Content distribution system and method for optimizing multiplexed transport channels

• US 9,032,458 B2
• Filed: 08/24/2012
• Issued: 05/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ARRIS Enterprises LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ARRIS Technology, Inc. (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Altchek, Glenn
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis, Jonathan V
• Application Number:
  US13/593,874
• Publication Number:
  US 20120324497A1
• Time in Patent Office: 991 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 725/96
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2365 Multiplexing of several video streams
• 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 21/252 Processing of multiple end-users' preferences to derive collaborative data
• 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 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• 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

Abstract

A content distribution system includes a distribution center, a processor, a switch, and first and second multiplexers. The distribution center receives and applies program content on program channels. The processor identifies subsets of the program channels in response to a respective score associated with the program channels. The switch couples the distribution center to the multiplexers. The switch applies program channels to respective inputs of the first and second multiplexers in response to the processor. A method for optimizing a multiplexed transport channel includes the steps of identifying a set of program channels designated for distribution via the multiplexed transport channel, arranging the set of program channels in subsets, the program channels within a subset grouped in accordance with a viewing score, multiplexing the program channels of the subsets to a respective transport channel and applying the respective transport channels to a distribution medium for delivery to the destination.

Claims

1. A method for optimizing a multiplexed transport channel, comprising:

selectively identifying subsets of a plurality of program channels in accordance with a respective viewing score associated with the plurality of program channels, and

applying program channels to respective inputs of a first multiplexer and a second multiplexer in response to the identified subsets of program channels,

wherein a distribution center applies program content on program channels, and

wherein the subsets of the plurality of program channels are selectively identified based on scores responsive to a likelihood that a channel change at a destination will require a tuner to select a program channel that was processed by the other of the first multiplexer and the second multiplexer.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying a set of program channels comprises identifying program channels available in a content package.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising arranging the plurality of program channels in subsets by grouping available program channels into subsets of N members, where N is an integer that corresponds to a capacity of the first or second multiplexer.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein arranging the plurality of program channels in subsets comprises grouping available program channels into subsets when the viewing score is associated with the destination.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein arranging the plurality of program channels in subsets comprises grouping available program channels into subsets when the viewing score is based on a number of times content from the respective program channels is viewed.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein arranging the plurality of program channels in subsets comprises grouping available program channels into subsets when the viewing score is based on a statistical analysis of viewing habits.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein arranging the plurality of program channels in subsets comprises grouping available program channels into subsets when the viewing score is based on aggregated data for a community.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the viewing score is based on aggregated data from the community served by a common node in a distribution network.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein repeating periodically the arranging, multiplexing and applying.

10. A head-end comprising:

a head-end processor configured to selectively identify subsets of program channels in accordance with a respective score associated with a plurality of program channels, wherein a distribution center applies program content on the plurality of program channels; and

wherein, in response to the identified subsets of the plurality of program channels, a multi-channel switch applies the plurality of program channels to respective inputs of a first multiplexer and a second multiplexer,

wherein the head-end processor selectively identifies the subsets of the plurality of program channels based on scores responsive to a likelihood that a channel change at a destination will require a tuner to select a program channel that was processed by the other of the first multiplexer and the second multiplexer.

11. The head-end of claim 10, wherein the head-end processor selectively identifies the subsets of the plurality of program channels based on scores responsive to the likelihood that the program content will be viewed.

12. The head-end of claim 10, wherein the head-end processor selectively identifies the subsets of the plurality of program channels into a subset of N members, where N is an integer that corresponds to a capacity of the first multiplexer.

13. The head-end of claim 10, wherein the head-end processor selectively identifies the subsets of the plurality of program channels into a subset of M members, where M is an integer that corresponds to a capacity of the second multiplexer.

14. The head-end of claim 10, wherein the head-end processor selectively identifies the subsets of the plurality of program channels in response to a statistical analysis of viewing habits.

15. The head-end of claim 10, wherein the head-end processor selectively identifies the subsets of the plurality of program channels in response to aggregated data for a community.

16. The head-end of claim 15, wherein the aggregated data from a community is collected from a community served by a common node in a distribution network.

17. The head-end of claim 10, wherein the head-end processor selectively identifies the subsets of the plurality of program channels periodically.

18. The head-end of claim 10, wherein the head-end processor selectively identifies the subsets of the plurality of program channels aperiodically.