Variability in available levels of quality of encoded content

• US 8,806,529 B2
• Filed: 04/06/2012
• Issued: 08/12/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Inventors: Miles, Wilfred Jaime, Manchester, James S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pendleton, Brian T
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lewis, Jonathan V
• Application Number:
  US13/441,355
• Publication Number:
  US 20130268961A1
• Time in Patent Office: 858 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 725/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23439 for generating different versions
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23655 Statistical multiplexing, e.g. by controlling the encoder to alter its bitrate to optimize the bandwidth utilization
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/238 Interfacing the downstream path of the transmission network, e.g. adapting the transmission rate of a video stream to network bandwidth; Processing of multiplex streams hybrid fiber coaxial [HFC] networks for downstream channel allocation for video distribution H04L12/2801; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10; real-time communication protocols in data switching networks H04L65/00; scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60
• 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 21/262 Content or additional data distribution scheduling, e.g. sending additional data at off-peak times, updating software modules, calculating the carousel transmission frequency, delaying a video stream transmission, generating play-lists scheduling strategies for dispatcher in multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/4881; arrangements for scheduling broadcast services or broadcast-related services H04H60/06; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10; establishing a time schedule or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/62
• 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 21/26283 for associating distribution time parameters to content, e.g. to generate electronic program guide data

Abstract

A server resource provides notification to subscribers in a respective network environment that the content is available for retrieval at a particular bit rate (e.g., a promotional bit rate) or particular level of quality (e.g., promotional level of quality) amongst multiple levels of quality for a limited duration of time. For example, an especially high level of quality (or bit rate) of the content may be available only for the limited duration of time. After making the especially high level of quality of content available for retrieval during a promotional period, the content may be subsequently available for retrieval only at lower levels of quality. Accordingly, one or more configurations as discussed herein include changing the ability to access content encoded at different levels of quality over time.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

storing content as multiple streams of data, each of the multiple streams of data encoded in accordance with a different bit rate to play back a rendition of the content according to a different level of quality;

providing notification to subscribers in a network environment that the content encoded at a particular bit rate of multiple available bit rates for playing back the content is available for a limited time duration;

distributing portions of the multiple streams of data in the network environment during the limited time duration; and

preventing distribution of the content encoded at the particular bit rate in the network environment subsequent to expiration of the limited time duration;

wherein the multiple streams of data includes a first stream of data and a second stream of data, the first stream of data encoded in accordance with the particular bit rate, the second stream of data encoded in accordance with a bit rate lower than the particular bit rate;

wherein distributing the multiple streams of data includes;

during the limited time duration, interleaving at least portions of the first stream of data and portions of the second stream of data to produce an adaptive bit rate data stream forwarded to at least one subscriber in the network environment; and

subsequent to the limited time duration, preventing distribution of portions of the first stream of data in respective adaptive bit rate data streams to the subscribers.

2. The method as in claim 1, wherein each of the multiple streams of data represents a version of same content at a different level of quality;

and

wherein providing the notification includes;

notifying the subscribers in the network environment that the particular bit rate corresponds to a stream of data encoded in accordance with a highest level of quality amongst the multiple streams of data.

3. The method as in claim 2, wherein providing the notification includes distributing content access information indicating that the content encoded as streams of data encoded at a lower bit rate than the particular bit rate are available after the limited time duration;

and

wherein the limited time duration expires at a pre-scheduled date and time.

4. The method as in claim 2, wherein the limited time duration expires in response to detecting that a threshold number of subscribers retrieves the stream of data encoded in accordance with the highest level of quality.

5. The method as in claim 1, wherein distributing the multiple streams of data in the network environment includes:

prior to expiration of the limited time duration, switching between transmitting portions of the first stream of the multiple streams of data and transmitting portions of the second stream of data of the multiple streams of data to a given subscriber in the network environment, the first stream of data encoded in accordance with the particular bit rate and providing a highest level of playback quality amongst the multiple streams of data, the second stream of data encoded in accordance with a level of playback quality lower than the highest level of playback quality.

6. The method as in claim 5, wherein distributing the multiple streams of data in the network environment includes:

subsequent to expiration of the limited time duration;

i) preventing distribution of the first stream of data encoded in accordance with the highest level of playback quality, and ii) providing continued access to the second stream of data.

7. The method as in claim 1, wherein distributing the multiple streams of data in the network environment includes:

from a first network address, distributing portions of the content in the network environment as the first stream of data encoded in accordance with a first level of playback quality;

from a second network address, distributing portions of the content in the network environment as the second stream of data encoded in accordance with a second level of playback quality, the second level of quality higher than the first level of playback quality; and

from a third network address, distributing portions of the content in the network environment as a third stream of data encoded in accordance with a third level of playback quality, the third level of quality higher than the second level of playback quality.

