Methods and apparatus for content delivery notification and management

• US 20080192820A1
• Filed: 02/14/2007
• Published: 08/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2007
• 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 D.
• Granted Patent: US 9,270,944 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 375/240.02
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/34 Recording or statistical evaluation of computer activity, e.g. of down time, of input/output operation ; Recording or statistical evaluation of user activity, e.g. usability assessment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/70 Admission control; Resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/62 Establishing a time schedule for servicing the requests
• 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 21/2402 Monitoring of the downstream path of the transmission network, e.g. bandwidth available traffic monitoring in data switching networks H04L43/00; monitoring data switching networks utilization H04L43/0876
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• 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 21/485 End-user interface for client configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4882 for displaying messages, e.g. warnings, reminders arrangements for providing short real-time information to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1895
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for handling situations where requested services require more network capacity than presently available, and notifying network users of an delay in providing such services. In one embodiment, the invention comprises apparatus and methods for the detection of capacity (e.g., bandwidth) shortage, determination of a delayed delivery mode and schedule for the delivery of the requested content, and notification of the availability of the content to the user via, e.g., on-screen display, e-mail, text message, or other mode. The user can also specify their own notification preferences and delivery time. Requests for and delivery of the content may be performed from/to different locations as well. Network server apparatus, consumer premises equipment (CPE), and a software architecture adapted to implement the foregoing functionality, are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method of providing notification in a content based network, the method comprising:

receiving a request for delivery of content from an entity in communication with said network;

evaluating at least one parameter related to available bandwidth of said network;

when said evaluating indicates that said available bandwidth is limited, delaying the servicing of said request for content; and

providing a notification based at least in part on said delaying.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said content based network comprises a cable television network, and said request for content comprises a signal or message received from a subscriber of said network issued via their consumer premises equipment (CPE).

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said evaluation of at least one parameter related to available bandwidth is based at least in part on actual bandwidth allocation then existing within said network.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said evaluation of at least one parameter related to available bandwidth is based at least in part on a predictive or speculative bandwidth allocation within said network.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said notification comprises an audio, text, and/or graphical indication presented to a user via a display device in signal communication with said network.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said notification comprises an electronic message sent over the Internet.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said notification comprises an electronic message sent over a wireless or cellular service network.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said notification of different types of said request for content are configured differently.

9. A method of processing requests for content delivery in a content-based network, the method comprising:

receiving a request for content from a client device in operative communication with said network;

evaluating the network'"'"'s capacity to fulfill said request substantially in real time;

determining, where said capacity is not available, a delayed delivery mode to be used to deliver said content; and

providing a notification to at least said client device relating to said non-availability and said delayed delivery mode.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said request for content comprises a message received from said client device.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein said request for content comprises a subscriber tuning to a given program channel.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein said evaluating capacity comprises determining a predicted bandwidth allocation for some time in the future.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein said notification comprises at least one of an audio, text, or graphical alert.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein said providing a notification comprises providing different notifications for different types of said request for content.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein said request for content is subsequently serviced when said capacity to fulfill is determined to be available.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said request for content is subsequently serviced a part of a prioritization scheme of other such requests for content from other respective network client devices.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said prioritization scheme is established based at least in part on the bandwidth necessary to service each request.

18. The method of claim 9, wherein said content-based network comprises a hybrid fiber coax (HFC) network, said client device comprises a digital set-top box having OCAP (OpenCable) compliant middleware, and said delayed delivery mode comprises a substantially opportunistic delivery mode using reclaimed bandwidth.

19. The method of claim 9, wherein said client device issuing said request for content is not the same client device to which said requested content is to be delivered.

20. The method of claim 9, wherein said content-based network comprises a cable network, and said client device is disposed within an IP-based network external to said cable network but in communication therewith via at least one routing apparatus.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising subsequently servicing said request for content via a personal content server.

22. A method of delayed-delivery of content requests in a content based network, the method comprising:

receiving a request for content from client device having at least one tuner, or a proxy thereof;

evaluating available bandwidth in said network to fulfill said request for content;

when said available bandwidth is insufficient to fulfill said request, issuing a notification of delay to said client device or said proxy; and

delivering said requested content after sufficient bandwidth becomes available;

wherein said delivering comprises receiving said content using said at least one tuner.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein said at least one tuner comprises a first and second tuner, and said receiving using at least one tuner comprises:

utilizing at least the first of said tuners to receive said requested content; and

utilizing at least the second of said tuners to simultaneously receive a program stream.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein said availability of sufficient bandwidth is provided at least in part by opportunistic or residual bandwidth.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein said request is issued by said client device, and said notification is delivered to said proxy.

26. The method claim 25, wherein said proxy comprises a mobile device selected from the group consisting of:

(i) cellular phone;

(ii) PDA, and (iii) laptop computer.

27. The method of claim 22, wherein said request is issued by said proxy, and said notification is delivered to said client device.

28. The method of claim 22, wherein said request is issued by said proxy, and said notification is delivered to said proxy.

29. The method of claim 22, wherein said at least on tuner is capable of receiving at most one transport stream at one time, and the method further comprises:

receiving a request to tune to a transport stream, thereby resulting in a resource conflict with said act of delivering;

wherein said conflict is handled by complying with request and aborting or suspending said delivering.

30. The method of claim 22, wherein said at least on tuner is capable of receiving at most one transport stream at one time, and the method further comprises:

receiving a request to tune to a transport stream, thereby resulting in a resource conflict with said act of delivering;

wherein said conflict is handled by refusing to comply with request at least until said act of delivering has been completed.

31. The method of claim 22, wherein said network comprises a broadcast switched architecture (BSA) network, and said request is received by a BSA switch apparatus.

32. For use in a content-based network having at least one content source and a plurality of client devices, a software architecture adapted to provide delayed delivery of content and notification thereof, the architecture comprising:

a first process associated with said source; and

a second process disposed on respective ones of at least a portion of said plurality of client devices;

wherein said first process is adapted to;

evaluate at least one aspect of the network to determine if sufficient capacity is available to immediately service a content request;

where said capacity is not sufficient, determine at least a time when said capacity is projected to be sufficient; and

issue a notification to an entity making said request indicating at least said time.

33. The software architecture of claim 32, wherein said network comprises a broadcast switched architecture (BSA) network, and said request is received by a BSA switch apparatus.

34. The software architecture of claim 32, wherein said network comprises a VOD-capable network, and said request is received by a VOD server to instantiate an on-demand session.

35. The software architecture of claim 32, wherein said request is received by an application server to download at least one application file.

36. Consumer premises equipment (CPE) adapted for delayed content delivery notification within a content-based network, comprising:

a processor;

at least one software process operative to run on said processor; and

at least one display interface;

wherein said at least one process is adapted to receive information relating to delayed delivery of content previously requested, and cause display of a notification on an associated display device via said at least one display interface.

37. The CPE of claim 36, wherein said network comprises a cable television network, and said CPE comprises an OCAP (OpenCable) compliant set-top box having at least one tuner, demodulator, and middleware.

38. The CPE of claim 37, wherein said at least one process comprises a client application downloaded to said CPE over said cable network via said at least one tuner.

39. The CPE of claim 36, wherein said CPE comprises a secure microprocessor (SM), and content previously requested comprises a downloadable conditional access (DCAS) module or image.

40. A method of providing contextually relevant advertising, comprising:

receiving a request for content delivery, said content having at least one context;

determining that insufficient network capacity exists to service said request immediately; and

generating a notification to a requesting entity indicating that delivery of said content will be delayed;

wherein said notification comprises at least one advertising element that is related to said content via at least said context.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein said context is determined at least in part via metadata associated with said content.

42. The method of claim 40, wherein said advertising element comprises at least one graphical or audible element shown or played when said notification is presented.

43. The method of claim 40, wherein said advertising element relates to second content that is related or similar in nature to said requested content.

44. For use in a content based network, a method of delivering requested content via a delayed delivery mechanism, comprising:

determining that the requested content cannot be delivered immediately because of capacity or bandwidth shortage;

storing, on a storage device remote from the subscriber'"'"'s location, at least a portion of said requested content for later delivery to said subscriber'"'"'s location; and

providing a notification of the delay of said delivery of said requested content to said subscriber.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein said storage device is located at a network location selected from the group comprising:

(i) headend;

(ii) distribution hub, and (iii) BSA switching node.

46. The method of claim 45, further comprising retrieving said at least portion of said requested content from said storage device when the shortage occurs.

47. The method of claim 46, further comprising delivering said retrieved content via an opportunistic or trickle download mode.

48. The method of claim 46, further comprising delivering said retrieved content via a time-sensitive streaming mode.

49. The method of claim 44, wherein the requested content is ephemeral in nature and not otherwise stored on said network.

50. The method of claim 44, wherein said storage device comprises a finite amount of storage, and when not enough unused space is available in said storage device to store said requested content in its entirety, a first-in-first-out (FIFO) approach is used to store said at least portion of said content.

51. The method of claim 44, wherein the requested content is trickle downloaded to said subscriber while it still being stored on said storage device.

52. The method of claim 44, wherein said storage device is limited in the duration of time that said at least portion of said content can be stored.

53. A method of notifying subscribers within a content-based network of the availability of new or previously unavailable content, comprising:

providing a first notification of an impending availability for said content;

substantially in response to said act of providing, receiving a request for notification of the availability of said content from a subscriber;

determining that the content is available; and

providing said notification of availability to said subscriber substantially in response to said determining.

54. Network server apparatus for use in a content-based network and adapted to process requests for content delivery, comprising:

a processor;

a communications interface in operative communication with said processor and said network, said interface being adapted to receive said requests; and

a software process operative to run on said processor, said software process adapted to;

receive a request for content from a client device in operative communication with said network via said interface;

evaluate the network'"'"'s capacity to fulfill said request substantially in real time;

determine, where said capacity is not available, a delayed delivery mode to be used to deliver said content; and

provide a notification to at least said client device relating to said non-availability and said delayed delivery mode.