System and method for content transmission network selection

• US 20170041653A1
• Filed: 10/19/2016
• Published: 02/09/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Gray, James H., KOCH, ROBERT A.
• Granted Patent: US 10,225,594 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2347 involving video stream encryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2381 Adapting the multiplex stream to a specific network, e.g. an Internet Protocol [IP] network transmission of MPEG streams over ATM H04L12/5601
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25883 being end-user demographical data, e.g. age, family status or address arrangements for identifying locations of users in broadcast systems H04H60/52
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26208 the scheduling operation being performed under constraints
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26216 involving the channel capacity, e.g. network bandwidth admission control, resource allocation in open networks H04L12/5692; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10; establishing a schedule or organising the servicing of application requests taking into account QoS H04L67/61
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/266 Channel or content management, e.g. generation and management of keys and entitlement messages in a conditional access system, merging a VOD unicast channel into a multicast channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2665 Gathering content from different sources, e.g. Internet and satellite
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64322 IP
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6587 Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A content transmission selection system is disclosed. The content transmission selection system receives requests from viewers for specific video content items. Using characteristics of the designated content item, the content transmission selection system determines whether to transmit the content item over a broadcast network or a broadband network.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, by a processing system comprising a processor, a request for viewing video content at a media processor;

determining, by the processing system, whether the media processor is communicatively coupled to a first network and a second network;

identifying, by the processing system, a geographic location of the media processor;

selecting, by the processing system, a transmit network as one of the first network or the second network resulting in a selected transmit network according to the geographic location of the media processor; and

delivering, by the processing system, the video content to the media processor over the selected transmit network.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining, by the processing system, a content size for the video content and wherein the selecting of the transmit network further comprises selecting, by the processing system, the transmit network as one of the first network or the second network resulting in the selected transmit network according to the content size for the video content.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining, by the processing system, a first available bandwidth for the first network and a second available bandwidth for the second network, wherein the selecting of the transmit network further comprises selecting, by the processing system, the transmit network as one of the first network or the second network resulting in the selected transmit network according to one of the first available bandwidth and the second available bandwidth.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising formatting, by the processing system, the video content according to the selected transmit network.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising sending, by the processing system, a notification to the media processor, wherein the notification includes transmission characteristics comprising an indication of the formatting of the video content.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising encrypting, by the processing system, the video content according to the formatting of the video content.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising sending, by the processing system, a notification to the media processor, wherein the notification includes transmission characteristics comprising an indication of the encrypting of the video content.

8. A device, comprising:

a processing system including a processor; and

a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitate performance of operations, comprising;

receiving a request for viewing video content at a media processor;

determining whether the media processor is communicatively coupled to a first network and a second network;

identifying a content size for the video content;

selecting a transmit network as one of the first network or the second network resulting in a selected transmit network according to the content size for the video content; and

delivering the video content to the media processor over the selected transmit network.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprising determining a geographic location of the media processor and wherein the selecting of the transmit network further comprises selecting the transmit network as one of the first network or the second network resulting in the selected transmit network according to the geographic location of the media processor.

10. The device of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise determining a first available bandwidth for the first network and a second available bandwidth for the second network, wherein the selecting of the transmit network further comprises selecting the transmit network as one of the first network or the second network resulting in the selected transmit network according to one of the first available bandwidth and the second available bandwidth.

11. The device of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise formatting the video content according to the selected transmit network.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the operations further comprise sending a notification to the media processor, wherein the notification includes transmission characteristics comprising an indication of the formatting of the video content.

13. The device of claim 11, wherein the operations further comprise encrypting the video content according to the formatting of the video content.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the operations further comprise sending a notification to the media processor, wherein the notification includes transmission characteristics comprising an indication of the encrypting of the video content.

15. A machine-readable storage medium, comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a processing system including a processor, facilitate performance of operations, comprising:

receiving a request for viewing video content at a media processor;

determining whether the media processor is communicatively coupled to a first network and a second network;

identifying a first available bandwidth for the first network and a second available bandwidth for the second network;

selecting a transmit network as one of the first network or the second network resulting in a selected transmit network according to the first available bandwidth for the first network and the second available bandwidth for the second network; and

delivering the video content to the media processor over the selected transmit network.

16. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise formatting the video content according to the selected transmit network.

17. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the operations further comprise sending a notification to the media processor, wherein the notification includes transmission characteristics comprising an indication of the formatting of the video content.

18. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the operations further comprise encrypting the video content according to the formatting of the video content.

19. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the operations further comprise sending a notification to the media processor, wherein the notification includes transmission characteristics comprising an indication of the encrypting of the video content.

20. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprising determining a geographic location of the media processor and wherein the selecting of the transmit network further comprises selecting the transmit network as one of the first network or the second network resulting in the selected transmit network according to the geographic location of the media processor.