Methods and apparatus for content delivery notification and management

• US 9,270,944 B2
• Filed: 02/14/2007
• Issued: 02/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Inventors: Brooks, Paul D., Rieger, Remi
• Primary Examiner(s): Bruckart, Benjamin R
• Assistant Examiner(s): THOMAS, JASON M
• Application Number:
  US11/706,620
• Publication Number:
  US 20080192820A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,296 Days
• Field of Search: 725/34, 725 86- 87, 725/91, 725/93, 725 95- 97, 725 37- 40, 725/58, 725/74, 725/78, 725/80, 725/82, 725/85, 725/88, 725/89, 725/100, 370/229, 370/230, 370232-235, 709/223, 709/226, 709/230, 709/232, 709/234
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/34 Recording or statistical evaluation of computer activity, e.g. of down time, of input/output operation ; Recording or statistical evaluation of user activity, e.g. usability assessment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/70 Admission control; Resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/62 Establishing a time schedule for servicing the requests
• 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 21/2402 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 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47214 for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; notification of incoming messages in packet switching networks H04L51/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/485 End-user interface for client configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4882 for displaying messages, e.g. warnings, reminders arrangements for providing short real-time information to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1895
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for handling situations where requested services require more network capacity than presently available, and notifying network users of an delay in providing such services. In one embodiment, the invention comprises apparatus and methods for the detection of capacity (e.g., bandwidth) shortage, determination of a delayed delivery mode and schedule for the delivery of the requested content, and notification of the availability of the content to the user via, e.g., on-screen display, e-mail, text message, or other mode. The user can also specify their own notification preferences and delivery time. Requests for and delivery of the content may be performed from/to different locations as well. Network server apparatus, consumer premises equipment (CPE), and a software architecture adapted to implement the foregoing functionality, are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method of providing notification in a content distribution network, said method comprising:

receiving a request for delivery of content from an entity in communication with said content distribution network;

evaluating at least one parameter related to available bandwidth of said content distribution network;

when said evaluating indicates that said available bandwidth is limited, utilizing recorded bandwidth usage data to predict a first future time window when bandwidth will be available for delivery of said requested content; and

immediately subsequent to said act of evaluating, providing at least two selectable content delivery options and an option to receive a notification at second future time relating to said requested content being available;

wherein said at least two selectable content delivery options comprise at least one option for streamed delivery and at least one option for download delivery of said requested content, said streamed or download delivery occurring at a user specified time within said predicted first future time window.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said content distribution network comprises a cable television network, and said request for content comprises a signal or message received from a subscriber of said content distribution network issued via their consumer premises equipment (CPE).

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said evaluation of at least one parameter related to available bandwidth is based at least in part on actual bandwidth allocation then existing within said content distribution network.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said notification comprises an audio, text, and/or graphical indication presented to a user via a display device in signal communication with said content distribution network.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said notification comprises an electronic message sent over a wireless or cellular service network.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said notification of a first type of said requested content can be configured differently from a second type of said requested content.

5. The method of claim wherein said notification comprises an electronic message sent over an Internet.

8. A network apparatus adapted to provide notification in a content distribution network, said network apparatus comprising:

a network interface adapted to communicate with at least one user device;

a storage apparatus; and

a processor in data communication with said storage apparatus and said network interface, said processor adapted to run at least one computer program thereon, said at least one computer program comprising a plurality of instructions which are adapted to, when executed, cause said network apparatus to;

receive a request for delivery of content from said at least one user device in communication with said content distribution network;

evaluate at least one parameter related to available bandwidth of said content distribution network;

when said evaluation indicates that said available bandwidth is limited, utilize recorded bandwidth usage data to predict a first future time window when bandwidth will be available for delivery of said requested content; and

immediately subsequent to said evaluation, provide at least two selectable content delivery options and an option to receive a notification at second future time relating to said requested content being available;

wherein said at least two selectable content delivery options comprise at least one option for streamed delivery and at least one option for download delivery of said requested content, said streamed or download delivery occur at a user specified time within said predicted first future time window.

9. The network apparatus of claim 8, wherein said content distribution network comprises a cable television network, and said request for content comprises a signal or message received from a subscriber of said content distribution network issued via their consumer premises equipment (CRE).

10. The network apparatus of claim 8, wherein said evaluation of at least one parameter related to available bandwidth is based at least in part on actual bandwidth allocation which currently exists within said content distribution network.

11. The network apparatus of claim 8, wherein said notification comprises an audio, text, and/or graphical indication presented to a user via a display device in signal communication with said content distribution network.

12. The network apparatus of claim 8, wherein said notification comprises an electronic message sent over an Internet.

13. The network apparatus of claim 8, wherein said notification comprises an electronic message sent over a wireless or cellular service network.

14. The network apparatus of claim 8, wherein said notification of a first type of said requested content can be configured differently from a second type of said requested content.