Systems, methods and computer-readable media for resource-based allocation of content transmitted in a media network

• US 9,148,683 B2
• Filed: 08/07/2013
• Issued: 09/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FreeWheel Media Incorporated (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Visible World Incorporated (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Haberman, Seth, Niemeijer, Gerrit
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen-Ba, Hoang-Vu A
• Application Number:
  US13/961,238
• Publication Number:
  US 20140047472A1
• Time in Patent Office: 783 Days
• Field of Search: 709/226, 709/231, 725/32, 725/36, 705/14.43, 705/14.4, 705/14.49, 375/240.01, 375/240.02
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234309 by transcoding between formats or standards, e.g. from MPEG-2 to MPEG-4 or from Quicktime to Realvideo conversion of standards in analog television systems H04N7/01
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23439 for generating different versions
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23614 Multiplexing of additional data and video streams arrangements for simultaneous broadcast of plural pieces of information H04H20/28
• 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 21/2662 Controlling the complexity of the video stream, e.g. by scaling the resolution or bitrate of the video stream based on the client capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/647 Control signaling between network components and server or clients; Network processes for video distribution between server and clients, e.g. controlling the quality of the video stream, by dropping packets, protecting content from unauthorised alteration within the network, monitoring of network load, bridging between two different networks, e.g. between IP and wireless real-time session protocols H04L65/1101
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/212 Selecting different recording or reproducing modes, e.g. high or low resolution, field or frame

Abstract

Systems, methods and computer-readable storage media for allocating content elements addressed for a content opportunity in a transport stream within a household-addressable media network. A content opportunity may include an advertising slot in a programming stream. The content elements may include advertising content configured to be run during the advertising slot. The advertising slot may be transmitted in a programming stream providing television programming and the advertising content may be provided in a commercial feed. The media network may be configured to transmit various content formats, such as high definition (HD), standard definition (SD), and variations thereof. Systems may be configured to allocate the highest profile corresponding content elements if there is sufficient resources available. If sufficient resources are not available, the system may allocate lower profile versions of the content elements.

Claims

1. A system for allocating bandwidth for delivery of content elements addressed for a content opportunity in a transport stream within a household-addressable media network, the system comprising:

a processor; and

a non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium in operable communication with the processor, wherein the computer-readable storage medium contains one or more programming instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to;

detect a content opportunity in a transport stream;

determine a plurality of content elements addressed for the content opportunity;

allocate bandwidth for a highest profile available version of each of the plurality of content elements to a highest profile available content stream responsive to the highest profile available content stream having sufficient resources; and

allocate bandwidth for a lower profile version of each of the plurality of content elements remaining after allocation of the bandwidth for the highest profile available version of each of the plurality of content elements to a lower profile content streams;

wherein the lower profile version of at least one of the plurality of content elements is generated by transforming a corresponding highest profile version to the lower profile version.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the transport stream comprises a high definition programming stream.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the content opportunity comprises at least a portion of television advertising slot.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of content elements comprise television advertising content.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the highest profile available version comprises a high definition version.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the lower profile available version comprises a standard definition version.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the highest profile available version comprises a high definition version encoded at a first bitrate and the lower profile available version comprises a high definition version encoded at a second bitrate,

wherein the second bitrate is lower than the first bitrate.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the highest profile available version comprises a high definition version encoded at a first resolution and the lower profile available version comprises a high definition version encoded at a second resolution,

wherein the second resolution is lower than the first resolution.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer-readable storage medium further contains programming instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:

detect a second content opportunity in a second transport stream, wherein the second transport stream is a low profile transport stream and the transport stream is a high profile transport stream;

determine a plurality of second content elements addressed for the second content opportunity; and

allocate bandwidth for each of the plurality of second content elements to a low profile transport stream prior to allocating the bandwidth for the plurality of content elements.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the low profile transport stream is a standard definition transport stream and the high profile transport stream is a high definition transport stream.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the transport stream transmits a high profile version of a television network and the second transport stream transmits a low profile version of the television network.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer-readable storage medium further contains programming instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to prioritize the plurality of content elements,

wherein each of the plurality of content elements are allocated from a highest priority to a lowest priority.

13. A computer-implemented method for allocating bandwidth for delivery of content elements addressed for a content opportunity in a transport stream within a household-addressable media network, the method comprising, by a processor:

detecting a content opportunity in a transport stream;

determining a plurality of content elements addressed for the content opportunity;

allocating bandwidth for a highest available profile version of each of the plurality of content elements to a highest profile available content stream responsive to the highest profile available content stream having sufficient resources; and

allocating bandwidth for a lower profile version of each of the plurality of content elements remaining after allocation of the bandwidth for the highest profile available version of each of the plurality of content elements to a lower profile content stream,

wherein the lower profile version of at least one of the plurality of content elements is generated by transforming a corresponding highest profile version to the lower profile version.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the transport stream comprises a high definition programming stream.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the content opportunity comprises at least a portion of a television advertising slot.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the plurality of content elements comprise television advertising content.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the highest profile available version comprises a high definition version.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the lower profile available version comprises a standard definition version.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein the highest profile available version comprises a high definition version encoded at a first bitrate and the lower profile available version comprises a high definition version encoded at a second bitrate,

wherein the second bitrate is lower than the first bitrate.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein the highest profile available version comprises a high definition version encoded at a first resolution and the lower profile available version comprises a high definition version encoded at a second resolution,

wherein the second resolution is lower than the first resolution.

21. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

detecting a second content opportunity in a second transport stream, wherein the second transport stream is a low profile transport stream and the transport stream is a high profile transport stream;

determining a plurality of second content elements addressed for the second content opportunity; and

allocating bandwidth for each of the plurality of second content elements to a low profile transport stream prior to allocating the bandwidth for the plurality of content elements.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the low profile transport stream is a standard definition transport stream and the high profile transport stream is a high definition transport stream.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the transport stream transmits a high profile version of a television network and the second transport stream transmits a low profile version of the television network.

24. The method of claim 22, further comprising prioritizing the plurality of content elements,

wherein each of the plurality of content elements are allocated from a highest priority to a lowest priority.

25. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code configured to allocate bandwidth for delivery of content elements addressed for a content opportunity in a transport stream within a household-addressable media network, the computer-readable program code comprising:

computer-readable program code configured to detect a content opportunity in a transport stream;

computer-readable program code configured to determine a plurality of content elements addressed for the content opportunity;

computer-readable program code configured to allocate bandwidth for a highest available profile version of each of the plurality of content elements to a highest profile available content stream responsive to the highest profile available content stream having sufficient resources;

computer-readable program code configured to allocate bandwidth for a lower profile version of each of the plurality of content elements remaining after allocation of the highest profile available version of each of the plurality of content elements to a lower profile content stream; and

computer-readable program code configured to generate the lower profile version of at least one of the plurality of content elements by transforming a corresponding highest profile version to the lower profile version.

26. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 25, further comprising computer readable program code configured to:

detect a second content opportunity in a second transport stream, wherein the second transport stream is a low profile transport stream and the transport stream is a high profile transport stream;

determine a plurality of second content elements addressed for the second content opportunity; and

allocate bandwidth for each of the plurality of second content elements to a low profile transport stream prior to allocating the bandwidth for the plurality of content elements.

27. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 25, wherein the low profile transport stream is a standard definition transport stream and the high profile transport stream is a high definition transport stream.

28. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 25, wherein the transport stream transmits a high profile version of a television network and the second transport stream transmits a low profile version of the television network.