Generation, distribution and use of content metadata in a network

• US 8,625,607 B2
• Filed: 07/24/2007
• Issued: 01/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2007
• 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.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lai, Andrew
• Assistant Examiner(s): ANDREWS, LEON T
• Application Number:
  US11/881,009
• Publication Number:
  US 20090028192A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,359 Days
• Field of Search: 370/395.21, 370/395.41, 370/395.64, 370/468, 370/535
• US Class Current: 370/395.64
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/42 Arrangements for resource management
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/78 CATV [Community Antenna Television] systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/73 using meta-information
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2353 specifically adapted to content descriptors, e.g. coding, compressing or processing of metadata
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23608 Remultiplexing multiplex streams, e.g. involving modifying time stamps or remapping the packet identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23655 Statistical multiplexing, e.g. by controlling the encoder to alter its bitrate to optimize the bandwidth utilization
• 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 21/4344 Remultiplexing of multiplex streams, e.g. by modifying time stamps or remapping the packet identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6377 directed to server one-way streaming services wherein the source is controlled by the destination H04L65/613
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/658 Transmission by the client directed to the server
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/22 Adaptations for optical transmission

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for utilizing information (e.g., metadata) relating to content in a multimedia distribution network. In one embodiment, the network comprises a hybrid fiber coax (HFC) cable network, and the information comprises metadata relating to the bitrate profile of deterministic content such as stored video. Content sources, or the network operator themselves, generate the metadata which may then be used by the operator to adjust or optimize the operation of the network; e.g., more efficiently allocate the program to a multiplex. Network apparatus adapted to implement the metadata functionality and related business methods are also disclosed.

Claims

1. An apparatus for use in controlling multiplexing operations performed by a single-stage multiplexer in a content delivery network, said apparatus comprising:

a computerized device in data communication with said single-stage multiplexer; and

at least one management process configured to run on said computerized device, said management process comprising a plurality of instructions which are configured to when executed;

receive metadata describing individual bandwidth requirements associated with respective ones of a plurality of content;

project, based at least in part on said metadata, said bandwidth requirements for said respective ones of said plurality of content at some period in the future; and

cause bandwidth allocation to be performed at said single-stage multiplexer for said plurality of content based at least in part on said projection;

wherein said bandwidth allocation comprises selection of an optimal version of individual ones of said plurality of content from among a plurality of previously generated content versions for inclusion in a multiplex generated by said single-stage multiplexer; and

wherein each of said plurality of previously generated content versions comprises a version of said individual ones of said plurality of content encoded to utilize a different amount of bandwidth.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a database in data communication with said computerized device, said database comprising metadata associated with at least a portion of said plurality of content.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said content delivery network comprises a cable television network, and said computerized device is disposed at a headend of said network.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said content delivery network comprises a broadcast switched architecture (BSA) cable television network, and said computerized device comprises a device disposed at a switching hub of said content delivery network.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprises a multiplexing and switching apparatus configured to receive said plurality of content.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said metadata describing said individual bandwidth requirements associated with respective ones of said plurality of content is received prior to receiving said plurality of content.

7. A method of operating a content distribution network, comprising:

receiving a plurality of single program content streams at an apparatus for controlling multiplexing operations of said content distribution network;

receiving bitrate metadata associated with said plurality of single program content streams at said apparatus for controlling multiplexing operations of said content distribution network, said bitrate metadata comprising information describing at least a minimum acceptable bitrate associated with respective ones of said plurality of single program content streams on a per-segment basis; and

selecting an optimal version of individual ones of said plurality of single program content streams from among a plurality of previously generated content versions for inclusion in a multiplex generated by a single-stage multiplexer based at least in part on said bitrate metadata, each of said plurality of previously generated content versions comprising a different bandwidth requirement.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

encoding said plurality of single program content streams to produce an encoded content; and

generating said bitrate metadata based at least in part on said act of encoding.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said plurality of single program content streams each comprise variable bitrate content.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein said bitrate metadata is conveyed to said single-stage multiplexer with said encoded content.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein said act of generating said bitrate metadata is performed by an operator of said cable television network.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein said act of generating said bitrate metadata is performed by a distributor of said encoded content.

13. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

(i) determining which of a plurality of Quadrature Amplitude Modulated (QAM) channels that said plurality of single program content streams will be assigned to; and

(ii) determining whether one or more of said plurality of single program content streams will have their bitrates adjusted.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising adjusting a bitrate of said one or more of said plurality of single program content streams to said minimum acceptable bitrate associated therewith.

15. A method of operating a cable network, said cable network comprising a multiplexing and switching controller for generating a multiplexed output and a plurality of subscribers, said method comprising:

encoding a program stream to produce encoded content;

generating metadata associated with said encoding of said program stream, said metadata relating to a peak bitrate of said encoded content;

providing said metadata to said multiplexing and switching controller for generating said multiplexed output;

configuring at least one aspect of said multiplexed output based at least in part on said metadata related to said peak bitrate of said encoded content;

selecting an optimal version of said encoded content from among a plurality of previously generated content versions of said encoded content each configured to utilize a different bandwidth for inclusion in said multiplexed output; and

conveying said multiplexed output to said plurality of subscribers of said network for use thereby.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said encoded content comprises variable bit rate content.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said configuring at least one aspect of said multiplexed output based at least in part on said metadata relating to said peak bitrate of said encoded content comprises determining an allocation of said encoded content to at least one Quadrature Amplitude Modulated (QAM) channel of said cable network.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein said metadata further comprises a content index, said content index indicating at least portions of said encoded content which may be encoded at different rates than other portions thereof.

19. An apparatus for providing content to a content distribution network, comprising:

encoder apparatus configured to encode a plurality of content versions each of which utilize a different amount of bandwidth;

generator apparatus in data communication with said encoder apparatus, said generator apparatus configured to generate metadata files comprising information relating to a bitrate of respective ones of said encoded plurality of content versions; and

interface apparatus in data communication with generator apparatus, said interface apparatus configured to receive said metadata files and transmit them to a multiplexing apparatus;

wherein said information relating to said bitrate is utilized by said multiplexing apparatus to allocate individuals ones of said encoded plurality of content versions to one or more multiplexes, said allocation comprising selection of an optimal version of said respective ones of said encoded plurality of content versions from among said encoded plurality of content versions; and

wherein said generator apparatus further comprises logic to look ahead within said encoded plurality of content versions to select at least portions thereof for which said generation of said metadata files is required, said generator apparatus configured to generate metadata files for said selected portions of said encoded plurality of content versions, said metadata files comprising information regarding a minimum acceptable bitrate for each of said selected portions of said encoded plurality of content versions.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said encoder apparatus, said generator apparatus, and said interface apparatus are disposed at a headend of a cable television network.

21. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising a second interface apparatus in data communication with said encoder apparatus, said second interface apparatus configured to receive content from a content source.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said encoder apparatus, said generator apparatus, said interface apparatus, and said second interface apparatus are disposed at a headend of a cable television network, and said content source is disposed at another location.

23. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said encoder apparatus comprises a variable rate encoder.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said variable rate encoder is selectively controlled using at least data sent back from said multiplexing apparatus.