Policy control over switched delivery networks
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- receiving by a network device a program request from a transceiver that includes a program request to receive a video program at the transceiver, wherein the transceiver is associated with a subscriber;
ascertaining by the network device an amount of bandwidth on a network channel available to the transceiver and all other transceivers being serviced by the network device via the network channel, the network device being connected to the network channel;
determining by the network device whether to provide a unicast stream or a multicast stream to deliver the requested video program to the transceiver in response to the program request based on a result obtained after implementing a policy control function that considers the amount of bandwidth on the network channel available to the transceiver and all other transceivers serviced by the network device via the network channel, capabilities of the transceiver, and a subscriber profile of the subscriber, wherein the transceiver and all other transceivers served by the network device via the network channel are directly connected to the network channel;
selecting a format and encoding type of a program offering of an incoming media stream by the network device in accordance with the capabilities of the transceiver and with the result of the policy control function to provide a corresponding formatted unicast or multicast media stream that includes video data for the requested video program; and
outputting by the network device the associated formatted unicast or multicast media stream on the network channel.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method is described that includes receiving a program request from a transceiver that includes a program request to receive a video program at the transceiver. The method also includes determining an amount of bandwidth on a channel available to the transceiver. The method further includes determining whether to provide a unicast stream or a multicast stream to deliver the requested video program to the transceiver in response to the program request based on a result obtained after implementing a policy control function that considers an amount of bandwidth on the channel to the transceiver. The method further includes formatting and selecting an incoming media stream in accordance with the result of the policy control function to provide a corresponding formatted unicast or multicast media stream that includes video data for the requested video program. The method further includes outputting the associated formatted unicast or multicast media stream on the channel.
29 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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receiving by a network device a program request from a transceiver that includes a program request to receive a video program at the transceiver, wherein the transceiver is associated with a subscriber; ascertaining by the network device an amount of bandwidth on a network channel available to the transceiver and all other transceivers being serviced by the network device via the network channel, the network device being connected to the network channel; determining by the network device whether to provide a unicast stream or a multicast stream to deliver the requested video program to the transceiver in response to the program request based on a result obtained after implementing a policy control function that considers the amount of bandwidth on the network channel available to the transceiver and all other transceivers serviced by the network device via the network channel, capabilities of the transceiver, and a subscriber profile of the subscriber, wherein the transceiver and all other transceivers served by the network device via the network channel are directly connected to the network channel; selecting a format and encoding type of a program offering of an incoming media stream by the network device in accordance with the capabilities of the transceiver and with the result of the policy control function to provide a corresponding formatted unicast or multicast media stream that includes video data for the requested video program; and outputting by the network device the associated formatted unicast or multicast media stream on the network channel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. An apparatus comprising:
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a first network interface configured to receive an incoming media stream that includes video data for a video program; at least one processor configured to execute instructions encoded in one or more tangible media for execution and when executed operable to examine a program request received from a transceiver that includes a program request to receive the video program at the transceiver, wherein the transceiver is associated with a subscriber; determine an amount of bandwidth on a network channel available to the transceiver and all other transceivers serviced by the apparatus via the network channel, the apparatus being connected to the network channel; determine whether to provide a unicast stream or a multicast stream to deliver the requested video program to the transceiver in response to the program request based on a result obtained after implementing a policy control function that considers the amount of bandwidth on the network channel, capabilities of the transceiver, and a subscriber profile of the subscriber, wherein the transceiver and all other transceivers served by the apparatus via the network channel are directly connected to the network channel; and select a format and encoding type of a program offering of the incoming media stream in accordance with the capabilities of the transceiver and with the result of the policy control function to provide a corresponding formatted unicast or multicast media stream that includes video data for the video program; and one or more network interfaces configured to receive the program request from the transceiver over the network channel, and output the associated formatted unicast or multicast media stream on the network channel. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing thereon computer-readable instructions operable to:
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receive a program request by a network device from a transceiver that includes a program request to receive a video program at the transceiver, wherein the transceiver is associated with a subscriber; determine by the network device an amount of bandwidth on a network channel available to the transceiver and all other transceivers serviced by the network device via the network channel, the network device being connected to the network channel; and determine by the network device whether to provide a unicast stream or a multicast stream to deliver the requested video program to the transceiver in response to the program request based on a result obtained after implementing a policy control function that considers the amount of bandwidth on the network channel, capabilities of the transceiver, and a subscriber profile of the subscriber, wherein the transceiver and all other transceivers served by the network device via the network channel are directly connected to the network channel; select a format and encoding type of a program offering of an incoming media stream by the network device in accordance with the capabilities of the transceiver and with the result of the policy control function to provide a corresponding formatted unicast or multicast media stream that includes video data for the requested video program; and output the associated formatted unicast or multicast media stream by the network device on the network channel.
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Specification