Methods and apparatus for revenue-optimized delivery of content in a network
First Claim
1. A method of operating a content delivery network having a plurality of consumer premises equipment (CPE) associated therewith, said method comprising:
- establishing a plurality of at least partly different program streams for servicing at least some of said plurality of CPE;
receiving a request for program delivery from at least one CPE of said network;
maximizing viewing impressions for a target advertisement versus a most profitable delivery option for servicing said request by said at least one requesting CPE by evaluating at least two possible delivery options for servicing said request, said act of evaluating comprising an analysis of each of said at least two possible delivery options based at least in part on an impression count for said target advertisement and at least one profit or revenue consideration relating to said network; and
performing one of said at least two possible delivery options in order to service said request;
wherein said at least two possible options comprise;
(i) creating a new program stream for servicing said request, and causing said at least one requesting CPE to tune thereto;
or (ii) causing said at least one requesting CPE to tune to a pre-existing program stream by migrating said requesting CPE from a first program stream having content which is logically correlated to a demographic associated with said at least one requesting CPE to a second program stream less logically correlated to said demographic than said first program stream.
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Accused Products
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. Business methods based on such network optimization are also described.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method of operating a content delivery network having a plurality of consumer premises equipment (CPE) associated therewith, said method comprising:
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establishing a plurality of at least partly different program streams for servicing at least some of said plurality of CPE; receiving a request for program delivery from at least one CPE of said network; maximizing viewing impressions for a target advertisement versus a most profitable delivery option for servicing said request by said at least one requesting CPE by evaluating at least two possible delivery options for servicing said request, said act of evaluating comprising an analysis of each of said at least two possible delivery options based at least in part on an impression count for said target advertisement and at least one profit or revenue consideration relating to said network; and performing one of said at least two possible delivery options in order to service said request; wherein said at least two possible options comprise;
(i) creating a new program stream for servicing said request, and causing said at least one requesting CPE to tune thereto;
or (ii) causing said at least one requesting CPE to tune to a pre-existing program stream by migrating said requesting CPE from a first program stream having content which is logically correlated to a demographic associated with said at least one requesting CPE to a second program stream less logically correlated to said demographic than said first program stream. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of operating a content delivery network having a plurality of consumer premises equipment (CPE) associated therewith, said method comprising:
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receiving a program request from at least one CPE of said network; evaluating at least two possible options for servicing said request to determine a most profitable option versus maximizing viewing impressions for a target advertisement, said act of evaluating comprising analyzing at least one operational consideration, viewing impression count for said target advertisement, and at least one profit or revenue consideration; and performing at least one of;
(i) creating a new program stream for servicing said request, and causing said at least one requesting CPE to tune thereto; and
(ii) migrating said requesting CPE from a first program stream having content which is logically correlated to a demographic associated with said CPE to a second program stream less logically correlated to said demographic than said first program stream. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of operating a content delivery network, comprising:
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delivering at least first and second program streams to a plurality of user devices, programming content of each of said first and second program streams being tailored at least in part to one or more respective demographic variables; receiving a program request from at least one user device; identifying at least one projected bandwidth deficiency on said network; evaluating a demographic data file associated with a subscriber associated to said at least one user device, a stream characterization data file associated with each of said first and second program streams, and at least one revenue consideration of said network to maximize viewing impressions for a target advertisement versus a most profitable delivery option for servicing said program request; and based on said projected bandwidth deficiency, performing at least one of;
(i) creating a third program stream for servicing said request, and causing said at least one user device to tune thereto; and
(ii) selectively switching said at least one user device from said first program stream having content which is logically correlated to a demographic associated with said at least one user device to said second program stream, said second program stream being less logically correlated to said demographic associated with said at least one user device than said first program stream. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. Apparatus for use in a content delivery network for delivery of programming to at least one consumer premises equipment (CPE), said apparatus comprising:
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a processor; a storage device; an interface in data communication with said processor and said storage device, and at least one computer program configured to run on said processor, said at least one program comprising a plurality of instructions which are configured to, when executed, cause said apparatus to; deliver at least first and second program streams to a plurality of CPE; receive a program request from at least one CPE; identify at least one projected bandwidth deficiency on said network; evaluate a demographic data file associated with said at least one CPE, a stream characterization data file associated with each of said first and second program streams, and at least one profit or revenue consideration of said network to maximize viewing impressions for a target advertisement versus a most profitable delivery option for service of said program request; based on said projected bandwidth deficiency; create a third program stream to service said request, and cause said at least one CPE to tune thereto;
orswitch said at least one CPE from said first program to said second program stream, which is less logically correlated to a demographic associated with said at least one CPE than said first program stream; and remove said first program stream from delivery over said network. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification