Systems and methods for allocating bandwidth in switched digital video systems based on interest

• US 8,627,389 B2
• Filed: 08/10/2011
• Issued: 01/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Craner, Michael L.
• Primary Examiner(s): SALCE, JASON P
• Application Number:
  US13/207,390
• Publication Number:
  US 20110296475A1
• Time in Patent Office: 881 Days
• Field of Search: 725 91- 96, 725114-116, 725144-146
• US Class Current: 725/94
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/103 Transmitter-side switching
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/16 Arrangements for broadcast or for distribution of identical information repeatedly
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/423 Transmitter side
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/06 Arrangements for scheduling broadcast services or broadcast-related services
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/233 Processing of audio elementary streams monitoring, identification or recognition of audio in broadcast systems H04H60/58
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234381 by altering the temporal resolution, e.g. decreasing the frame rate by frame skipping
• 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 21/2387 Stream processing in response to a playback request from an end-user, e.g. for trick-play
• 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 21/2625 for delaying content or additional data distribution, e.g. because of an extended sport event
• 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 21/47214 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 21/6543 for forcing some client operations, e.g. recording remote booting in general G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6587 Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17354 in an intermediate station common to a plurality of user terminals

Abstract

Systems and methods for allocating bandwidth in a switched digital video (SDV) system based on channel interest. In some embodiments, bandwidth is deallocated from channels and allocated to requested channels having a higher interest. Tiered approaches for allocating bandwidth are disclosed. Embodiments in which QAMs are allocated across services in a multi-service system based on interest are also disclosed. Embodiments for accommodating emergency access system (EAS) functionality in a SDV system are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method for providing a start-over feature that allows a user to watch a program from the beginning even through the user has accessed a source for the program after the program has begun, comprising:

caching a copy of the program in response to identifying a delay in allocation of bandwidth to the source preventing the user from beginning viewing of the program at its originally scheduled time

providing an option to the user to watch the program after it has already begun at a rate that is faster than the real time rate of the program so that it will fit into a duration that is less than the originally scheduled duration for the program;

determining a time remaining for the program;

receiving a selection from the user of the option; and

in response to receiving the selection by the user of the option, streaming the program to the user from its beginning at a rate that is faster than the real time rate of the program so that the viewing time of the stream is substantially the time remaining in the originally scheduled timeslot for the program.

2. The method of claim 1, algorithmically correcting the pitch of audio in the program so that the pitch of the audio remains substantially the same during play back at the faster rate as it would have been during play back at the real time rate.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining to delay allocation of bandwidth to the source based on interest levels of a plurality of viewers.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the source is a switched-digital channel in a switched-digital television network.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising determining whether sufficient bandwidth is available on the switched-digital television network to allocate to the program, and in response, assigning a channel to the program and automatically tuning a set-top box of the user to the assigned channel.

6. A system for providing a start-over feature that allows a user to watch a program from the beginning even through the user has accessed a source for the program after the program has begun, comprising:

a client application, implemented on user equipment, configured to provide an option to the user to watch the program after it has already begun at a rate that is faster than the real time rate of the program so that it will fit into a duration that is less than the originally scheduled duration for the program, wherein a channel interest manager is configured to route the program to a video server for caching in response to the channel interest manager identifying a delay in allocation of bandwidth to the source preventing the user from beginning viewing of the program at its originally scheduled time; and

determine a time remaining for the program;

receive a selection from the user of the option; and

in response to receiving the selection by the user of the option, receive a stream of the program from its beginning at a rate that is faster than the real time rate of the program so that the viewing time of the stream is substantially the time remaining in the originally scheduled timeslot for the program.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the video server is configured to algorithmically correct the pitch of audio in the program so that the pitch of the audio remains substantially the same during play back at the faster rate as it would have been during play back at the real time rate.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the channel interest manager is configured to determine to delay allocation of bandwidth to the source based on interest levels of a plurality of viewers.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the source is a switched-digital channel in a switched-digital television network.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the channel interest manager is configured to determine when sufficient bandwidth is available on the switched-digital television network to allocate to the program, and in response, assign a channel to the program, and automatically tune a set-top box of the user to assigned channel.