Methods and apparatus for selecting digital access technology for programming and data delivery
First Claim
1. A method of operating a switched content delivery network having a plurality of nodes for servicing a respective plurality of client devices and a switching mechanism for controlling delivery of programs to individual ones of said plurality of nodes, said method comprising:
- providing a plurality of programs to said switching mechanism, said switching mechanism configured to reallocate bandwidth based at least in part on viewership for particular programs;
obtaining first information relating to capabilities of a plurality of particular client devices serviced by said node;
obtaining second information relating to program requests from said plurality of particular client devices; and
comparing said first information relating to said capabilities of said plurality of particular client devices to said second information relating to said program requests to identify at least one of said plurality of programs as being both;
(i) requested by each of said plurality of particular client devices, and (ii) in a format which is determined that each of said plurality of particular client devices are capable of accessing.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for selecting digital access technology for programming and data delivery over, e.g., a content-based network. In one embodiment, the network comprises an HFC cable or satellite network that includes a server process interfacing with a plurality of customer premises equipment (CPE), and/or associated client devices, each having different capabilities profiles. The server determines the one or more capabilities possessed by the CPE, and evaluates one or more program or content choices for possible delivery to that CPE based on its profile. The server generates a list of programs or content based on this evaluation, and transmits this list to the CPE, which displays the list for viewing by a user. The user is therefore offered a list of available content that is compatible with their specific configuration. A business and operational rules engine is also optionally employed to control the operation of the foregoing processes to accomplish particular business or operational goals.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method of operating a switched content delivery network having a plurality of nodes for servicing a respective plurality of client devices and a switching mechanism for controlling delivery of programs to individual ones of said plurality of nodes, said method comprising:
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providing a plurality of programs to said switching mechanism, said switching mechanism configured to reallocate bandwidth based at least in part on viewership for particular programs; obtaining first information relating to capabilities of a plurality of particular client devices serviced by said node; obtaining second information relating to program requests from said plurality of particular client devices; and comparing said first information relating to said capabilities of said plurality of particular client devices to said second information relating to said program requests to identify at least one of said plurality of programs as being both;
(i) requested by each of said plurality of particular client devices, and (ii) in a format which is determined that each of said plurality of particular client devices are capable of accessing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An apparatus configured to control delivery of content to a plurality of client devices in a switched content delivery network, said apparatus comprising:
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an interface configured to communicate with a plurality of nodes of said switched content delivery network, individual ones of said plurality of nodes being configured to service a respective plurality of client devices in communication therewith; a storage apparatus; and at least one microprocessor configured to run a computer program thereon, said computer program comprising a plurality of instructions which are configured to, when executed, cause said apparatus to; receive a plurality of content from said switched content delivery network; obtain first information related to one or more capabilities of respective ones of said plurality of client devices in communication with a particular one of said plurality of nodes; obtain second information related to program requests from said plurality of client devices; evaluate individual ones of said plurality of content and said obtained first information related to said one or more capabilities of said respective ones of said plurality of client devices to identify at least one of said plurality of content which is both;
(i) requested by each of said plurality of client devices, and (ii) in a format accessible by every one of said plurality of client devices; andselectively reallocate bandwidth to accommodate delivery of said at least one of said plurality of content to said particular node. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for reallocation of bandwidth for delivery of content to a plurality of client devices in a content delivery network, said method comprising:
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receiving information describing conditional access capabilities supported by individual ones of said plurality of client devices, each client device of said plurality of client devices supporting more than one conditional access capability; identifying one conditional access capability that is mutually supported by at least two of said plurality of client devices; receiving from said at least two of said plurality of said client devices a request for a program; and reallocating bandwidth to accommodate delivery of said program to said at least two of said plurality of client devices according to said mutually supported conditional access capability. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. An apparatus configured to reallocate bandwidth for delivery of content to a plurality of client devices in a content delivery network, said apparatus comprising:
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an interface configured to communicate with a plurality of nodes in said content delivery network, individual ones of said plurality of nodes being configured to service a respective plurality of client devices in communication therewith; a storage apparatus; and at least one microprocessor in communication with said interface and configured to execute at least one computer program thereon, said computer program comprising a plurality of instructions which are configured to, when executed; correlate each of said plurality of client devices to identify one conditional access capability which is commonly supported by two or more of said plurality of client devices serviced by an individual one of said plurality of nodes; and reallocate bandwidth to accommodate delivery of at least one program to said two or more client devices according to said conditional access capability commonly supported thereby. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification