Method and apparatus for boundary-based network operation
First Claim
1. In a selectively switched content-based broadcast network comprising at least one server disposed at a hub of said network, and a plurality of consumer premises equipment (CPE) in direct or indirect signal communication with said server, a method of selectively delivering targeted content to individual ones or subsets of said plurality of CPE, the method comprising:
- determining an identification parameter for at least a portion of said plurality of CPE;
generating a correlation between said identification parameter and a second parameter associated with said each CPE or its subscriber;
disposing said correlation at said server;
receiving at said server a request from one of said plurality of CPE for content;
determining, based at least in part on said correlation, one of a plurality of content to be delivered to said requesting one of said CPE; and
delivering at least said one content to said requesting one of said CPE;
wherein said act of delivering comprises selectively switching a subset of all content available at said hub to at least said requesting one of said CPE in order to conserve bandwidth within said network.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for enforcing physical or logical boundaries, and targeting specific subscribers or groups of subscribers with particular content, within a network. In an exemplary embodiment, the network comprises a cable network operating according to a broadcast switched architecture (BSA), with a BSA server and a plurality of subscriber premises devices. Individual ones of these devices are identified to the server (such as via a unique identifier), and this information is correlated with one or more other parameters in order to selectively identify physical or logical groups of subscribers within the broader subscriber base. These other parameters may comprise, e.g., the postal zip code or telephone area code/exchange where the premises device is located, or alternatively relate to anecdotal or statistical viewing habits of the subscriber(s). Anonymity of the subscriber'"'"'s identity, and autonomy from other data bases or sources of subscriber information, is maintained using this approach as well.
416 Citations
45 Claims
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1. In a selectively switched content-based broadcast network comprising at least one server disposed at a hub of said network, and a plurality of consumer premises equipment (CPE) in direct or indirect signal communication with said server, a method of selectively delivering targeted content to individual ones or subsets of said plurality of CPE, the method comprising:
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determining an identification parameter for at least a portion of said plurality of CPE;
generating a correlation between said identification parameter and a second parameter associated with said each CPE or its subscriber;
disposing said correlation at said server;
receiving at said server a request from one of said plurality of CPE for content;
determining, based at least in part on said correlation, one of a plurality of content to be delivered to said requesting one of said CPE; and
delivering at least said one content to said requesting one of said CPE;
wherein said act of delivering comprises selectively switching a subset of all content available at said hub to at least said requesting one of said CPE in order to conserve bandwidth within said network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of operating a switched broadcast content-based network comprising at least one server and a plurality of consumer premises equipment (CPE) in direct or indirect signal communication therewith, comprising:
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providing each of said CPE with a parameter;
correlating said first parameter with a second parameter; and
selectively delivering content to individual ones of said CPE based at least in part on said act of correlating. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. CPE adapted for use within a cable network, comprising:
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an interface configured to receive encoded content signals from said network;
processing apparatus operatively coupled to said interface and adapted to decode said encoded signals received via said interface; and
at least one computer program running on said CPE, said at least one program being adapted to generate an upstream request for at least one program channel for transmission to a server entity of said network, said upstream request being configured to cause said server entity to selectively switch certain broadcast content to said CPE;
wherein said CPE further comprises a unique identification parameter, said parameter being directly or indirectly at least part of the basis for said selective broadcast switching by said server entity. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. Network server apparatus for use in a switched broadcast cable network having a plurality of CPE, comprising:
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a processor adapted to run at least one computer program thereon;
a storage device in data communication with said processor, said storage device being adapted to store a plurality of data relating to individual ones of said CPE; and
a computer program adapted to selectively switch one of a plurality of broadcast content streams to groups of ones of said plurality of CPE based at least in part on said plurality of data relating to individual ones of said CPE. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29)
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30. A method of anonymously and selectively providing content to a plurality of subscribers of a content-based network comprising at least one server and a plurality of consumer premises equipment (CPE) in direct or indirect signal communication therewith, comprising:
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providing each of said CPE with an identifying parameter;
correlating said identifying parameter with a second parameter; and
selectively delivering content to individual ones of said CPE based at least in part on said act of correlating;
wherein the identity of said subscribers is not utilized as part of said acts of correlating or delivering. - View Dependent Claims (31)
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32. A method of enforcing a geographic or logical boundary within a broadcast switched allocation (BSA) network comprising at least one server and a plurality of consumer premises equipment (CPE) in communication therewith, said plurality of CPE each having an identification parameter associated therewith, the method comprising:
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correlating said identification parameter for at least a portion of said plurality of CPE with a second parameter relating to a first geographic location of, or a logical relationship between a given CPE and others of said at least portion; and
selectively delivering content to individual ones of said CPE having said geographic location or said logical relationship. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34)
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35. A method of doing business within a content-based network comprising at least one server and a plurality of consumer premises equipment (CPE) in direct or indirect signal communication therewith, the method comprising:
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providing services to a plurality of subscribers associated with respective ones of said plurality of CPE;
providing each of said CPE with an identifying parameter;
gathering data relating to said subscribers or said CPE;
correlating said identifying parameter with said data;
selectively choosing content for delivery to individual ones of said CPE based at least in part on said data and said identifying parameter; and
delivering said chosen content to said individual ones of said CPE;
wherein the identity of said subscribers is not utilized as part of said acts of correlating, choosing, or delivering.
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36. A method of anonymously and selectively operating a cable network having a switched broadcast architecture comprising at least one switching node and a plurality of consumer premises equipment (CPE), the method comprising:
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providing a first identifying value associated with a first CPE;
converting said first identifying value to a second identifying value, said second identifying value substantially preventing determination of said first identifying value therefrom;
accessing a correlation between said second identifying value and at least one data element, said at least one data element being selected from the group consisting of;
(i) demographic data;
(ii) geographic data; and
(iii) psychographic data; and
based at least in part on said act of accessing, switching at least one broadcast content option to said first CPE using at least said switching node. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39)
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40. A method of providing network services to one or more users of a content-based network. comprising:
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generating data at a first location;
transmitting said data in a first direction within said network to a network node;
replicating at least portions of said data via said node; and
transmitting at least portions of said replicated data to at least one user of said network. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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Specification