8. The method as in claim 1, wherein providing the notification includes:

providing notification to the subscribers in the network environment that the content is retrievable at the particular bit rate in an adaptive bit-rate data stream during the limited time duration, the notification further indicating that the content encoded at the particular bit rate is not available after the limited time duration.

9. The method as in claim 1, wherein providing the notification includes:

initiating display of the notification on a display screen, the notification indicating that a version of the content encoded at the particular bit rate is temporarily available for retrieval and inclusion in an adaptive bit rate data stream during the limited time duration, the notification further indicating that a version of the content encoded at a lower bit rate than the particular bit rate is available for retrieval after the limited time duration.

10. The method as in claim 1 further comprising:

producing first content access information, the first content access information indicating portions of the content that are available for retrieval at the particular bit rate and other bit rates during the limited time duration;

distributing the first content access information to the subscribers in the network environment;

producing second content access information, the second content access information indicating portions of the content that are available for retrieval at the bit rates other than the particular bit rate after the limited time duration; and

distributing the second content access information to the subscribers in the network environment.

11. The method as in claim 1 further comprising:

in the adaptive bit rate data stream, inserting a network address indicating a resource from which to retrieve the content encoded at the particular bit rate.

12. The method as in claim 1 further comprising:

providing the notification in content guide information viewed by subscribers in the network environment prior to distributing the content encoded at the particular bit rate.

13. A method comprising:

during a period of promoting distribution of content;

adaptively transmitting portions of the content encoded at multiple different levels of playback quality in a network environment; and

subsequent to a trigger event in which the period of promoting the distribution of content has ended;

preventing transmission of the content at a particular level of playback quality of the multiple different levels of playback quality, and

adaptively transmitting the content encoded at the multiple levels of playback quality other than at the particular level of playback quality;

wherein the particular level of playback quality is a first level of playback quality;

wherein the multiple levels of playback quality includes at least the first level of playback quality, a second level of playback quality, and a third level of playback quality;

the method further comprising;

during the period;

selecting from the multiple levels of playback quality of encoded content to adaptively transmit a first logical stream of data including portions of the content encoded at the first level of playback quality and portions of the content encoded at the second level of playback quality; and

after expiration of the period;

i) providing access to a limited set of the multiple level of playback quality available for retrieval, the limited set including the second level of playback quality and the third level of playback quality, the limited set excluding the first level of playback quality, ii) selecting from the limited set of multiple levels of playback quality of encoded content to adaptively transmit a second logical stream of data including portions of the content encoded at the second level playback quality and portions of the content encoded at the third level of playback quality.

14. The method as in claim 13, wherein the particular level of playback quality is the highest level of playback quality amongst the multiple levels of playback quality, the highest level of playback quality temporarily available for retrieval in an adaptive bit rate data stream during the period as part of a promotion.

15. The method as in claim 13, wherein detecting occurrence of the trigger event includes:

detecting switchover from a first distribution mode to a second distribution mode, the first distribution mode distributing the content at the multiple different levels of playback quality including the particular level of playback quality, the second distribution mode distributing the content in accordance with multiple levels of playback quality other than at the particular level of playback quality.

16. The method as in claim 13, wherein adaptively transmitting portions of content encoded at multiple different levels of playback quality in the network environment includes producing a first adaptive bit rate data stream including at least portions of the content encoded at the particular level of playback quality;

and

wherein adaptively transmitting portions of the content encoded at the multiple levels of playback quality other than the particular level of playback quality includes preventing inclusion of portions of the content encoded at the particular level of playback quality in a second adaptive bit rate data stream transmitted in the network environment.

17. The method as in claim 13 further comprising:

receiving a selection to view playback of an adaptive bit rate data stream of the content without advertisements; and

in response to the selection, initiating transmission of the content at the multiple different bit rates in the adaptive bit rate data stream without the advertisements.

18. The method as in claim 13 further comprising:

storing a first stream of data to include segments of the content encoded according to the first level of playback quality;

storing a second stream of data to include the segments of the content encoded according to a second level of playback quality, the first level of playback quality being higher than the second level of playback quality; and

wherein adaptively transmitting portions of the content includes producing an adaptive bit rate data stream to include content encoded according to the first level of playback quality and the second level of playback quality.

19. The method as in claim 18 further comprising:

in the adaptive bit rate data stream, inserting a network address indicating a resource from which to retrieve segments of the content encoded according to the first level of playback quality.

20. The method as in claim 13, wherein the particular level of playback quality is a first level of playback quality;

wherein the multiple levels of playback quality includes at least the first level of playback quality, a second level of playback quality, and a third level of playback quality.

