Network performance assessment apparatus, systems, and methods
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A network method, comprising:
- coupling a receiving device to a network, the network having coupled thereto a plurality of endpoint devices;
processing with the receiving device a first stream of real-time programming from a first source;
concurrent to the processing of the first stream, processing with the receiving device a second stream of real-time programming from a second source, the second source different from the first source;
formatting with the receiving device a portion of the first stream of real-time programming for presentation on a first endpoint device;
formatting with the receiving device a portion of the second stream of real-time programming for presentation on a second endpoint device, wherein the portions of the first and second streams are formatted such that a current capacity utilization of the network will remain below a peak capacity threshold of the network when the formatted portions of the first and second streams are communicated on the network as first and second data streams respectively, the current capacity utilization of the network being a summation of a bandwidth of each data stream of a plurality of data streams respectively allocated to the network;
communicating the formatted portion of the first stream of real-time programming on the network as one of the plurality of data streams allocated to the network; and
communicating the formatted portion of the second stream of real-time programming on the network as another one of the plurality of data streams allocated to the network.
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Abstract
Various embodiments of network performance assessment apparatus, systems and processes collect performance information pertaining to a current capacity utilization of a network, identify an occurrence of a capacity constraint on a portion of the network that is communicating the program to at least one presentation device, and modify at least one characteristic of the program and/or the communication thereof over the network so that a total capacity utilization of the network is less than a peak capacity of the network.
36 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A network method, comprising:
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coupling a receiving device to a network, the network having coupled thereto a plurality of endpoint devices; processing with the receiving device a first stream of real-time programming from a first source; concurrent to the processing of the first stream, processing with the receiving device a second stream of real-time programming from a second source, the second source different from the first source; formatting with the receiving device a portion of the first stream of real-time programming for presentation on a first endpoint device; formatting with the receiving device a portion of the second stream of real-time programming for presentation on a second endpoint device, wherein the portions of the first and second streams are formatted such that a current capacity utilization of the network will remain below a peak capacity threshold of the network when the formatted portions of the first and second streams are communicated on the network as first and second data streams respectively, the current capacity utilization of the network being a summation of a bandwidth of each data stream of a plurality of data streams respectively allocated to the network; communicating the formatted portion of the first stream of real-time programming on the network as one of the plurality of data streams allocated to the network; and communicating the formatted portion of the second stream of real-time programming on the network as another one of the plurality of data streams allocated to the network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A receiving device, comprising:
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a network interface, the network interface arranged to couple the receiving device to a network having coupled thereto a plurality of endpoint devices; a signal processing module operable to process a first stream of real-time programming communicated from a first source and operable to concurrently process a second stream of real-time programming from a second source; a network performance assessor operable to determine a current capacity utilization of the network, the current capacity utilization of the network being a summation of a bandwidth of each data stream of a plurality of data streams respectively allocated to the network; and a network formatter operable to format a portion of the first stream of real-time programming for communication over the network to a first endpoint device and operable to format a portion of the second stream of real-time programming for communication over the network to a second endpoint device, the portions of the first and second streams formatted such that a summation of the current capacity utilization of the network and a bandwidth consumed by communicating the portions of the first and second streams over the network is below a peak capacity threshold of the network. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A networked system, comprising:
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at least one presentation device coupled to a network; a receiving device coupled to the network; a signal processing module operable to process a first stream of real-time programming communicated on the network and operable to concurrently process a second stream of real-time programming communicated on the network; a network performance assessor operable to determine a current capacity utilization of the network, the current capacity utilization of the network being a summation of a bandwidth of each data stream of a plurality of data streams respectively allocated to the network; and a network formatter operable to format a portion of the first stream of real-time programming for communication over the network to a first presentation device and operable to format a portion of the second stream of real-time programming for communication over the network to a second presentation device, the portions of the first and second streams formatted such that a summation of the current capacity utilization of the network and a bandwidth consumed by communicating the portions of the first and second streams over the network is below a peak capacity threshold of the network. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification