Self-monitoring and optimizing network apparatus and methods

• US 20070076728A1
• Filed: 10/04/2005
• Published: 04/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Inventors: Rieger, Remi, Brooks, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 8,582,584 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/401
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0233 Object-oriented techniques, for representation of network management data, e.g. common object request broker architecture [CORBA]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0853 by actively collecting configuration information or by backing up configuration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0896 Bandwidth or capacity management, i.e. automatically increasing or decreasing capacities flow or congestion control using dynamic resource allocation, e.g. in-call renegotiation, H04L47/76
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/12 Avoiding congestion; Recovering from congestion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/15 in relation to multipoint traffic arrangements for broadcast or multicast in data networks H04L12/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/70 Admission control; Resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/762 triggered by the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/806 Broadcast or multicast traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/822 Collecting or measuring resource availability data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/823 Prediction of resource usage
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/826 Involving periods of time
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/83 based on usage prediction

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for dynamically and automatically allocating network resources through anticipatory analysis and control. In an exemplary embodiment, the network comprises a broadcast switched digital architecture, and network bandwidth allocation to multiple digital program streams is performed by processing historical user tuning data, which is obtained directly from the subscriber'"'"'s consumer premises equipment (e.g., DSTB). When an increase or decrease in bandwidth required to support certain programs is anticipated, network resource re-allocation is performed automatically by a software process running on the switching server. In this fashion, speculative but “intelligent” projections of bandwidth and program stream requirements can be made automatically by the server software, without operator intervention. The server also optionally dictates the optimal monitoring and data collection parameters to the DSTB.

Claims

1. A method of allocating bandwidth in a broadcast switched architecture network, comprising:

causing data to be gathered from a plurality of client devices in communication with said network, said data relating to the tuning operation of said client devices over a period of time;

receiving said data from said client devices at a server in communication with said network;

storing said data into a database;

analyzing data from said database to identify one or more features of significance therein;

using at least one of said features to determine the value of at least one operational parameter used in operating said broadcast switched architecture network; and

applying said at least one value to said network to control the operation thereof in anticipation of an event.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said network comprises a digital network and said CPE comprise digital set-top boxes (DSTBs).

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said act of causing comprises causing data to be gathered regarding the activity of one or more remote control units associated with at least one of said DSTBs.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said act of analyzing to identify one or more features comprises identifying at least one correlation between a historical event and a change in said data from a plurality of said client devices.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said act of analyzing data from said database comprises statistically analyzing data corresponding to a plurality of said client devices.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said plurality of client devices comprises substantially all devices within a service group served by a hub of said broadcast switched network.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one operational parameter is selected from the group consisting of:

(i) total stream pool size by service area;

(ii) individual channel reclamation times; and

(iii) individual channel initiation time.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said act of storing comprises storing said data based at least in part on a hashed or cryptographic value of information identifying the individual one or ones of said client devices from which said data was obtained.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said information identifying the individual one or ones of said client devices comprises at least one of:

(i) TUNER ID, (ii) TUNER USE, or (iii) MAC address.

10. A method of allocating bandwidth in a content-based network, comprising:

causing data to be gathered from a plurality of client devices in communication with said network;

receiving said data from said client devices at a server in communication with said network;

analyzing said data to identify one or more features therein;

using at least one of said features to determine the value of at least one operational parameter used in operating said network; and

applying said at least one value to said network to control the operation thereof.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said gathering of data from said client devices is performed according to rules provided by a server application running on said server.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said data comprises channel tuning data and duration data.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein act of receiving said data from said client devices is performed according to a substantially periodic schedule.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein said at least one operational parameter is selected from the group consisting of:

(i) total stream pool size by service area;

(ii) individual channel reclamation times; and

(iii) individual channel initiation time.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising calculating a bandwidth allocation relating to a statistically multiplexed process.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising storing said data based at least in part on a hashed or cryptographic value of information identifying the individual one or ones of said client devices from which said data was obtained.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said information identifying the individual one or ones of said client devices comprises at least one of:

(i) TUNER ID, (ii) TUNER USE, or (iii) MAC address.

18. Apparatus for allocating bandwidth in a content based network having at least one server and a plurality of consumer premises equipment (CPE), comprising:

at least one client side process operative to run on a corresponding at least on CPE, said client side process being adapted to collect data relating to the operation of said CPE; and

a network side process running on said at least one server and adapted to receive said data;

wherein said network side process comprises at least one computer program adapted to analyze said data and automatically generate one or more values of control parameters used in controlling the operation of said network.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said client side process further comprises an API for said network side process to communicate therewith, said communication comprising at least information relating to the type of data to be collected by said client side process.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising a database in data communication with said network side process, said database comprising historical data collected from a plurality of CPE over an extended period of time.

21. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said network comprises a broadcast switched architecture (BSA) network having at least one switching node, and said one or more values are used to speculatively switch said switching node to deliver or not deliver individual ones of program streams to said CPE based on said analysis of said data by said at least one computer program.

