Methods and apparatus for bandwidth recovery in a network
First Claim
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1. A method of managing bandwidth usage of a plurality of program streams in a content delivery network, said method comprising:
- receiving, via said network, one or more requests for individual ones of said plurality of program streams;
based at least in part on said one or more requests, determining, at a stream management entity of said network, a future time at which said individual ones of said plurality of program streams are predicted to be requested; and
binding said individual ones of said plurality of program streams to a session at a present time for delivery at said future time;
wherein said binding corrects at least one bandwidth deficiency associated with servicing one or more requests substantially instantaneously while maintaining a current program stream load at said future time and said binding of said individual ones of said plurality of program streams to said session at said present time for delivery at said future time occurs despite a determination of an immediate bandwidth deficiency.
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus for recovery and/or utilization of bandwidth within a network. In one embodiment, the network comprises a switched architecture (e.g., broadcast switched) content-delivery network such as a cable television network. Reclamation, overflow, and/or triage logical processes are selectively applied in order to more efficiently manage bandwidth utilization within the network while maintaining user experience, and optionally achieve one or more business and/or operational goals.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of managing bandwidth usage of a plurality of program streams in a content delivery network, said method comprising:
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receiving, via said network, one or more requests for individual ones of said plurality of program streams; based at least in part on said one or more requests, determining, at a stream management entity of said network, a future time at which said individual ones of said plurality of program streams are predicted to be requested; and binding said individual ones of said plurality of program streams to a session at a present time for delivery at said future time; wherein said binding corrects at least one bandwidth deficiency associated with servicing one or more requests substantially instantaneously while maintaining a current program stream load at said future time and said binding of said individual ones of said plurality of program streams to said session at said present time for delivery at said future time occurs despite a determination of an immediate bandwidth deficiency. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A network server apparatus configured to manage bandwidth usage of a plurality of program streams in a content delivery network, said network server apparatus comprising:
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a processor; a storage device operatively coupled to said processor; and at least one computer process disposed on said storage device, said at least one computer process comprising a plurality of instructions configured to, when executed; maintain active connections for a plurality of first program streams, said first program streams having a first stream state, said first stream state indicative that each tuner tuned to said first program streams is not actively tuned thereto based on a last user action value thereof compared to a time out value; receive a request for delivery of one or more second program streams from a client device; based at least in part on said request, invoke a bandwidth reclamation process comprising teardown of a stream of said first program streams for which said last user action value is oldest; based at least in part on said bandwidth reclamation process allocate said request for said delivery of said one or more second program streams. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A non-transitory computer-readable apparatus configured to store at least one computer program thereon, said at least one computer program configured to manage bandwidth usage of a plurality of program streams in a content delivery network, said at least one computer program comprising a plurality of instructions configured to, when executed:
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process a request for high-priority content from a client device; determine whether a grant associated with said request would result in at least one bandwidth deficiency; determine a priority level for each of a plurality of active program streams; identify at least one lowest priority active program stream; cause relocation of said at least one lowest priority program stream, said relocation configured to allow said request for said high-priority content to be granted; and continue to deliver said high-priority content despite a determination that no tuners are currently tuned to said high-priority content; wherein said determination of said priority level comprises a query of a user associated with each of said plurality of active program stream streams in order to determine actual viewership thereof, said identification of said at least one lowest priority active program steam being based at least in part on a response to said query. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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Specification