate data indicating, for each first source data of the plurality of first source data, a first bit rate for a first layer and a second bit rate for a second layer, wherein a sum of the first bit rate and the second bit rate equals a given bit rate of the respective first source data;

and

for each first source data indicated for transmission with one layer, the bit rate data for the respective first source data indicates that the first bit rate is lower than the first bit rates of other first source data indicated for transmission with two layers.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein for each first source data indicated for transmission with one layer, the respective set of first-level playback data representing the respective first source data provides, on playback, a single frame, a title screen, a lower frame rate version, a lower resolution version, or a lower bit rate version of the respective video content represented by the respective first source data.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein using the priority data to generate the master schedule further comprises using the priority data to generate the master schedule including program data indicating that a particular first source data is to be transmitted with one layer if the link condition data indicates that an audience metric of the respective video content represented by the particular first source data is less than a threshold amount.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the threshold amount for the audience metric is one of the following:

a determined number of one or more viewers, a determined number of program requests from one or more viewers, or a program request from a network operator.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein

receiving link condition data about data terminals further comprises receiving updated link condition data indicating that the audience metric of the respective video content represented by the particular first source data is equal to or greater than the threshold amount;

and

using the priority data to generate the master schedule further comprises generating an updated master schedule including updated program data indicating that the particular first source data is to be transmitted with two layers during a following sequence.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein

generating the updated master schedule further comprises generating the updated master schedule to include bit rate data indicating, for each first source data of the plurality of first source data, a first bit rate for a first layer and a second bit rate for a second layer, wherein a sum of the first bit rate and the second bit rate equals a given bit rate of the respective first source data;

and

for the particular first source data indicated for transmission with two layers during the following sequence, the bit rate data of the updated master schedule indicates that the first bit rate for the particular first source data is to be higher during the following sequence.

24. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

receiving network congestion data, wherein

calculating priority data for the plurality of first source data and the second source data further comprises calculating the priority data based in part on the network congestion data, and

using the priority data to generate the master schedule further comprises using the priority data to generate the master schedule including program data indicating that a particular first source data is to be transmitted with one layer if the network congestion data received indicates a network congestion level that is equal to or greater than a threshold amount and the configuration data received indicates that a priority level of the particular first source data is lower than priority levels of other first source data and a priority level of the second source data.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein

receiving network congestion data and receiving configuration data further comprises receiving updated network congestion data indicating that the network congestion level is less than the threshold amount or receiving updated configuration data indicating that the priority level of the particular first source data has increased relative to the priority levels of the other first source data and the priority level of the second source data;

and

using the priority data to generate the master schedule further comprises generating an updated master schedule including updated program data indicating that the particular first source data is to be transmitted with two layers during a following sequence.