22. Network server apparatus adapted for use in a broadcast switched digital network, said network having a plurality of client devices in communication therewith and being adapted to carry a plurality of program streams, said apparatus comprising:

a processor;

a storage device in data communication with said processor;

a network interface adapted to at least receive messages from said client devices; and

a computer program operative to run on said server apparatus, said computer program being adapted to automatically;

receive, over time, data from said client devices via said messages and relating to the operation of individual ones of said client devices;

store said data on said storage device so as to form a historical database relating to the operation of a plurality of said client devices;

analyze at least portions of said database to identify artifacts of interest therein; and

generate one or more control values relating to the operation of said switched digital network based at least in part on said analysis.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said analysis to identify artifacts comprises statistical analysis of the usage patterns of said plurality of client devices.

24. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said analysis to identify artifacts comprises analysis of a first moving window of data having a first duration, and analysis of a second moving window of data having a second duration, said first duration being shorter than said second duration.

25. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said one or more control values comprise at least one of:

(i) total program stream pool size by service area;

(ii) individual program stream reclamation times; and

(iii) individual program stream initiation time.

26. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said computer program is further adapted to determine a plurality of parameters relating to collection of said data by said client devices, and send information relating to these parameters to said client devices.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein said plurality of parameters comprise at least one of (i) frequency of data sampling, and (ii) the interval or conditions upon which said data is sent to server apparatus.

28. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said data comprises at least one of:

(i) tuning activity on each client device and an associated timestamp; and

(ii) remote control activity associated with each client device.

29. Digital consumer premises equipment (CPE) adapted for use in a broadcast switched digital network having a server, said CPE comprising:

a processor;

a network interface adapted to at least receive first messages directly or indirectly from said server, and transmit second messages directly or indirectly to said server; and

at least one computer program operative to run on said CPE, said computer program being adapted to;

receive one or more configuration messages relating to the collection of tuning data by said CPE;

configure said CPE according to at least one of said messages;

over time, collect data relating to the operation of said CPE; and

transmit at least portions of said collected data back to said server via said second messages.

30. The CPE of claim 29, further comprising a storage device in data communication with said processor;

wherein said at least one computer program is adapted to store said collected data on said storage device for at least a period of time.

31. The CPE of claim 29, wherein said at least one computer program is further adapted to pre-process at least portions of said collected data before transmitting said second messages.

32. The CPE of claim 31, wherein said pre-processing comprises at least one of (i) filtration of said collected data, and (ii) calculation of parameters based on said collected data.

33. A method of selectively providing program streams over a broadcast switched digital network having a server and a plurality of subscribers, said subscribers each having a client device coupled to said network, the method comprising:

operating said client devices in said network;

collecting data via each of said client devices, said collected data relating to the usage of said program streams by respective ones of said subscribers;

transmitting at least portions of said collected data to said server;

adding said transmitted data to a database comprising historical usage data within said network;

analyzing at least portions of said database at said server to identify statistically significant variations or artifacts within at least said historical usage data;

automatically and algorithmically generating one or more operational control values for said network based at least in part on said analysis; and

implementing said control values within said network, said implementing comprising speculatively instantiating or terminating one or more of said program streams for at least one of said plurality of subscribers.

34. Storage apparatus, comprising:

a storage medium adapted to store a plurality of data thereon, said plurality of data comprising a computer program, said program being operative to run on a computerized apparatus, said computer program being adapted to;

receive, over time, data from a plurality of client devices of a network via messages and relating to the operation of individual ones of said client devices;

store said data on a storage device in data communication with said computerized apparatus so as to form a historical database relating to the operation of a plurality of said client devices;

analyze at least portions of said database to identify artifacts of interest therein; and

generate one or more control values relating to the operation of a switched digital network based at least in part on said analysis.

35. A method of doing business within a content based network, said network being adapted to selectively provide program streams, and having a server and a plurality of subscribers, said subscribers each having a client device coupled to said network, the method comprising:

operating said client devices in said network to view at least certain ones of said program streams as part of a subscription service;

collecting data via each of said client devices, said collected data relating to the usage of said program streams by respective ones of said subscribers;

transmitting at least portions of said collected data to said server;

transmitting information relating to the identity of individual ones of said client devices to said server, said information at some point being cryptographically processed in order to maintain the anonymity of said subscribers;

associating said collected data to respective ones of said client devices using at least said cryptographically processed information;

analyzing at least portions of said data to identify one or more artifacts within said data; and

selectively including or excluding at least one of said subscribers in or from a service group, respectively, based on said acts of associating and analyzing.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein said network comprises a broadcast switched architecture (BSA) network, and said information comprises at least one of a TUNER ID, TUNER USE, or MAC address variable.

37. The method of claim 35, further comprising selectively switching individual ones of said program streams to members of said service group based at least in part on said act of analyzing.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein said one or more artifacts comprise one or more patterns present in the tuning habits of said at least one subscriber.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein said act of analyzing further comprises comparing said one or more patterns against the statistical tuning habits of a larger population of said subscribers of said network.

40. A method of allocating resources within a content based network having a plurality of CPE and first and second content delivery subsystems, the method comprising:

obtaining data from said CPE;

storing said data in a database; and

analyzing said data to generate operational control signals for said network, said control signals controlling allocation of said resources between said first and second delivery sub-systems.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein said first and second subsystems comprise broadcast-switched and video-on-demand (VOD) systems, respectively.

42. The method of claim 40, wherein said act of controlling allocation of said resources comprises controlling the allocation of bandwidth within at least one edge QAM of said network.

43. The method of claim 40, wherein said act of controlling allocation of said resources comprises controlling the allocation of bandwidth based at least in part on historical data obtained from a plurality of said CPE.