Systems and methods for allocating bandwidth in switched digital video systems based on interest

• US 9,516,367 B2
• Filed: 01/06/2014
• Issued: 12/06/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Craner, Michael L.
• Primary Examiner(s): SALCE, JASON P
• Application Number:
  US14/148,283
• Publication Number:
  US 20140189730A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,065 Days
• Field of Search: 725 91- 96, 725114-116, 725144-146
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/103 Transmitter-side switching
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/16 Arrangements for broadcast or for distribution of identical information repeatedly
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/423 Transmitter side
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/06 Arrangements for scheduling broadcast services or broadcast-related services
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/233 Processing of audio elementary streams monitoring, identification or recognition of audio in broadcast systems H04H60/58
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234381 by altering the temporal resolution, e.g. decreasing the frame rate by frame skipping
• 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 21/2387 Stream processing in response to a playback request from an end-user, e.g. for trick-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2625 for delaying content or additional data distribution, e.g. because of an extended sport event
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2668 Creating a channel for a dedicated end-user group, e.g. insertion of targeted commercials based on end-user profiles information retrieval from the Internet by querying with filtering and personalisation G06F16/9535; arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast H04H20/10; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; adaptation of message content in packet-switching networks H04L51/063
• 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 21/6543 for forcing some client operations, e.g. recording remote booting in general G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6587 Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17354 in an intermediate station common to a plurality of user terminals

Abstract

Systems and methods for allocating bandwidth in a switched digital video (SDV) system based on charmed interest. In some embodiments, bandwidth is deallocated from channels and allocated to requested channels having a higher interest. Tiered approaches for allocating bandwidth are disclosed. Embodiments in which QAMs are allocated across services in a multi-service system based on interest are also disclosed. Embodiments for accommodating emergency access system (EAS) functionality in a SDV system are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method for addressing program overruns based on program interest, comprising:

detecting, using control circuitry, a program overrun on a first channel;

receiving, over a network connection, a plurality of requests corresponding to at least one of the program overrun and a regularly scheduled program on the first channel;

computing, based on the plurality of requests, interest for the program overrun and interest for the regularly scheduled program;

determining, using the control circuitry, whether the interest for the program overrun exceeds the interest for the regularly scheduled program on the first channel; and

in response to determining that the interest for the program overrun exceeds the interest for the regularly scheduled program, determining an amount of available bandwidth in a switched digital video (SDV) system; and

based on determining that the amount of available bandwidth in the SDV system can accommodate a second channel;

identifying an un-allocated frequency for the second channel in the SDV system,

allocating bandwidth for a second channel in the SDV system to accommodate the program overrun, and

reassigning the regularly scheduled program onto the second channel.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein allocating bandwidth for the second channel in the SDV system to accommodate the program overrun comprises buffering a portion of the regularly scheduled program until the second channel becomes available.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

generating for display the buffered portion; and

switching to the second channel.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising switching to the second channel where the regularly scheduled program can be watched.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein allocating bandwidth for the second channel in the SDV system to accommodate the program overrun is subject to available bandwidth.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the second channel may be recorded.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating for display a message with an option to continue watching the overrunning program or beginning to watch the regularly scheduled program.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to determining that the interest for the program overrun does not exceed the interest for the regularly scheduled program, refraining from accommodating the program overrun.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

generating for display a message indicating that the program overrun will not be accommodated.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of requests comprises at least one of a program reminder, a record request, and a channel request.

11. A system for addressing program overruns based on program interest, comprising:

control circuitry configured to;

detect a program overrun on a first channel;

receive, over a network connection, a plurality of requests corresponding to at least one of the program overrun and a regularly scheduled program on the first channel;

compute, based on the plurality of requests, interest for the program overrun and interest for the regularly scheduled program;

determine whether the interest for the program overrun exceeds the interest for the regularly scheduled program on the first channel; and

in response to determining that the interest for the program overrun exceeds the interest for the regularly scheduled program, determine an amount of available bandwidth in a switched digital video (SDV) system; and

based on determining that the amount of available bandwidth in the SDV system can accommodate a second channel;

identify an un-allocated frequency for the second channel in the SDV system,

allocate bandwidth for a second channel in the (SDV system to accommodate the program overrun, and

reassign the regularly schedule program onto the second channel.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to allocate bandwidth for the second channel in the SDV system to accommodate the program overrun by buffering the overrunning program until the second channel becomes available.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

generate for display the buffered portion; and

switch to the second channel.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to switch to the second channel where the regularly scheduled program can be watched.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein allocating bandwidth for the second channel in the SDV system to accommodate the program overrun is subject to available bandwidth.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the second channel may be recorded.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to generate for display a message with an option to continue watching the overrunning program or beginning to watch the regularly scheduled program.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to refrain from accommodating the program overrun in responsive to determining that the interest for the program overrun does not exceed the interest for the regularly scheduled program.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to generate for display a message indicating that the program overrun will not be accommodated.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein the plurality of requests comprises at least one of a program reminder, a record request, and a channel request.