21. The method as in claim 13, wherein the content is a stream of content including a sequence of logical segments;

wherein the first level of playback quality includes the logical segments encoded in accordance with a first encoding bit rate;

wherein the second level of playback quality includes the logical segments encoded in accordance with a second encoding bit rate; and

wherein the third level of playback quality includes the logical segments encoded in accordance with a third encoding bit rate.

22. A computer system comprising:

at least one processor device; and

a hardware storage resource coupled to the at least one processor device, the hardware storage resource storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor device, cause the at least one processor device to perform the operations of;

storing content as multiple streams of data, each of the multiple streams of data encoded in accordance with a different bit rate to play back a rendition of the content according to a different level of quality;

providing notification to subscribers in a network environment that the content encoded at a particular bit rate of multiple available bit rates for playing back the content is available for a limited time duration;

distributing portions of the multiple streams of data in the network environment during the limited time duration; and

while continuing to provide access to a less-than-all subset of the content encoded at the multiple available bit rates, preventing distribution of the content encoded at the particular bit rate in the network environment subsequent to expiration of the limited time duration;

wherein the at least one processor device further supports operations of;

producing first content access information, the first content access information indicating portions of the content that are available for retrieval at the particular bit rate and other bit rates during the limited time duration;

distributing the first content access information to the subscribers in the network environment;

producing second content access information, the second content access information indicating portions of the content that are available for retrieval at the bit rates other than the particular bit rate after the limited time duration; and

distributing the second content access information to the subscribers in the network environment.

23. The computer system as in claim 22, wherein providing the notification includes:

notifying the subscribers in the network environment that the particular bit rate corresponds to a stream of data encoded in accordance with a highest level of quality amongst the multiple streams of data.

24. The computer system as in claim 22, wherein the limited time duration expires at a pre-scheduled date and time.

25. The computer system as in claim 22, wherein the limited time duration expires in response to detecting that a threshold number of subscribers retrieves the stream of data encoded in accordance with the highest level of quality.

26. The computer system as in claim 22, wherein distributing the multiple streams of data in the network environment includes:

prior to expiration of the limited time duration, switching between transmitting portions of a first stream of the multiple streams of data and transmitting portions of a second stream of data of the multiple streams of data to a given subscriber in the network environment, the first stream of data encoded in accordance with the particular bit rate and providing a highest level of playback quality amongst the multiple streams of data, the second stream of data encoded in accordance with a level of playback quality lower than the highest level of playback quality.

27. The computer system as in claim 26, wherein distributing the multiple streams of data in the network environment includes:

subsequent to expiration of the limited time duration, preventing distribution of the first stream of data encoded in accordance with the highest level of playback quality.

28. The computer system as in claim 22, wherein distributing the multiple streams of data in the network environment includes:

from a first network address, distributing portions of the content in the network environment as a first stream of data encoded in accordance with a first level of playback quality;

from a second network address, distributing portions of the content in the network environment as a second stream of data encoded in accordance with a second level of playback quality, the second level of quality higher than the first level of playback quality; and

from a third network address, distributing portions of the content in the network environment as a third stream of data encoded in accordance with a third level of playback quality, the third level of quality higher than the second level of playback quality.

29. The computer system as in claim 22, wherein providing the notification includes:

providing notification to the subscribers in the network environment that the content is retrievable at the particular bit rate in an adaptive bit-rate data stream during the limited time duration.

30. The computer system as in claim 22, wherein the multiple streams of data includes a first stream of data and a second stream of data, the first stream of data encoded in accordance with the particular bit rate, the second stream of data encoded in accordance with a bit rate lower than the particular bit rate;

and

wherein distributing the multiple streams of data includes;

during the limited time duration, interleaving at least portions of the first stream of data and portions of the second stream of data to produce an adaptive bit rate data stream forwarded to at least one subscriber in the network environment; and

subsequent to the limited time duration, preventing distribution of portions of the first stream of data in respective adaptive bit rate data streams to the subscribers.

31. The computer system as in claim 30, wherein the at least one processor device further supports operations of:

in the adaptive bit rate data stream, inserting a network address indicating a resource from which to retrieve the content encoded at the particular bit rate.

32. The computer system as in claim 22, wherein providing the notification includes:

initiating display of the notification on a display screen, the notification indicating that the content encoded at the particular bit rate is temporarily available for retrieval and inclusion in an adaptive bit rate data stream.

33. A method comprising:

storing content as multiple streams of data, each of the multiple streams of data encoded in accordance with a different bit rate to play back a rendition of the content according to a different level of quality;

providing notification to subscribers in a network environment that the content encoded at a particular bit rate of multiple available bit rates for playing back the content is available for a limited time duration;

distributing portions of the multiple streams of data in the network environment during the limited time duration;

preventing distribution of the content encoded at the particular bit rate in the network environment subsequent to expiration of the limited time duration; and

providing the notification in a content guide prior to the distributing, the content guide indicating to subscribers in the network environment that the content is available after the limited time duration but that the content encoded at the particular bit rate is not available after the limited time duration.

34. The method as in claim 33, wherein each of the multiple streams of data represents a version of same content at a different level of quality;

and

wherein providing the notification includes;

notifying the subscribers in the network environment that the particular bit rate corresponds to a stream of data encoded in accordance with a highest level of quality amongst the multiple streams of data.

35. The method as in claim 34, wherein providing the notification includes distributing content access information indicating that the content encoded as streams of data encoded at a lower bit rate than the particular bit rate are available after the limited time duration;

and

wherein the limited time duration expires at a pre-scheduled date and time.

36. The method as in claim 34, wherein the limited time duration expires in response to detecting that a threshold number of subscribers retrieves the stream of data encoded in accordance with the highest level of quality.

37. The method as in claim 33, wherein distributing the multiple streams of data in the network environment includes:

prior to expiration of the limited time duration, switching between transmitting portions of a first stream of the multiple streams of data and transmitting portions of a second stream of data of the multiple streams of data to a given subscriber in the network environment, the first stream of data encoded in accordance with the particular bit rate and providing a highest level of playback quality amongst the multiple streams of data, the second stream of data encoded in accordance with a level of playback quality lower than the highest level of playback quality.

38. The method as in claim 33, wherein providing the notification includes:

initiating display of the notification on a display screen, the notification indicating that a version of the content encoded at the particular bit rate is temporarily available for retrieval and inclusion in an adaptive bit rate data stream during the limited time duration, the notification further indicating that a version of the content encoded at a lower bit rate than the particular bit rate is available for retrieval after the limited time duration.

39. The method as in claim 33 further comprising:

producing first content access information, the first content access information indicating portions of the content that are available for retrieval at the particular bit rate and other bit rates during the limited time duration;

distributing the first content access information to the subscribers in the network environment;

producing second content access information, the second content access information indicating portions of the content that are available for retrieval at the bit rates other than the particular bit rate after the limited time duration; and

distributing the second content access information to the subscribers in the network environment.

40. A method comprising:

storing content as multiple streams of data, each of the multiple streams of data encoded in accordance with a different bit rate to play back a rendition of the content according to a different level of quality;

providing notification to subscribers in a network environment that the content encoded at a particular bit rate of multiple available bit rates for playing back the content is available for a limited time duration;

distributing portions of the multiple streams of data in the network environment during the limited time duration; and

preventing distribution of the content encoded at the particular bit rate in the network environment subsequent to expiration of the limited time duration;

wherein the multiple streams of data includes a first stream of data and a second stream of data, the first stream of data encoded in accordance with the particular bit rate, the second stream of data encoded in accordance with a bit rate lower than the particular bit rate; and

wherein distributing the multiple streams of data includes;

during the limited time duration, providing subscribers in the network environment access to segments in the first stream of data and segments in the second stream of data; and

subsequent to the limited time duration;

i) preventing distribution of the segments of the first stream of data to the subscribers, and ii) providing the subscribers in the network environment access to segments in the second stream of data.

41. The method as in claim 40, wherein the first stream of data supports playback of a version of the content encoded at a first level of playback quality;

and

wherein the second stream of data supports playback of a version of the content encoded at a second level of playback quality.

42. The method as in claim 40, wherein each of the multiple streams of data represents a version of same content at a different level of quality;

and

wherein providing the notification includes;

notifying the subscribers in the network environment that the particular bit rate corresponds to a stream of data encoded in accordance with a highest level of quality amongst the multiple streams of data.

43. The method as in claim 42, wherein providing the notification includes distributing content access information indicating that the content encoded as streams of data encoded at a lower bit rate than the particular bit rate are available after the limited time duration;

and

wherein the limited time duration expires at a pre-scheduled date and time.

44. The method as in claim 42, wherein the limited time duration expires in response to detecting that a threshold number of subscribers retrieves the stream of data encoded in accordance with the highest level of quality.

45. The method as in claim 40, wherein providing the notification includes:

initiating display of the notification on a display screen, the notification indicating that a version of the content encoded at the particular bit rate is temporarily available for retrieval and inclusion in an adaptive bit rate data stream during the limited time duration, the notification further indicating that a version of the content encoded at a lower bit rate than the particular bit rate is available for retrieval after the limited time duration.

46. The method as in claim 40 further comprising:

producing first content access information, the first content access information indicating portions of the content that are available for retrieval at the particular bit rate and other bit rates during the limited time duration;

distributing the first content access information to the subscribers in the network environment;

producing second content access information, the second content access information indicating portions of the content that are available for retrieval at the bit rates other than the particular bit rate after the limited time duration; and

distributing the second content access information to the subscribers in the network environment.