Adaptive rate shifting for delivery of video services to service groups
First Claim
1. A system for determining an encoding rate for a digital video information stream, the system comprising:
- a service quality server further comprisingat least one processor,a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, coupled to the at least one processor, including computer-readable instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, are configured to;
receive a video quality service parameter from a service profile of a customer, wherein the video quality service parameter indicates a level of video quality to be streamed to the customer,determine whether, responsive to a previous request for video service, the customer is presently being provided with another digital video information stream, and if so, determine an associated encoding level of the another digital video information stream,determine a level of resource allocation related to bandwidth on a shared transmission medium serving the customer,determine an encoding rate from a plurality of encoding rates for the customer in response to a present request for video service,provide authorization for a server comprising a session manager to provide the digital video information stream, wherein the digital video information stream is encoded at the encoding rate, andupdate the level of resource allocation commensurate with the encoding rate used to encode the digital video information stream.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A video stream is provided to a set top box of a viewer to fulfill the viewer'"'"'s request for a video on-demand service. The video stream is encoded at one of a plurality of encoding rates selected by a Service Quality Manager based on parameters defined for a service group, which in various embodiments may comprise the viewer, or the viewer along with other customers serviced by a single QAM. The parameters used for determining the encoding rate may involve currently allocated bandwidth, the viewer'"'"'s service parameters, other customer'"'"'s service parameters, and historical data regarding encoding rate selection data. The encoding rate used to encode a stream may be modified during streaming in response to other service requests. The encoding rate may be shifted based on anticipated service requests from other members in the service group.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A system for determining an encoding rate for a digital video information stream, the system comprising:
a service quality server further comprising at least one processor, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, coupled to the at least one processor, including computer-readable instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, are configured to; receive a video quality service parameter from a service profile of a customer, wherein the video quality service parameter indicates a level of video quality to be streamed to the customer, determine whether, responsive to a previous request for video service, the customer is presently being provided with another digital video information stream, and if so, determine an associated encoding level of the another digital video information stream, determine a level of resource allocation related to bandwidth on a shared transmission medium serving the customer, determine an encoding rate from a plurality of encoding rates for the customer in response to a present request for video service, provide authorization for a server comprising a session manager to provide the digital video information stream, wherein the digital video information stream is encoded at the encoding rate, and update the level of resource allocation commensurate with the encoding rate used to encode the digital video information stream. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for selecting an encoding rate, comprising:
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receiving a request for determining an encoding rate for a digital video information stream associated with a present request for video service from a customer, the present request for video service originating in response to the customer requesting a video service; determining a video quality encoding level associated with a customer service profile associated with the customer; determining whether the customer is presently being provided with another digital video information stream responsive to a previous request for video service from the customer; determining a level of resource allocation related to bandwidth on a shared transmission medium serving the customer; selecting the encoding rate from a plurality of encoding rates for the digital video information stream for the customer in response to the present request for video service from the customer; providing authorization for a minimum encoding rate for the customer defined in a customer service profile; providing the digital video information stream, wherein the digital video information stream is encoded at the encoding rate; and updating the level of resource allocation commensurate with the encoding rate used to encode the digital video information stream. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification