CA2572688C - Method and apparatus for network bandwidth allocation - Google Patents

Method and apparatus for network bandwidth allocation Download PDF

Info

Publication number
CA2572688C
CA2572688C CA2572688A CA2572688A CA2572688C CA 2572688 C CA2572688 C CA 2572688C CA 2572688 A CA2572688 A CA 2572688A CA 2572688 A CA2572688 A CA 2572688A CA 2572688 C CA2572688 C CA 2572688C
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
bandwidth
data
requests
session
channels
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Active
Application number
CA2572688A
Other languages
French (fr)
Other versions
CA2572688A1 (en
Inventor
Glen Hardin
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC
Original Assignee
Time Warner Cable Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Time Warner Cable Inc filed Critical Time Warner Cable Inc
Publication of CA2572688A1 publication Critical patent/CA2572688A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA2572688C publication Critical patent/CA2572688C/en
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Classifications

    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04NPICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/20Servers specifically adapted for the distribution of content, e.g. VOD servers; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/23Processing of content or additional data; Elementary server operations; Server middleware
    • H04N21/238Interfacing the downstream path of the transmission network, e.g. adapting the transmission rate of a video stream to network bandwidth; Processing of multiplex streams
    • H04N21/2385Channel allocation; Bandwidth allocation
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04LTRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L47/00Traffic control in data switching networks
    • H04L47/10Flow control; Congestion control
    • H04L47/15Flow control; Congestion control in relation to multipoint traffic
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04LTRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L47/00Traffic control in data switching networks
    • H04L47/70Admission control; Resource allocation
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04LTRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L47/00Traffic control in data switching networks
    • H04L47/70Admission control; Resource allocation
    • H04L47/78Architectures of resource allocation
    • H04L47/788Autonomous allocation of resources
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04LTRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L47/00Traffic control in data switching networks
    • H04L47/70Admission control; Resource allocation
    • H04L47/80Actions related to the user profile or the type of traffic
    • H04L47/805QOS or priority aware
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04LTRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L47/00Traffic control in data switching networks
    • H04L47/70Admission control; Resource allocation
    • H04L47/82Miscellaneous aspects
    • H04L47/822Collecting or measuring resource availability data
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04LTRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L65/00Network arrangements, protocols or services for supporting real-time applications in data packet communication
    • H04L65/60Network streaming of media packets
    • H04L65/61Network streaming of media packets for supporting one-way streaming services, e.g. Internet radio
    • H04L65/612Network streaming of media packets for supporting one-way streaming services, e.g. Internet radio for unicast
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04NPICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/20Servers specifically adapted for the distribution of content, e.g. VOD servers; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/23Processing of content or additional data; Elementary server operations; Server middleware
    • H04N21/238Interfacing the downstream path of the transmission network, e.g. adapting the transmission rate of a video stream to network bandwidth; Processing of multiplex streams
    • H04N21/2383Channel coding or modulation of digital bit-stream, e.g. QPSK modulation
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04NPICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/20Servers specifically adapted for the distribution of content, e.g. VOD servers; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/25Management operations performed by the server for facilitating the content distribution or administrating data related to end-users or client devices, e.g. end-user or client device authentication, learning user preferences for recommending movies
    • H04N21/262Content or additional data distribution scheduling, e.g. sending additional data at off-peak times, updating software modules, calculating the carousel transmission frequency, delaying a video stream transmission, generating play-lists
    • H04N21/26208Content or additional data distribution scheduling, e.g. sending additional data at off-peak times, updating software modules, calculating the carousel transmission frequency, delaying a video stream transmission, generating play-lists the scheduling operation being performed under constraints
    • H04N21/26216Content or additional data distribution scheduling, e.g. sending additional data at off-peak times, updating software modules, calculating the carousel transmission frequency, delaying a video stream transmission, generating play-lists the scheduling operation being performed under constraints involving the channel capacity, e.g. network bandwidth
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04NPICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/47End-user applications
    • H04N21/472End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content
    • H04N21/47202End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04NPICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/60Network structure or processes for video distribution between server and client or between remote clients; Control signalling between clients, server and network components; Transmission of management data between server and client, e.g. sending from server to client commands for recording incoming content stream; Communication details between server and client 
    • H04N21/61Network physical structure; Signal processing
    • H04N21/6106Network physical structure; Signal processing specially adapted to the downstream path of the transmission network
    • H04N21/6118Network physical structure; Signal processing specially adapted to the downstream path of the transmission network involving cable transmission, e.g. using a cable modem
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04NPICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/60Network structure or processes for video distribution between server and client or between remote clients; Control signalling between clients, server and network components; Transmission of management data between server and client, e.g. sending from server to client commands for recording incoming content stream; Communication details between server and client 
    • H04N21/63Control signaling related to video distribution between client, server and network components; Network processes for video distribution between server and clients or between remote clients, e.g. transmitting basic layer and enhancement layers over different transmission paths, setting up a peer-to-peer communication via Internet between remote STB's; Communication protocols; Addressing
    • H04N21/647Control signaling between network components and server or clients; Network processes for video distribution between server and clients, e.g. controlling the quality of the video stream, by dropping packets, protecting content from unauthorised alteration within the network, monitoring of network load, bridging between two different networks, e.g. between IP and wireless
    • H04N21/64746Control signals issued by the network directed to the server or the client
    • H04N21/64761Control signals issued by the network directed to the server or the client directed to the server
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04NPICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N7/00Television systems
    • H04N7/16Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems
    • H04N7/173Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal
    • H04N7/17309Transmission or handling of upstream communications

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for assigning bandwidth to a network based on two or more different service levels. In an exemplary embodiment, video on-demand (VOD) session requests within a service group of an HFC cable network are assigned bandwidth such that maximum opportunity is given to grant HD VOD
request among SD VOD requests, while meeting the goal of minimizing service disruption by spreading the sessions over multiple QAM channels, and limiting the maximum number of active VOD sessions of any kind.

Description

= CA 02572688 2010-02-11 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR NETWORK BANDWIDTH ALLOCATION
Priority = This application claims priority to U.S., Patent Application Serial No.
10/881,979 of the same title filed June 29, 2004.
_ Background of the Invention 1. Field of Invention The present invention relates generally to the field of network bandwidth allocation, and specifically in one aspect to maximizing the utilization of available bandwidth on the network to support video services with various bit-rates (such as on-demand video) over a content-based network such as a cable television network.
2. Description of Related Technology Providing "on-demand" (OD) services, such as e.g., video on-demand or VOD, is well known in the prior art. In a typical configuration, the VOD service makes available to its users a selection of multiple video programs that they can choose from and watch over a network connection with minimum setup delay. At a high level, a VOD
system consists of one or more VOD servers that pass and/or store the relevant content; one or more network connections that are used for program selection and program delivery; and customer premises equipment (CPE) to receive, decode and present the video on a display unit. The content is typically .distributed to the CPE over a Hybrid Fiber Coaxial (HFC) network.
Depending on the type of content made available and rate structure for viewing, a particular VOD service could be called "subscription video-on-demand (SVOD)"
that = gives customers on-demand access to the content for a flat monthly fee, "free video-on-demand (FVOD)" that gives customers free on-demand access to some content, "movies on-demand" where VOD content consists of movies only, and so forth. Many of these services, although referred to by names different than VOD, still share many of the same basic attributes including storage, network and decoder technologies.

Just as different varieties of VOD service offerings have evolved over time, several different network architectures have also evolved for deploying these services.
These architectures range from fully centralized (e.g., VOD servers at a central location) to fully distributed (e.g., multiple copies of content distributed on VOD
servers very close to customer premises), as well as various other network architectures there between. Since most cable television networks today consist of optical fiber towards the "core" of the network which are connected to coaxial cable networks towards the "edge", VOD transmission network architectures also consist of a mixture of optical fiber and coaxial cable portions.
The CPE for VOD often consists of a digital cable set-top box (DSTB) that provides the functions of receiving cable signals by tuning to the appropriate RF channel, processing the received signal and outputting VOD signals for viewing on a display unit.
Such a digital set-top box also typically hosts a VOD application that enables user interaction for navigation and selection of VOD menu.
While the architectural details of how video is transported in the core HFC
network can be different for each VOD deployment, each generally will have a transition point where the video signals are modulated, upconveited to the appropriate RF
channel and sent over the coaxial segment(s) of the network. Depending on the topology of the individual cable plant, this could be performed at a node, hub or a headend.
The coaxial cable portion of the network is variously referred to as the "access network"
or "edge network" or "last mile network."
In U. S. cable systems for example, downstream RF channels used for transmission of television programs are 6 MHz wide, and occupy a 6 MHz spectral slot between 54 MHz and 860 MHz. Deployments of VOD services have to share this spectrum with already established analog and digital cable television services. For this reason, the exact RF channel used for VOD service may differ from plant to plant.
However, within a given cable plant, all homes that are electrically connected to the same cable feed running through a neighborhood will receive the same downstream signal. For the purpose of managing VOD services, these homes are grouped into logical groups typically called Service Groups. Homes belonging to the same Service Group receive their VOD service on the same set of RF channels.
VOD service is typically offered over a given number (e.g., 4) of RF channels from the available spectrum in cable. Thus, a VOD Service Group consists of homes receiving VOD signals over the same 4 RF channels. Reasons for this grouping include (i) that it lends itself to a desirable "symmetry of two" design of products (e.g. Scientific Atlanta's MQAM), and (ii) a simple mapping from incoming Asynchronous Serial Interface (ASI) payload rate of 213 Mbps to four QAM payload rates.
In most cable networks, VOD programs are transmitted using MPEG (e.g., MPEG-2) audio/video compression. Since cable signals are transmitted using Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM) scheme, available payload bitrate for typical modulation rates (QAM-256) used on HFC systems is roughly 38 Mbps. In many VOD
deployments, a typical rate of 3.75 Mbps is used to send one video program at resolution and quality equivalent to NTSC broadcast signals. In digital television terminology, this is called Standard Definition (SD) television resolution. Therefore, use of MPEG-2 and QAM
modulation enables carriage of 10 SD sessions on one RF channel (10 x 3.75 =
37.5 Mbps < 38 Mbps). Since a typical Service Group consists of 4 RF channels, 40 simultaneous SD VOD sessions can be accommodated within a Service Group. These numbers work out very well for many deployment scenarios, such as the following example. A typical "service area" neighborhood served by a coaxial cable drop from the cable network consists of 2000 homes, of which about two-thirds are cable subscribers, of which about one-third are digital cable subscribers, of which about 10%
peak simultaneous use is expected. Hence, the bandwidth required to meet VOD
requirements is 2000 x (2/3) x (1/3) x 0.1 = approximately 40 peak VOD sessions ¨ the exact number supported by a 4 QAM service group.
From the discussion above, the need for a function called Service Resource Manager (SRM) is evident. When a new VOD session request is made, the SRM
receives that request, allocates bandwidth on a downstream QAM channel, and sends the information back to the CPE that made the request so that it can tune to the right RF
channel and the VOD program therein. Since the SRM controls mapping of incoming VOD session requests to QAM channels within the Service Group, it is an appropriate place for a Cable Operator to enforce RF channel usage policy. In general, SRM
should maximize availability of bandwidth to VOD sessions (by efficiently recycling bandwidth from expired sessions) and by ensuring some level of redundancy in case of equipment failure (e.g. a QAM modulator goes down).
More and more US households are beginning to purchase High Definition (HD) televisions (HDTV). By one estimate, by the end of 2004, over 12 million US
households will have HDTV displays. To keep up with the trend, MSOs have begun offering HD television programs to cable customers and have recently started looking into deploying HD VOD services.
Entertainment-quality transmission of HD signals requires about four times as much bandwidth as SD. For an exemplary MPEG-2 Main Profile ¨ High Level (MP@HL) video compression, each HD program requires around 15 Mbps bitrate.
Although revenues from HD VOD service may not be four times the revenue from SD
VOD service, the ability to offer HD VOD service is often critical to cable operators' strategy to be a leader in digital television service offerings.
Use of MPEG HD compression technology for initial deployment of HD VOD
services is a logical choice, as HD VOD shares the same MPEG-2 transport layer technology. This approach allows reuse of most of the infrastructure deployed for SD
VOD services. By using MPEG multiplexing techniques, SD and HD video streams can be simultaneously carried over the fiber side of the VOD network and multiplexed onto the same QAM channel in a service group. Since roughly 37.5 Mbps bandwidth is available on one QAM-256 carrier, cable operators can mix and match HD and SD
VOD
sessions using 3.75 Mbps per SD and 15 Mbps per HD VOD stream. For example, on a single QAM carrier, maximum 2 HD VOD sessions can be offered adding up to an aggregate 30 Mbps, with the other 7.5 Mbps being used by 2 SD sessions.
It should be recognized that under prevailing network and CPE design practices, the bandwidth required by a video stream cannot be spread over two QAM
carriers. For example, when a new HD VOD session request is granted, all 15 Mbps of bandwidth must be made available on a single QAM carrier.
The role of the aforementioned SRM becomes even more important when managing a Service Group for simultaneous HD and SD VOD sessions. It has the additional task to map VOD sessions to QAM carriers such that it can ensure sufficient bandwidth block for HD VOD session on a QAM carrier in that Service Group. The method used for this mapping should at the same time be able to maximize the amount of bandwidth used without leaving bandwidth stranded on a QAM carrier. Since HD
VOD
takes much more bandwidth that SD video, during the introduction phase, a cable operator may wish to limit maximum number of sessions of either kind (SD or HD) allowed within a Service Group. Clearly, this number should be easily changeable (upward or downward) if business economics or other considerations demand it.
The foregoing discussion makes no assumptions regarding specific implementation details of the SRM. It will be recognized that the SRM function can be implemented at the edge or core of the network, in a VOD server, or elsewhere.

Depending on where this function is implemented, it is variously referred to as NSG
(Network Services Gateway) and SRM (Service Resource Manager).
For example, in a Scientific Atlanta network, the VOD server acts as the session resource manager and asks the Digital Network Control System (DNCS) for specific resources. The DNCS responds with a negative or positive response to the request and the VOD server implements the appropriate logic based on the response.
The need for a function that assigns from an available pool of resources to an incoming resource requests is known in the prior art. Various methods have been proposed to perform this function.
For example, United States Patent No. 6,434,141 to Oz, et al. issued August 13, 2002 and entitled "Communication management system and method" discloses a broadband multimedia system including a communication bus, a router, connected to the communication bus and further between a plurality of media sources and a plurality of network transmitters, a session manager, connected to communication bus, where the session manager provides routing instructions to the router, for directing data received from the media sources to the network transmitters for transmitting over a broadband network. No disclosure regarding assignment of bandwidth to VOD session requests is provided.
United States Patent No. 6,201,901 to Imajima, et al. issued April 3, 2001 and entitled "Video data distributing device by video on demand" discloses a requested title recognizing mechanism recognizes the title of a video requested by the subscriber. A
VOD service state monitoring mechanism determines whether or not the broadcast of the video is to be provided in the FVOD or the NVOD service, and if there is any available channel for the broadcast. If the broadcast has not been switched from the FVOD service to the NVOD service, then a busy state monitoring mechanism checks the number of the current simultaneous subscribers for the video. If the number is equal to or larger than a threshold, then the busy state monitoring mechanism instructs an NVOD service providing mechanism to broadcast the requested video in the NVOD service. If the number is smaller than the threshold, then the busy state monitoring mechanism instructs an FVOD service providing mechanism to broadcast the requested video in the FVOD
service. The patent does not, however, disclose any details regarding RF
channel selection from available channels, or assignment of channels to the VOD
request.
United States Patent No. 6,169,728 to Perreault, et al. issued January 2, 2001 and entitled "Apparatus and method for spectrum management in a multipoint communication system" discloses an apparatus and method for spectrum management in a multipoint communication system that controls upstream channel usage for secondary stations transmitting information to a primary station and downstream channel usage for secondary stations receiving information from a primary station. The apparatus includes a processor arrangement having a master controller and a plurality of processors, with the processor arrangement connected to a channel interface. The apparatus and method controls channel load balancing, channel congestion, and channel assignment in a multipoint communication system, and controls upstream channels independently from downstream channels. Factors and parameters utilized in such channel control and allocation include error parameters, channel noise parameters, transmit and receive loading factors, and congestion parameters. The patent also discloses implementation of "Least-Loaded" algorithm to assign bandwidth for next session request to the Least-Loaded carrier.
United States Patent No. 6,092,128 to Jindal, et al issued July 18, 2000 and entitled "System for responding to a resource request" discloses a method wherein a trigger is provided in association with a network naming service, such as DNS
(Domain Name Service) that handles client requests for an application. The trigger comprises a set of executable instructions referenced by a resource record associated with an identifier of the application. In response to a=client request concerning the application, the resource record is retrieved and the instructions are executed. In one implementation of a trigger, a DNS server provides load balancing among a plurality of servers within a network name space (e.g., domain or sub-domain) offering an application program (or replicated service) that is known by a virtual server name. A policy is selected for choosing a preferred server from the plurality of servers according to a specified status or operational characteristic of the application instances, such as the Least-Loaded instance of the application or the instance with the fastest response time. The policy is encapsulated within multiple levels of objects or modules distributed among the plurality of servers and the DNS server. The objects collect and assemble the servers' status and operational characteristics. The information collected by the objects is analyzed to select the server that best satisfies the selected policy. A client request for the application is received by the DNS server, which retrieves a resource record corresponding to the =

virtual server name. Within the record is the name of a trigger. The trigger is executed to select, or retrieve an identity of, a server to which the client request is to be directed.
United States Patent No. 6,687,735 to Logston, et al. issued February 3, 2004 and entitled "Method and apparatus for balancing distributed applications"
discloses a method and apparatus for balancing distributed applications within a client/server network, such as a cable television network. In one aspect, a method of balancing the load of distributed application client portions (DACPs) across various server portions (DASPs) and server machines is disclosed. Statistics are maintained by one or more software processes with respect to the available resources of the servers and their loading; new process threads and/or distributed application server portions are allocated across the servers to maintain optimal system performance as client device loading increases or changes. In another aspect of the invention, an object-oriented distributed application software architecture employing both vertical and horizontal partitions and "mutable" (i.e., transportable) objects is disclosed. The mutable objects may reside on either the server or client portions of the distributed application while maintaining at least one network partition. A runtime environment adapted for the operation of the foregoing object-oriented distributed application, including a message protocol useful for interprocess communication, is also disclosed. Methods for downloading the DACP from the servers, and scaling the DACP at download based on client device configuration, are further disclosed.
The SeaChange MediaCluster Server device manufactured by SeaChange International Corporation comprises a group of fault-resilient VOD servers connected over a network, in effect acting as one server. See, e.g., United States Patent No.
5,862,312 to Mann, et al. issued January 19, 1999 and entitled "Loosely coupled mass storage computer cluster" and its progeny. This patent discloses a method and apparatus redundantly store data, in particular video data objects, in a distributed computer system having at least three processor systems, each processor system being connected in point to point two way channel interconnection with each other processor system. The data is stored in a redundant fashion both at the computer system level as well as the processor system level.
Accordingly, the failure of a single processor does not adversely affect the integrity of the data. The computer system can also overlay a switching system connected in a ring fashion for providing a fault tolerance to the failure of a single connected processor system at the switch level.
The SeaChange apparatus further includes a session resource manager (SRM), and associated connection manager (CM) and streaming service (SS). The CM
ostensibly allocates bandwidth, selecting the best network delivery path over which to stream data to the requesting entity. The SS "optimizes" bandwidth and provides some level of fail-over behavior, such that software component failure will not necessarily cause loss or tear-down of the underlying sessions. No functionality relating to the selective evaluation of allocation of bandwidth based on different service levels (e.g., SD or HD) is provided within this apparatus, however.
Description and Limitations of Least- and Most-Loaded Algorithms Consider now the case of SD only VOD requests as shown in Fig. 1. The Service Group is assumed to have 4 QAM channels available. The first column 102 titled QAMI
corresponds to the first QAM carrier allocated to the VOD service. The column is divided into 10 rows, each representing 3.75 Mbps bandwidth available within the total capacity of the carrier. The corresponding aggregate bandwidth used up when each block is assigned to a VOD session is shown in the rightmost column 110 titled "QAM Bandwidth Mbps."
From bottom to top, as the number of blocks assigned to VOD sessions increases, the total bandwidth used increases in steps of 3.75 Mbps from 3.75 Mbps (first session) to 37.5 (10th session). Similar bitrate blocks for three other QAM carriers belonging to the same service group are shown in the columns 104, 106 and 108 (QAM2, QAM3 and QAM4 respectively). The number in each box in Fig. 1 comprises a session index corresponding to a VOD session that is currently active.
In case of the Least-Loaded algorithm, every next VOD session request is granted bandwidth on the QAM that has the least bandwidth being used by VOD services (i.e. most free bandwidth available) with the search starting in a fixed sequence. For example, in Fig.
1, the following sequence is assumed for bandwidth search QAM1 -> QAM2 -> QAM3 ->
QAM4. As shown in Fig.1, first VOD request is assigned to QAM1, second request addressed to QAM2, third request is assigned to QAM3, fourth request is assigned to QAM4 and the 5th request is assigned by coming back to QAM1 and so on.
Therefore, QAM session index number goes up from the bottom row left to right to top row, left to right in each row.
Fig. 2 is shows how the prior art Least-Loaded algorithm approach can leave HD

VOD bandwidth stranded. In this example, a number (e.g., 28) consecutive SD
VOD
session requests are received, followed by a second number (e.g., 3) of HD VOD
requests.
The first twenty-eight SD VOD requests are allocated evenly on the four QAMs 202, 204, 206, 208 as shown in Fig. 2. The frequency slots remaining after the 28th session are assigned the remaining bandwidth 210. This illustrates that the total bandwidth available in this service groups is 45 Mbps (12 slots of 3.75 Mbps each). However, since the bandwidth available in each QAM is only 11.25 Mbps, which is below HD BANDWIDTH, and since a HD VOD session cannot be allocated bandwidth split over multiple QAMs, the SRM will not be able to grant bandwidth to an incoming HD VOD request. The 45 Mbps available is therefore left "stranded" for the purpose of granting HD VOD sessions. This highlights the limitation of the Least-Loaded algorithm in that it lacks a systematic method of bandwidth allocation to ensure high availability of bandwidth in the Service Group to enable HD VOD
sessions. A bandwidth allocation algorithm that can maximize usage of bandwidth usage should be able to make the remaining 45 Mbps bandwidth to three HD VOD
sessions (at 15 Mbps per session.) In the case where HD VOD session requests occur earlier, the Least-Loaded algorithm will eventually leave bandwidth stranded for HD VOD sessions. This is shown in the example of Fig. 3, the first two sessions 310, 312 are allocated bandwidth on QAM I
302 and QAM2 304, respectively. The next twenty-two sessions are SD, and are allocated bandwidth using Least-Loaded algorithm. The available bandwidth resources are now distributed as follows ¨ 7.5 Mbps each on QAM1 302 and QAM2 304, 11.25 Mbps on QAM3 306, and 11.25 Mbps on QAM4 308. It can be seen again that although total available bandwidth can support 3 HD VOD sessions, due to splitting the bandwidth among different QAMs, not even a single HD VOD session can be granted bandwidth at this time.
With reference to Fig. 4, the use of Most-Loaded algorithm is now explained.
The leftmost column is QAM1 402, corresponding to the first QAM carrier belonging to the VOD ServiceGroup. This column represents the total bandwidth available on this particular QAM carrier and divided into 10 rows, each representing 3.75 Mbps bandwidth available within the QAM carrier. The corresponding aggregate bandwidth used up when each block is assigned to a VOD session is shown in the right-hand column 410. From bottom to top, as the number of blocks assigned to VOD sessions increases, the total bandwidth used increases in steps of 3.75 Mbps from 3.75 Mbps (first session) to 37.5 (10th session). Similar bit-rate blocks for the three other QAM carriers 404, 406, 408 belonging to the same service group are shown (QAM2, QAM3 and QAM4, respectively).
When granting bandwidth using Most-Loaded algorithm, every next VOD session request is granted bandwidth on the QAM that has the least bandwidth available (but enough to accommodate the VOD session). In other words, the bandwidth is granted on the Most-Loaded QAM. Fig. 4 shows the case when the entire bandwidth available to the service group is filled by SD VOD sessions. The 1st session is granted bandwidth on QAM1 402. For the 2nd- 0th session requests, since QAM1 402 is Most-Loaded, they are granted bandwidth on QAM I . The 11th session request is granted bandwidth on the next available QAM as QAM1 is fully occupied. Therefore, Fig 4 shows the session index increasing from 1 to 40 from bottom-left slot, from bottom to top and then to the next QAM
(QAM2 404, QAM3 406, and QAM4 408, respectively).
While prior art Most-Loaded algorithm does not exhibit the stranded bandwidth deficiency of the Least-Loaded algorithm previously described, it does have a salient drawback; specifically in the case of a QAM failure. Since the Most-Loaded algorithm unevenly loads up a QAM, a service outage can spread over multiple customers.
Furthermore, when HD and SD VOD services are co-mingled, this assignment cannot effectively spread HD VOD sessions over multiple QAMs, thereby detracting from the failure performance that could be achieved if such spreading were utilized.
This inadequacy is highlighted in Figs. 5 and 6.
In Fig. 5, the VOD session request scenario of Fig. 1 above is again considered, yet this time by allocating session requests using the Most-Loaded algorithm. As shown, first twenty-eight SD VOD requests are stacked up by completely filling up QAM1 502, 504 and part of QAM3 506. The remaining bandwidth is available for two SD VOD
sessions 530 on QAM3 506. As shown in Fig. 5, QAM4 508 has enough remaining bandwidth to grant to two HD VOD streams. However, both of these HD VOD
streams (if granted) will occupy the same QAM channel, thereby increasing the risk of VOD
session outage if that QAM fails.
In Fig. 6, the VOD session request scenario of Fig. 2 is again considered. Per the Most-Loaded algorithm, the first two HD VOD requests 640, 642 are assigned to 602. Similarly, session requests 25 and 28 are assigned to QAM4 608. It is evident from the session assignments that while QAM1 602 and QAM4 608 are double-loaded with two BD
VOD sessions each, none is carried by QAM2 604 and QAM3 606.
While the prior art referenced above has generally identified the "SRM"
function and the use of Least- and Most-Loaded algorithms for allocation, it fails to provide any apparatus or method that minimizes or mitigates the stranding of bandwidth in a QAM
channel for an HD VOD session when both HD and SD session requests are present, or addresses the other disabilities highlighted above including increased risk of VOD session outage. Furthermore, the prior art SRMs and algorithms do not allow selective implementation Ione or more business policies with the network, or even within a single service group.
Hence, there is a need for improved apparatus and methods that both increase the likelihood of having the capacity to provide 1-ID bandwidth within a Service Group to an HD VOD session request, and minimize the chances of stranding bandwidth.
Ideally, such apparatus and methods would be adapted to optimize load balancing across QAM
channels, as well as maximize HD session support. Such apparatus and methods would further be configured to spread HD VOD sessions across different QAM channels so as to minimize impact of QAM failures on VOD sessions. Mechanisms to manage the maximum allowed number of HD and sessions within a VOD Service Group, and implement business rules and guarantee service levels for both SD and HD sessions, would also be provided.
Summary of the Invention The present invention satisfies the foregoing needs by providing improved apparatus and methods for network bandwidth allocation and optimization, such as may be used in a cable or 1-IFC network.
In a first aspect of the invention, an improved method of allocating bandwidth within a data network is disclosed. The method generally comprises: providing a session request for at least one of first data having a first encoding and second data having a second encoding; evaluating the session request to determine its relationship to at least one first parameter; and allocating bandwidth on the network based at least in part on the aforementioned evaluation. In one exemplary embodiment, the network comprises an HFC cable network having VOD capability and supporting both standard definition (SD) and high definition (HD) data encodings. Session requests for SD and HD
sessions are received, identified as to service level, and then analyzed in light of one or more predetermined allocation variables which helps ascertain the proper allocation algorithm(s) to apply. Once selected, the proper algorithm(s) are utilized to allocate bandwidth to the various HD and SD session requests based at least in part on the allocation variables.
In a second aspect of the invention, an improved cable network apparatus adapted to allocate bandwidth to OD sessions is disclosed. The apparatus generally comprises a service manager adapted to receive a plurality of OD session requests for at least first and second levels of service, and assign bandwidth such that maximum opportunity is given to grant OD requests at the second (e.g., HD) level among OD requests at the first (e.g., SD) level, the service manager further being configured to: (i) minimize service disruption by spreading the sessions associated with the requests over multiple QAM
channels; and (ii) limit the maximum number of active OD sessions associated with both the first and second levels of service. In one exemplary embodiment, the apparatus comprises a network VOD
server apparatus comprising: a digital processor; a storage device operatively coupled to the processor; and a network interface operatively coupled to the processor. A
computer program running on the server acts as the session manager.
In a third aspect of the invention, a method of allocating channel bandwidth between heterogeneous (e.g., SD and HD) sessions in a cable network adapted for on-demand (OD) content delivery is disclosed. In one exemplary embodiment, the channel bandwidth comprises a plurality of substantially similar channels formed within a service group, and the method comprises: receiving a plurality of OD session requests from other entities connected to the network, the plurality of requests comprising a first plurality of requests for data encoded according to a first scheme, and a second plurality of requests data encoded according to a second scheme; identifying each request as belonging to the first or second plurality; evaluating existing bandwidth allocation on the channels of the service group in relation to a first predetermined allocation variable relating to the maximum number of SD or HD sessions for that service group; determining if the lowest existing bandwidth allocation in the channels of the service group is below a second allocation variable relating to total bandwidth for a given channel; and allocating at least a portion of the requests to one or more of the channels using at least one of a Least-Loaded or Most-Loaded algorithm based at least in part on the acts of and evaluating and determining.
In a fourth aspect of the invention, an improved cable network apparatus is disclosed having a service manager and adapted to receive a plurality of OD
session requests for at least first and second levels of service; and assign bandwidth such that maximum opportunity is given to grant OD requests at the second level among OD
requests at the first level. In one embodiment, the service manager is further configured to minimize service disruption by spreading the sessions associated with the requests over multiple QAM channels, and limit the maximum number of active OD sessions associated with both the first and second levels of service.
In a fifth aspect of the invention, improved network server apparatus adapted for coupling to a data network is disclosed. In one embodiment, the server apparatus comprises:

a digital processor; a storage device operatively coupled to the processor; a network interface operatively coupled to the processor, and a computer program stored at least partly on the storage device and operative to run on the processor, the computer program being adapted to: receive a request for at least one of first and second data having respective first and second encodings; determine the relationship of the at least one data to at least one first parameter; select one of a plurality of methods for allocating bandwidth based at least in part on the determination of the relationship; and allocate bandwidth to the at least one data on the network based at least in part on the one method.
In a sixth aspect of the invention, network apparatus adapted to selectively allocate bandwidth within a plurality of RF channels existing on a network is disclosed. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises: a processor; a storage device in operative communication with the processor; a plurality of units adapted to selectively modulate data onto the RF channels; and a session manager adapted to receive a plurality of OD session requests from other entities connected to the network, the plurality of requests comprising a first plurality of requests for data encoded according to a first scheme, and a second plurality of requests data encoded according to a second scheme, the session manager further being adapted to: identify each request as belonging to the first or second plurality;
evaluate existing bandwidth allocation on the channels in relation to a plurality of predetermined allocation variables; and allocate at least a portion of the requests to one or more of the channels based at least in part on the identifying and evaluating.
In a seventh aspect of the invention, a hub station for use in a content delivery network capable of supplying content on demand (COD) services is disclosed. In one exemplary configuration, the content delivery network comprises a central headend station coupled to the hub station using a network, and the hub station comprises a hub media server having at least one content port; a radio frequency management infrastructure, the radio frequency management infrastructure coupled to the at least one content port of the hub media server and adapted to receive a content stream from a content transport network.
The radio frequency management infrastructure is adapted to transmit the content stream to a plurality of set-top boxes over a distribution network. The hub media server further comprises a session manager adapted to receive a plurality of COD session requests from the set-top boxes, the plurality of requests comprising a first plurality of requests for data encoded according to a first scheme, and a second plurality of requests data encoded according to a second scheme, the session manager further being adapted to:
identify each request as belonging to the first or second plurality; evaluate existing bandwidth allocation on channels of the radio frequency management infrastructure in relation to a plurality of predetermined allocation variables; and allocate at least a portion of the requests to one or more of the channels based at least in part on the acts of identifying and evaluating.
In an eighth aspect of the invention, a method of allocating assets within a content-based network is disclosed, the method generally comprising: categorizing a plurality of users of the network according to a tiered service structure; receiving a plurality of service requests from at least a portion of the plurality of users; and selectively allocating the assets to the at least portion of users based on the tiered service structure. In the exemplary embodiment, the assets comprise RF channel bandwidth associated with one or more service groups, and the tiered service structure comprises a plurality of different service levels.
In a ninth aspect of the invention, an improved method of increasing the likelihood of having sufficient capacity to provide high definition (HD) sessions within a Service Group is disclosed. The method generally comprises: receiving a plurality of service requests, each request relating to one of at least HD or standard definition (SD) service;
evaluating the plurality of requests in order to determine an allocation scheme; and allocating the bandwidth based at least in part on allocation scheme; wherein the scheme is adapted to minimize wasted or unused bandwidth within the one or more service groups, the minimizing substantially providing the increased likelihood. In one embodiment, the allocation scheme is accomplished at least in part based on least- or most-loaded algorithms.
In a tenth aspect of the invention, an improved session resource manager (SRM) entity for use in a content-based network is disclosed. The exemplary embodiment of the SRM is configured to: receive a plurality of session requests for at least first and second levels of service; and assign bandwidth such that maximum opportunity is given to grant session requests corresponding to the second level among session requests at the first level, the service manager further being configured to minimize service disruption by spreading the sessions associated with the requests over multiple QAM channels, and limit the maximum number of active sessions associated with both the first and second levels of service.
In an eleventh aspect of the invention, a method of spreading OD sessions across different QAMs so as to minimize the impact of QAM failures on VOD session is disclosed. The method generally comprises: receiving a plurality of session requests for at least first and second levels of service; and assigning bandwidth so as to spread the sessions associated with at least the requests for the first level of service over multiple QAM
channels while simultaneously minimizing stranded or unused bandwidth within the QAMs. In one embodiment, the first level of service comprises an HD service, and the OD
sessions comprise VOD sessions.
In a twelfth aspect of the invention, a method of conducting business via a cable network having a plurality of users is disclosed. In one embodiment the method comprises:
receiving from the users a plurality of service session requests each relating to one of at least two different levels of service; identifying at least one criterion which is desired to be met; and allocating assets within the network to the session requests so as to satisfy the at least one criterion.
Brief Description of the Drawings Fig. 1 is a graphical illustration of an exemplary QAM channel service map using a Least-Loaded algorithm to distribute VOD session requests when all requests are for SD
format video.
Fig. 2 is a graphical illustration of an exemplary QAM channel service map showing how bandwidth becomes unavailable for HD VOD session requests when using a Least-Loaded algorithm to assign bandwidth to SD VOD sessions according to a first request scenario.
Fig. 3 is a graphical illustration of a second exemplary QAM channel service map showing how bandwidth becomes unavailable for HD VOD session requests when using a Least-Loaded algorithm to assign bandwidth to SD VOD session requests according to a second request scenario.
Fig. 4 is a graphical illustration of an exemplary QAM channel service map using a Most-Loaded algorithm to distribute VOD session requests when all requests are for SD format video.
Fig. 5 illustrates an exemplary QAM channel allocation for VOD service request scenario using a prior art Most-Loaded algorithm.
Fig. 6 illustrates and exemplary channel allocation resulting from applying a prior art Most-Loaded algorithm to VOD service requests according to the scenario of Fig. 3.
Fig. 7 is a functional block diagram illustrating an exemplary HFC network configuration useful with the present invention.
Fig. 7a is a functional block diagram illustrating one exemplary head-end configuration of an HFC network useful with the present invention.

Fig. 8 is a logical flowchart illustrating a first embodiment of the allocation method according to the present invention.
Fig. 9 is a graphical illustration of the application of exemplary allocation methods of Fig. 8 in the context of a first VOD SD/HD service request scenario.
Fig. 10 is a graphical illustration of the application of exemplary allocation methods of Fig. 8 in the context of a second VOD SD/HD service request scenario.
Fig. 11 is a functional block diagram illustrating a first exemplary embodiment of network server apparatus adapted for use in a cable network and implementing the bandwidth allocation methodologies of the present invention.
Figs. 11a and 1 lb are logical block diagrams illustrating first and second exemplary software architectures which may be used consistent with the present invention.
Detailed Description of the Invention Reference is now made to the drawings wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.
As used herein, the term "on-demand" or "OD" is meant to include any service that enables real, quasi-real time (e.g. "trick" mode delivery) or even non-real time delivery of content such as audio and/or video programs at any resolution, or data. Such content may be, for example, stored or temporarily cached on a server, or streamed directly from a source, and may be in response to a user-initiated event, service profile or configuration, head-end event, or otherwise.
As used herein, the term "QAM" refers to modulation schemes used for sending signals over coaxial cable networks. Such modulation scheme might use any constellation level (e.g. QAM16, QAM64, QAM256 etc.) depending on details of a cable network.
As used herein, the term "Service Group" refers to either a group of service users (e.g. subscribers) or the resources shared by them in the form of entire cable RF signal, only the RF channels used to receive the service or otherwise treated as a single logical unit by the network for resource assignment.
As used herein, the term "MSO" refers to a cable, satellite, or terrestrial network provider having infrastructure required to deliver services including programming and data over those mediums.

As used herein, the terms "network" and "bearer network" refer generally to any type of telecommunications or data network including, without limitation, hybrid fiber coax (HFC) networks, satellite networks, telco networks, and data networks (including MANs, WANs, LANs, WLANs, intemets, and intranets). Such networks or portions thereof may utilize any one or more different topologies (e.g., ring, bus, star, loop, etc.), transmission media (e.g., wired/RF cable, RF wireless, millimeter wave, optical, etc.) and/or communications or networking protocols (e.g., SONET, DOCSIS, IEEE Std.
802.3, ATM, X.25, Frame Relay, 3GPP, 3GPP2, WAP, SIP, UDP, FTP, RTP/RTCP, H.323, etc.).
As used herein, the term "head-end" .refers generally to a networked system contr011ed by an operator (e.g., an MS0 or multiple systems operator) that distributes programming to MS0 clientele using client devices. Such programming may include literally any information source/receiver including, inter alia, free-to-air TV channels, pay TV channels, interactive TV, and the Internet. DSTBs may literally take on any configuration, and can be retail devices meaning that consumers may or may not obtain their DSTBs from the MS0 exclusively. Accordingly, it is anticipated that MS0 networks may have client devices from multiple vendors, and these client devices will have widely varying hardware capabilities. Multiple regional head-ends may be in the same or different cities.
As used herein, the terms "client device" and "end user device" include, but are not limited to, personal computers (PCs) and minicomputers, whether desktop, laptop, or otherwise, set-top boxes such as the Motorola DC'T2XXXJ5XXX and Scientific Atlanta Explorer 2)0CX/3XXX/4XXX/8)0a series digital devices, personal digital assistants (PDAs) such as the Apple Newton , "Palm " family of devices, handheld computers such as the Hitachi "VisionPlate", personal communicators such as the Motorola Accompli devices, Motorola EVR-8401, J2ME equipped devices, cellular telephones, wireless nodes, or literally any other device capable of interchanging data with a network.
Similarly, the terms "Consumer Premises Equipment (CPE)" and "host device"
refer to any type of electronic equipment located within a consumer's or user's premises and connected to a network. The term "host device" refers generally to a terminal device that has access to digital television content via a satellite, cable, or terrestrial network.
The host device functionality may be integrated into a digital television (DTV) set. The term "consumer premises equipment" (CPE) includes such electronic equipment such as = =

set-top boxes, televisions, Digital Video Recorders (DVR), gateway storage devices (Furnace), and ITV Personal Computers.
As used herein, the term "network agent" refers to any network entity (whether software, firmware, and/or hardware based) adapted to perform one or more specific purposes. For example, a network agent may comprise a computer program running in server belonging to a network operator, which is in communication with one or more processes on a CPE or other device.
As used herein, the term "application" refers generally to a unit of executable software that implements a certain functionality or theme. The themes of applications vary broadly across any number of disciplines and functions (such as on-demand content management, e-commerce transactions, brokerage transactions, home entertainment, calculator etc.), and one application may have more than one theme. The unit of executable software generally runs in a predetermined environment; for example, the unit could comprise a downloadable Java XletTM that runs within the JavaTVTm environment.
As used herein, the term "computer program" is meant to include any sequence or human or machine cognizable steps which perform a function. Such program may be rendered in virtually any programming language or environment including, for example, C/C-H-, Fortran, COBOL, PASCAL, assembly language, markup languages (e.g., HTML, SGML, XML, VoXML), and the like, as well as object-oriented environments such as the Common Object Request Broker Architecture (CORBA), JavaTM
(including J2ME, Java Beans, etc.) and the like.
The term "component" in the context of software refers generally to a unit or portion of executable software that is based on a related set of functionalities. For example, a component could be a single class in JavaTM or C-H-. Similarly, the term "module" refers generally to a loosely coupled yet functionally related set of components.
As used herein, the term "server" refers to any computerized component, system or entity regardless of form which is adapted to provide data, files, applications, content, or other services to one or more other devices or entities on a computer network.
Overview The present invention comprises improved methods and apparatus for "intelligently" allocating bandwidth according to multiple .different service levels or data rates in a network such as an HFC cable network. In the exemplary embodiment, a service resource manager (SRM) is provided which allocates bandwidth to session requests having different data rates (here, HD and SD) on two or more downstream channels (e.g., 4 RF
QAM channels in a service group, although other numbers of channels might comprise a service group). This intelligent allocation scheme achieves multiple goals, including (i) increasing the likelihood of having the capacity to provide HD bandwidth within a Service Group to an HD VOD session request, and (ii) minimizing the chances of stranding bandwidth within a channel or service group. This provides great benefits in terms of both network operational efficiency and capacity, as well as user (customer) satisfaction in their on-demand experience.
Specifically, the invention optimizes load balancing across QAM channels, as well as maximizing HD session support through use of Least-Loaded and Most-Loaded allocation algorithms in conjunction with a plurality of user-definable variables which control operation of the SRM. The SRM and variables also allow for dynamic tuning of the network under varying service and load conditions in order to further its operation.
Spreading of HD VOD sessions across different QAM channels within the service group also advantageously minimizes the impact of QAM failures on VOD sessions.
The present invention may also be utilized to provide load balancing and bandwidth allocation directly out of a server device (e.g., a head-end VOD server) if desired.
In the broader sense, the methods of the present invention can be used in literally any context where the allocation of limited network resources must be optimized according to one or more variables, and/or structured to meet desired service requirements. In this fashion, the invention treats these resources as a "floating pool" which can be dynamically allocated in order to optimize the desired variables.
Mechanisms to manage the maximum allowed number of HD and sessions within a VOD Service Group, and implement business rules and guarantee service levels for both SD and HD sessions, are also provided.
Detailed Description of Exemplary Embodiments Exemplary embodiments of the apparatus and methods of the present invention are now described in detail. While these exemplary embodiments are described in the context of the aforementioned hybrid fiber coax (HFC) cable architecture having an multi-system operator (MSO), digital networking capability, and plurality of client devices/CPE, the general principles and advantages of the invention may be extended to other types of networks and architectures where bandwidth allocation is required or desirable, whether broadband, narrowband, wired or wireless, content or data, or otherwise. Hence, the following description is merely exemplary in nature. For example, the invention may be practiced over a fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) or fiber-to-the-curb (FTTC) system, or over a purely satellite or millimeter wave-based network.
It will also be appreciated that while described generally in the context of a network providing service to a consumer (i.e., home) end user domain, the present invention may be readily adapted to other types of environments including, e.g., commercial/enterprise, and government/military applications . Myriad other applications are possible.
It is also noted that while the following discussion is cast primarily in terms of two service levels (i.e., SD and HD), the methods and apparatus disclosed herein can be extended to other numbers and types of service levels. For example, it is foreseeable that yet even higher levels of definition may be employed in the future (e.g., "ultra-high definition" or UHD), thereby allowing intelligent bandwidth allocation between three service levels (SD, HD, and UHD). As another option, multiple levels or rates may be present with one of the aforementioned service levels, such as where the SD
level includes levels SD1, SD2, ...SDn, and the HD level similarly includes HD1, HD2,...HDn, with each of these sub-levels having different data rates and/or other characteristics. Alternatively, bandwidth allocation according to the present invention may be performed not based on definition level (data rate), but some other attribute such as for example type or level of service, or location or identity of service group. Various alternate allocation schemes are described subsequently herein in greater detail.
It is further noted that while described primarily in the context of 6 MHz RF
channels, the present invention is applicable to literally any frequency/bandwidth, such as for example 8 MHz channels. Furthermore, as referenced above, the invention is in no way limited to traditional cable system frequencies (i.e., below 1 GHz), and in fact may be used with systems that operate above 1 GHz band in center frequency or bandwidth, to include without limitation so-called ultra-wideband systems.
Fig. 7 illustrates a typical content-based network configuration with which the bandwidth allocation methodology of the present invention may be used. The various components of the network 700 include (i) one or more data and application origination points 702; (ii) one or more application distribution servers 704; (iii) one or more VOD
servers 705, and (iv) consumer premises equipment (CPE) 706. The distribution server(s) 704, VOD servers 705 and CPE(s) 706 are connected via a bearer (e.g., HFC) network 701. A simple architecture comprising one of each of the aforementioned components 702, 704, 705, 706 is shown in Fig. 7 for simplicity, although it will be recognized that comparable architectures with multiple origination points, distribution servers, VOD
servers, and/or CPE devices (as well as different network topologies) may be utilized consistent with the invention. For example, the head-end architecture of Fig.
7a (described in greater detail below) may be used.
The application origination point 702 comprises any medium that allows an application (such as a VOD based application) to be transferred to a distribution server 704. This can include for example an application vendor website, CD-ROM, external network interface, mass storage device (e.g., RAID system), etc. Such transference may be automatic, initiated upon the occurrence of one or more specified events (such as the receipt of a request packet or ACK), performed manually, or accomplished in any number of other modes readily recognized by those of ordinary skill.
The application distribution server 704 comprises a computer system where such applications can enter the network system. Distribution servers are well known in the networking arts, and accordingly not described further herein.
The VOD server 705 a computer system where on-demand content can be received from one or more data sources 702 and enter the network system. These servers may generate the content locally, or alternatively act as a gateway or intermediary from a distant source. The VOD server 705 includes the Session Resource Manager (SRM) functionality, and asks the Digital Network Control System (DNCS) for resources. The DNCS responds with negative or positive response to the request, and the VOD
server implements the appropriate resource allocation dogic, as discussed subsequently herein with respect to Figs. 8-10. An exemplary VOD server with SRM is described subsequently herein with respect to Fig. 11.
The CPE 706 includes any equipment in the "consumers' premises" (or other locations, whether local or remote to the distribution server 704) that can be accessed by a distribution server 704. Such CPEs 706 comprise processors and associated computer memory adapted to store and run the downloaded or resident application, as well as receive the streamed in-band content. In the present context, at least a portion of the VOD application is typically downloaded to the CPE 706, wherein the latter executes the downloaded application(s)/components, although it will be recognized that all of applications may conceivably be uploaded to the server, or alternatively transferred to another device, such as other networked CPE or the like.

Referring now to Fig. 7a, one exemplary embodiment of a head-end architecture useful with the present invention is described. As shown in Fig. 7a, the head-end architecture 750 comprises typical head-end components and services including billing module 752, subscriber management system (SMS) and CPE configuration management module 754, cable-modem termination system (CMTS) and 00B system 756, as well as LAN(s) 758, 760 placing the various components in data communication with one another. It will be appreciated that while a bar or bus LAN topology is illustrated, any number of other arrangements as previously referenced (e.g., ring, star, etc.) may be used consistent with the invention. It will also be appreciated that the head-end configuration depicted in Fig. 7a is high-level, conceptual architecture and that each MS0 may have multiple head-ends deployed using custom architectures.
The architecture 750 of Fig. 7a further includes a multiplexer/encrypter/modulator (MEM) 762 coupled to the HFC network 701 adapted to "condition" content for transmission over the network. In the present context, the distribution servers 704 are coupled to the LAN 760, which provides access to the MEM
762 and network 701 via one or more file servers 770. The VOD servers 705 are coupled to the LAN 760 as well, although other architectures may be employed (such as for example where the VOD servers are associated with a core switching device such as an 802.3z Gigabit Ethernet device). As previously described, information is carried across multiple channels. Thus, the head-end must be adapted to acquire the information for the carried channels from various sources. Typically, the channels being delivered from the head-end 750 to the CPE 706 ("downstream") are multiplexed together in the head-end and sent to neighborhood hubs (not shown).
Content (e.g., audio, video, etc.) is provided in each downstream (in-band) channel associated with the relevant service group. To communicate with the head-end, the CPE 706 uses the out-of-band (00B) or DOCS1S channels and associated protocols.
The OCAP 1.0 specification provides for networking protocols both downstream and upstream.
In another embodiment, the network infrastructure includes one or more on-demand file or "carousel" functions. Specifically, the present invention contemplates that not only will more traditional movie (e.g., MPEG) data be allocated and delivered though the bandwidth allocation mechanisms described herein, but also data for interactive applications or other types of applications. For example, in a fashion not unlike existing approaches to ordering an on-demand (OD) movie, an application would request data, images, links, audio files, video files, and the like in an on-demand fashion.
These unique data types may comprise single files, or be combined into a single or multiple data carousels, with each carousel potentially having a different data rate. Upon receiving an OD service request, the allocation algorithm can optimize the placement of It will ago be recognized that the multiple servers (VOD or otherwise) can be used, and disposed at two or more different locations if desired, such as.
being part of different server "farms". These multiple servers can be used to feed one service group, or alternatively different service groups. In a simple architecture, a single server is used to feed one or more service groups. In another variant, multiple servers located at the Specifically, a hybrid central/distributed and tiered video on demand (VOD) service network with tiered content structure is disclosed. In particular, the system uses media servers located in both the headend and hub stations.
Set-top boxes generally would be supplied VOD services from the high-demand content 25 media servers located in the hub station nearest to the user. The central media server located in the headend would be used as an installed backup to the hub media servers; as the primary source for lower demand VOD services and as the source of the real time, centrally encoded programs with PVR (personal video recorder) capabilities. By distributing the servers to the hub stations, the size ' of the fiber transport network 30 associated with delivering VOD services from the central headend media server is reduced. Hence, each user has access to several server ports located on at least two servers. Multiple paths and channels are available for content distribution to each user, assuring high system reliability and enhanced asset availability. Substantial cost benefits are derived from the reduced need for a large content distribution network and the reduced storage capacity requirements for hub servers.
Many other permutations of the foregoing system components and communication methods may also be used consistent with the present invention, as will be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the field.
Referring now to Figs. 8-10, various exemplary embodiments of the bandwidth allocation methodology according to the invention are described. The following discussion is cast in terms of an algorithm used by an exemplary Service Manager entity to assign bandwidth to an incoming on-demand (e.g., VOD) session request in the context of a 4 QAM channel Service Group, although it will be appreciated that any number of channels, modulation schemes (including, e.g., FSK, PSK, GMSK, and BSK) and frequency bandwidths may be used consistent with the invention. As in Figs. 1-6 discussed above, the exemplary bandwidth utilization can be logically described in terms of a matrix having four (4) columns, one for each QAM carrier, with each column having 10 rows, each representing 3.75 Mbps bandwidth portions, as shown in Figs. 9 and 10.
Two scenarios are examined which illustrate the operation of various aspects of the present invention in terms of an OD service request. These scenarios are consistent with those previously described with respect to Figs. 1-6 herein in order to clearly illustrate the distinctions, features and advantages of the present invention.
VOD Service Request Scenario 1 - This scenario consists of a first number (e.g., 28) consecutive SD VOD session requests, followed by a second number (e.g., 3) of HD VOD requests. For the sake of simplicity, no VOD session is assumed to terminate during the period that requests are generated. Therefore, re-allocation of bandwidth from terminated VOD sessions is not considered, although it will be appreciated that the invention can be adapted to re-allocate bandwidth from such terminated sessions in any number of ways.
VOD Service Request Scenario 2 - This second scenario consists of a first number (e.g., 2) consecutive HD VOD session requests (session numbers 1 and 2) followed by a second number (here, 22) SD VOD requests, followed by a third number (here, one) of HD VOD requests (session number 25), followed by a fourth number (e.g., 2) of SD VOD requests, followed lastly by a fifth number (e.g., one) HD VOD
request (session 28), at which point the entire bandwidth available in this 4 QAM
service group is filled. Again, for the sake of simplicity, no VOD session is assumed to terminate during the period that requests are generated; hence, re-allocation of bandwidth from terminated VOD sessions is not explicitly considered.
When performing network traffic model analysis, certain key variables contribute to the performance of the system. They include the probability of the arrival of the session setup request, and the probability of the session hold-time. These variables contribute to the loading factor with respect to a blocking factor, which determines the number of resources required to serve a given population of users.
When working with a single service level (encode rate), the system-blocking factor is only based on the VOD Service Group. With the commingling of different encode rates/levels a new blocking factor is introduced into the system. This is the QAM
blocking factor and it is based on the probability of the having enough bandwidth to support an HD session within a given QAM. While there may be enough bandwidth within the VOD Service Group to support an HD session if it is not all available on a single QAM channel, the HD session is blocked and the bandwidth is considered "stranded" with regard to its ability to support an HD session. As previously described, this occurs when the bandwidth consumption on a given QAM exceeds the maximum rate of the QAM minus the HD rate (e.g., 37.5 Mbps ¨ 15 Mbps = 22.5 Mbps).
Additionally, the probability of whether the next session request to arrive is either a SD or HD session factors into the allocation algorithm. This probability is based on multiple factors including HD DSTB penetration rates, buy rates, demographics and content availability. The hold-time of a session will also be impacted based on the length of HD content offered.
It will be appreciated that the allocation models presented herein represent a somewhat simplistic view of the allocation of sessions in that they do not explicitly consider the hold-time of sessions, or departures. However, this has no practical effect on the operation or efficacy of the allocation algorithm, since session hold-time and thus session departure has been factored into the allocation models. Specifically, in the exemplary embodiment, the allocation decision or calculus is performed at the time a session arises; i.e., in response to a session request. Hence, the bandwidth allocation decision is based on information present at that particular point in time, and considers all such requests as opposed to each in isolation. Since departures are generally (although not required to be) random, and a departure will immediately be reflected in the available bandwidth parameter (i.e., as a departure occurs, available bandwidth will increase =

immediately), the algorithm need not explicitly track departures or hold time.
It merely needs to know what demand is at any given point in time.
However, notwithstanding the prior discussion, the present invention may also be configured to utilize consideration of hold-times and/or departures if desired. For example, in one variant, a mean or estimated average hold-time could be used as the basis for a predictive algorithm; i.e., one which load-balances or allocates based on a prediction of future demand and hence available bandwidth. Such algorithm need not be wholly predictive, such as where a running mean or other value is generated from anecdotal data obtained from the system during a prior period of operation.
For example, a moving window approach might be used, wherein the mean or median hold time is calculated during a prior moving X-hour period, the result of this calculation being used in a weighted equation (along with other factors such as time of day, etc.) to arrive at an "intelligent" estimate of average hold-time at some point in the future.
Consider, e.g., where it is known that HD sessions on average have longer hold-times than SD sessions, and that HD or SD sessions initiated in the evening hours (local time) have longer average hold times than those initiated at other times (due to, say, more people watching HD full-length movies in the evening after work). The present invention could therefore use the anecdotal information gathered during the same time window for the prior day (or week) as a crude estimate of demand during this same period, and reserve additional HD bandwidth for subsequent allocation during this period of increased demand. Should the increased demand not materialize for whatever reason, such as due to an unscheduled Presidential address or the like, then the reserved bandwidth can be freed up as desired. Those of ordinary skill will recognize that myriad other algorithmic or predictive approaches may be used consistent with the invention as well, the foregoing being merely illustrative.
A number of configurable variables are used by the Session Resource Manager (SRM) of the present invention in order to provide the various control features, as described below. It will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill that these particular variables or parameters are adapted specifically to the exemplary SD/HD
paradigm described herein, and hence are merely illustrative of the broader concepts.
Other variables may be used in place of or in conjunction with the following, and the following variables may also be redefined as necessary for the particular context. For example, where a third service level or data rate is used (e.g., UHD), one or more corresponding UHD variables may be specified. Furthermore, tiers of service groups can be employed, such as where the both standard-definition VOD and high-definition VOD are present.
Bandwidth can then be allocated by the service within a given group if desired. As yet another option, "logical" allocation schemes may be employed, as described in detail subsequently herein regarding various business paradigms.
The use of other service levels, rates, or groupings may also necessitate creation of new variables relating one or more of the service levels described herein to that new service level. For example, where an SD service level has three sublevels (SDI, SD2, and SD3) each with different rates, it may be desirable to generate an aggregated effective data rate for the different levels, such effective data rate being used itself as an allocation variable.
It is also noted that the allocation mechanisms described herein may be conducted at different layers of abstraction (or across different variables) either alone or in conjunction with the channel bandwidth allocation techniques previously described.
For example, in one variant, allocation of assets such as bandwidth occurs on a logical channel basis. This is somewhat analogous to the well known virtual path identifier (VPI) and virtual channel identifier (VCI) used in asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) network systems. Specifically, while bandwidth is typically thought of in the context of the physical channel (e.g., four 6-MHz RF channels in a given service group), allocation may be applied irrespective of the physical layer considerations; i.e., at a higher logical layer. Consider the case where multiple 6-MHz physical channels exist. With packetized data, each packet need not take the same physical pathway or channel to arrive at its destination; packets from a given logical stream may be distributed across several of these physical channels. Similarly, all packets within an MPEG or similar packetized data stream need not necessarily traverse the same physical RF channel between the head end and the CPE, but rather may comprise one or more logical channels. Hence, the bandwidth allocation mechanism described herein can be applied to the logical channel, i.e., logically related packet stream, versus (or even in conjunction with) application to the physical channels. Implementation of logical channel management and flow control is well known to those of ordinary skill in the networking arts, and hence the methods of the present invention are readily adapted to the logical channel context by such artisans provided the present disclosure.
The following exemplary variables advantageously allow "tuning" of various portions of the network (or even the network as a whole; see, e.g., the subsequent discussions relating to a global SRM) for optimal performance and/or to implement desired business rules.
1. HD_Threshold - This variable represents the upper bandwidth threshold which is used to switch between a Least-Loaded model to a Most-Loaded model.
Initially, this parameter may be set to the maximum bandwidth within a QAM
channel minus the HD encode rate, or 37.5 Mbps ¨ 15 Mbps = 22.5 Mbps. Once the bandwidth utilization within a QAM channel within an OD Service Group reaches this threshold, the allocation algorithm of the present invention will begin stacking sessions on the Least-Loaded QAM which exceeds the HD threshold value.
By manipulating the HD_Threshold value, the system's performance can be tuned based on the contention found in the system. By setting the HD_Threshold to a value of 0 Mbps, the exemplary allocation manager will allocate sessions according to a 'Most-Loaded' algorithm. Alternatively, by setting the HD_Threshold to 37.5 Mbps, the manager will allocate according to a 'Least-Loaded' algorithm.
2. HD_Session_Limit - This variable represents the maximum number of simultaneous HD sessions within a VOD Service Group. Since the exemplary HD
sessions require four times the amount of bandwidth when compared to an SD
session, there needs to be a way of limiting the number of HD sessions so that they cannot use all the available bandwidth within a Service Group, thereby resulting in denial of service.
By limiting the number of HD sessions, enough bandwidth to support SD VOD
sessions is reserved.
3. SD_Session_Limit -This variable represents the maximum number of simultaneous SD sessions within a VOD Service Group. By limiting the number of SD
sessions, enough bandwidth to support HD VOD sessions is reserved.
4. SD_Rate ¨ This variable represents that data rate associated with the first service level (e.g., standard definition). The value is typically 3.75 Mbps, although this may be varied as previously discussed depending on the prevailing technology and service levels in use.

5. HD_Rate - This variable represents that data rate associated with the second service level (e.g., high definition). The value is typically 15 Mbps, although this may be varied as previously discussed depending on the prevailing technology and service levels in use.
6. HD_Session_Count ¨ This variable represents the number of current HD
sessions. In the SRM log after session setup, an entry can be made to include the Service Group, HD_Session_Count, SD_Session_Count and bandwidth consumption per QAM
channel.
7. SD_Session_Count- This variable represents the number of current SD
sessions. In the SRM log after every session setup an entry needs to be made to include the Service Group, HD_Session_Count, SD_Session_Count and bandwidth consumption per QAM channel.
In operation, once the HD threshold value is reached across any QAM channel within a Service Group, the algorithm begins "stacking" sessions on the QAM
channel that has exceeded the HD threshold. This method of allocating sessions will increase the probability of having the capacity to support an HD stream. This also allows a mix of 36 SD sessions and one HD sessions, as described below.
Referring to Fig. 8, an exemplary method 800 of allocating bandwidth is described in detail. When a VOD session request is received (801), the SRM
makes a first decision (step 802) on whether the request is for HD VOD session or SD
VOD
session. If the request is for HD VOD session, then the SRM determines whether allocating this request will violate the upper bound on maximum HD VOD
sessions allowed. This (step 806) is accomplished by making sure that number of current HD
VOD sessions is less than variable HD_Session_Limit. If the number of sessions is not less than the FID_Session_Limit, the request is rejected (step 808) and both the user and Network Management System are notified of the decision. The procedure is ended at this time. If on the other hand, number of active HD VOD sessions is below HD_Session_Limit, the decision of whether to utilize a Most-Loaded or Least-Loaded approach is made (step 810) as further described below. During the decision process (step 802), if the session request is determined to be SD, a similar evaluation of whether number of current active SD sessions is below or above SD_Session_Limit is made (step 804). If the new SD VOD request cannot be granted due to violation of session limit policy, the request is rejected (step 808) and the procedure terminates. If the new SD
VOD request is deemed to not violate SD_Session_Limit, the aforementioned decision of whether to utilize a Most-Loaded or Least-Loaded approach is made (step 810).
The algorithm enters step 810 of Fig. 8 if the number of sessions will not violate threshold policies as described above. In step 810, the SRM determines if it should attempt to assign bandwidth to this session request in Least-Loaded or Most-Loaded fashion. The SRM determines if the lowest bandwidth utilization of a QAM
channel in the service group is below the HD_Threshold value. If so, the SRM allocates bandwidth from the Least-Loaded QAM to the session request (as shown in step 812).
Otherwise, the SRM evaluates the Most-Loaded QAM (step 814) to determine if enough bandwidth is available for the request (step 816). If enough bandwidth is available, the SRM assigns the bandwidth to the session request (step 822) and terminates the decision process. If enough bandwidth is not available on the Most-Loaded QAM, the SRM determines if another QAM has any free bandwidth. If no other QAM has free bandwidth, the SRM
rejects the request per step 808 and terminates the decision process. If another QAM is available, the SRM evaluates the available resources on the next QAM with most bandwidth used (step 818) and repeats the procedure 800 from step 816 onwards.
The result of this iteration is that the new request will be either granted bandwidth on one of the QAMs or will be rejected.
Scenario 1 ¨ In the context of Scenario 1 described previously herein, the method 800 would be implemented as shown in Fig. 9 (barring any session departures).
In this example, sessions 1 through 24 are below the HD_Threshold and are allocated in a 'Least-Loaded model'.
The 25th SD session request is above the HD_Threshold and is allocated on the first Most-Loaded QAM channel (in this example, QAM1 902).
The 26th SD session request is above the HD_Threshold, and is allocated on the first available Most-Loaded QAM (here QAM1 902). Similarly, the 27th and 28th SD
session requests are above the HD_Threshold and are allocated on the first Most-Loaded QAM channel (QAM1 902).
The 29th HD session request is above the HD_Threshold and is allocated on the first QAM with enough available bandwidth to support the HD session (QAM2 904).

The 30th HD session request is above the HD_Threshold and is allocated to the first Most-Loaded QAM channel with enough bandwidth available (here, QAM3 906).
Lastly, the 31st HD session request is above the HD_Threshold and is allocated to the first Most-Loaded QAM channel with enough bandwidth available (QAM4 908).
Scenario 2 - Fig. 10 illustrates the more complicated example of allocating across the HD_Threshold (Scenario 2). As shown in Fig. 10, the HD Session 1 is below the HD_Threshold and is allocated 'Least-Loaded' model to QAM1 1002. The 2nd Session is an HD session with maximum bandwidth utilization below the HD_Threshold, and is assigned to QAM2 1004 per the Least-Loaded algorithm. Sessions 3 through 18 are similarly allocated across all four QAMs 1002, 1004, 1006, 1008 per the Least-Loaded algorithm.
The 19th, 20th, 21st and 22nd session requests are all SD and are above the HD_Threshold, and hence are allocated on the first Most-Loaded QAM channel (in this example, QAM1 1002).
The 23'd and 24th session request are SD and above the HD_Threshold and are allocated on the next available Most-Loaded QAM channel (here QAM2 1004).
The 25th session request is HD and is above the HD_Threshold, and therefore is allocated on the first Most-Loaded QAM channel with enough bandwidth available (QAM3 1006 in the present example). The 26th session request is HD and is above the HD_Threshold, and is allocated on the first Most-Loaded QAM channel with enough bandwidth available (QAM4 1008). The 25th and 26th SD session requests are above the HD Threshold and are allocated on the first Most-Loaded QAM channel (here QAM1 1002).
Lastly, the 27th and 28th session requests are above the HD_Threshold and are allocated on the first Most-Loaded QAM channel (QAM2 1004).
It will be recognized that while the foregoing scenarios and embodiments are cast in terms of selective allocation or trade-off between Least-Loaded and Most-Loaded algorithms, other types of algorithms or variations may be substituted for one or both of the foregoing. For example, in one alternate embodiment, the allocation of bandwidth between the service group channels comprises a weighting based on proximity to the relevant parameter(s) (e.g., HD threshold value or SD session limit). In another exemplary configuration, so-called "fuzzy logic" or Bayesian variables may be utilized to control the operation of the SRM (e.g., "lightly" loaded, "moderately loaded", -heavily loaded", etc.).
Furthermore, the SRM need not be restricted to one service group. In a first embodiment, a single VOD server with SRM is adapted to control multiple service groups independently; i.e., the SRM functions with respect to each service group independently based on that service group's own variables. Alternatively, the SRM can be made "global" in nature, such as where one SRM is configured to operate at a higher level of abstraction within the network, in effect optimizing the behavior of a plurality of local (e.g., SG-specific) SRMs with which it is in communication. As discussed in greater detail below with respect to business rules implementation, the use of a global SRM allows for optimizations and load balancing on a system-wide basis, thereby permitting more broadly scoped business rules to be implemented on a network or aggregation of networks.
In another embodiment, the allocation and optimization (and balancing) process for a service group can be distributed across multiple VOD servers/SRMs (or other entities), such that the decision process for allocation is distributed in nature.
In yet another embodiment, one SRM (or group of related SRMs) are used to allocate SD/HD session requests across multiple homogeneous or heterogeneous service groups, such as where multiple different QAM channels within different groups can be used to service a given session request.
In yet still another embodiment, aggregations or different divisions of two or more service group QAM channels can be used as the basis for the SRM decision process. For example, under certain circumstances, it may be advantageous to treat the four (4) QAM channels in a given service groups as two "super" channels for purposes of allocation, or to hold one or more channels in reserve for unanticipated increases in session request activity. Myriad other possibilities will be recognized by those of ordinary skill given the present disclosure.
In yet another variant, the methods and apparatus described herein can be used to provide load-balancing within a server farm or similar aggregation of servers used to provide content to the network. For example, one server can be balanced as previously described herein, or alternatively all or a subset of the "farm" can be balanced.
Furthermore, multiple farms (or individual server entities or processes with multiple =
farms) can be balanced.

Referring now to Fig. 11, a first embodiment of the improved network electronic device with bandwidth allocation capability according to the present invention is described.
As shown in Fig. 11, the device 705 generally comprises and OpenCable-compliant network server module having an RF front end 1102 (including modulator/demodulator) for interface with the HFC network 701 of Fig. 7, digital processor(s) 1104, storage device 1106, and a plurality of interfaces 1107 for use with other network apparatus such as IP
routers and other packet network devices, network management and provisioning systems, local PCs, etc. Other components which may be utilized within the server device 705 include RF tuner stages, amplifiers, board level electronic components, as well as media processors and other specialized SoC or ASIC devices. Support for various processing layers and protocols (e.g., 802.3, DOCSIS MAC, 00B channels, DHCP, SNMP, H.323/RTP/RTCP, VoIP, SIP, etc.) may also be provided as required. A VOD
application is also disposed to run on the server module 705 to provide a functional interface for VOD
session requests received from network users or other interposed entities.
These additional components and functionalities are well known to those of ordinary skill in the cable and embedded system fields, and accordingly not described further herein.
The server device 750 of Fig. 11 may take any number of physical forms, comprising for example one of a plurality of discrete modules or cards within a larger network edge device of the type well known in the art, or even the cable modem termination system (CMTS). The server may also comprise firmware, either alone or in combination with other hardware/software components such as those previously described (e.g., disposed in the aforementioned edge device). Alternatively, the server module 750 may be a stand-alone device disposed at the head end or other location.
Numerous other configurations may be used. The server device 705 may also be integrated with other types of components (such as satellite transceivers, encoders/decoders, etc.) and form factors if desired.
It can also be appreciated that the methods of the present invention may be practiced using any configuration or combination of hardware, firmware, or software, and may be disposed within one or any number of different physical or logical entities.
For example, the SRM functionality described above may take the form of one or more computer programs running on a single device disposed within the network (such as the server module 705), such as at a head-end, node, or hub. Figs. lla and 11 b illustrates two possible software configurations for the server device 705 and associated SRM
when used in a cable environment with CPE.

Alternatively, such computer programs may have one or more components distributed across various hardware environments at the same or different locations. As yet another example, portions of the functionality may be rendered as a dedicated or application specific IC having code running thereon. Myriad different configurations for practicing the invention will be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the network arts provided the present disclosure.
In another aspect of the invention, the aforementioned SRM (e.g., rendered as one or more computer programs) includes a so-called "business rules" engine.
This engine comprises, in an exemplary embodiment, a series of software routines running on the server device 705 or other associated hardware/firmware environment adapted to control the operation of the SRM allocation algorithms previously described.
In effect, the business rules engine comprises a wrapper or controller entity which monitors the OD session requests received by the SRM and dynamically (or manually) controls the operation of the SRM to implement a prescribed set of business rules. For example, one selected business rule may comprise the policy that allocation algorithms within the SRM are weighted or skewed based on profitability or similar considerations, allocating available bandwidth preferentially to higher-profit delivery channels.
Consider the simple case of two customers within a service group having different subscription features; e.g., one being enabled to receive HD VOD service which may have a corresponding higher profit margin than the SD-only service obtained by the other customer. Hence, the MSO or service provider may desire to preferentially allocate available bandwidth within the service group to the HD-enabled customer, thereby in effect maximizing the "profit per bandwidth used" equation. This rule can be implemented, for example, through proper manipulation (whether manually by an operator or automatically by the business rules engine) of the variables 1) ¨
7) listed above. For instance, by setting the HD_Session variable higher, the ratio of HD to SD
sessions can be increased, thereby in effect preferentially allocating more available bandwidth to HD sessions (and hence the more profitable customers). Such weighting or preference may also be punctuated or overridden by one or more exception rules, such as it is desired to provide normal (non-preferential) allocation during certain times or conditions.
As another exemplary business rule, a given fraction or portion of available bandwidth may be dedicated to a sub-class of users (e.g., X number of residential homes subscribing to HD VOD services) within one or more service groups, while the remainder of the bandwidth comprises a free-floating pool of bandwidth allocated according to the optimization algorithm(s) previously described. In this fashion, all or at least a portion of the "premium" customers are guaranteed HD bandwidth, and all remaining customers are allocated in an optimized fashion (which may in fact be driven by one or more secondary business rules that govern operation of the SRMs with respect to the non-dedicated bandwidth).
As referenced above, the business rules engines of the exemplary SRM may also be implemented in a global (i.e., network-wide) fashion. For example, in one variant, available bandwidth within the network is treated in effect as a fungible commodity which can be moved from geographic location to location (within the technological limitations of the existing network architecture) based on business rules such as HD
session demand. HD-enabled customers within a given geographic region might be given priority over HD-enabled customers in another region (such as during a regional promotional), thereby causing the local SRMs in the first region to increase their HD-to-SD loading ratios, while decreasing them them in the second region.
Alternatively, the fraction of "dedicated" bandwidth as described above existing within the first region might be increased, while that in the second region correspondingly adjusted.
It will be appreciated that myriad different applications of a global business policy can be envisioned by those of ordinary skill in the art when provided the present disclosure.
Furthermore, as previously discussed, tiers of service groups can be employed, such as where the both standard-definition VOD and high-definition VOD are present.
Bandwidth can then be allocated based on the service within a given group if desired.
As yet another option, "logical" allocation schemes may be employed. As used in the present context, the term "logical" may refer to an allocation scheme based on any desired differentiating or descriptive feature, such as (i) actual geography (e.g., New York metro area, the entire Northeast U.S., or the entire continental U.S.);
or (ii) on scope (e.g., a "high-level" service group organized around one or more attributes such as service, versus a "low-level" or smaller scope group disposed within the high-level group). As an example of a scope-based allocation scheme, consider the exemplary high-level service group comprising all of those customers of an MSO or service provider that have premium (e.g., HD) service, and an associated low-level group comprising those within the high-level group who primarily utilize their premium service during a given period of the day. This low-level group may relate to another attribute (such as those with per-capita on-demand usage falling above a certain rate). An MSO may decide for example that it prefers to allocate bandwidth preferentially to premium customers (regardless of location), and within that population, to customers who access their premium service during "peak viewing" hours when advertising density may be highest (thereby ostensibly providing the best advertising effect and ultimately increasing advertising revenue in that time period).
Alternatively, these rules may be applied at the lower levels; i.e., by geographically or otherwise restricting application of the rules, such that the foregoing rules apply only to those customers within a given geographic region. This approach gives local operating entities some degree of control over their individual revenue/service equations.
As yet another option, preferential allocation across so-called "global"
versus "local" groups can occur. For example, four (4) existing QAM channels in a local (unique) group of channels can be allocated to incoming session request first, followed by allocation of another number (e.g., 2) of global or non-unique channels.
This approach may also be limited by exhaustion or not; e.g., the allocation of the global channels may have as a condition precedent that the available channels of the local group are completely exhausted first.
It will also be appreciated that advertising or other comparable services can be considered a "service" which can act as the basis for allocation. As noted above, bandwidth can be allocated to those users, sessions, etc. which will make best use of the bandwidth in terms of advertising return. However, the advertising itself can be used as a basis or parameter on which bandwidth is directly allocated, such as where it is desired to support a minimum level of advertising first before then allocating bandwidth to sessions. Stated differently, an MS0 or other entity may actually set aside or delay session requests in favor of advertising-related bandwidth. Similarly, the MS0 may desire to have a certain minimum level or quota of gaming or other content.
These allocation schemes can also be overlaid onto others; such as for example where the minimum quota for advertising or gaming content is preferentially allocated to global service groups first, whereas other session requests are allocated to the local service groups first. Many other approaches and combinations are envisaged consistent with the invention.
It will also be recognized that the methods and apparatus of the present invention can be used for managing the bandwidth within one or more DOCSIS downstream channels for delivery of IPTV (Internet Protocol television) broadcast and SD/HD VOD.

For example, in one configuration, the bandwidth allocation and management techniques may be applied within one or more 6 MHz narrowcast DOCSIS RF Channels, or alternatively within a DOCSIS Broadband set of RF Channels for the delivery of IPTV.
It will be recognized that while certain aspects of the invention are described in terms of a specific sequence of steps of a method, these descriptions are only illustrative of the broader methods of the invention, and may be modified as required by the particular application. Certain steps may be rendered unnecessary or optional under certain circumstances. Additionally, certain steps or functionality may be added to the disclosed embodiments, or the order of performance of two or more steps permuted. All such variations are considered to be encompassed within the invention disclosed and claimed herein.
While the above detailed description has shown, described, and pointed out novel features of the invention as applied to various embodiments, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions, and changes in the form and details of the device or process illustrated may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the invention. The foregoing description is of the best mode presently contemplated of carrying out the invention. This description is in no way meant to be limiting, but rather should be taken as illustrative of the general principles of the invention. The scope of the invention should be determined with reference to the claims.

Claims (40)

What is claimed is:
1. A method of allocating bandwidth within a data network, comprising:
providing at least one session request for at least one of first data having a first encoding and second data having a second encoding;
identifying whether said at least one session request has requested said first or said second data;
when said at least one session request has requested said first data, determining whether fulfilling said request for said first data would violate a maximum number of sessions allowed for said first data;
when said at least one session request has requested said second data, determining whether fulfilling said request for said second data would violate a maximum number of sessions allowed for said second data and rejecting said session request when said maximum number would be violated;
when said maximum number of sessions allowed for said first and said second data would not be violated, analyzing a current bandwidth usage of said network against a pre-determined bandwidth threshold; and allocating bandwidth on said network based at least in part on said act of analyzing.
2. The method of Claim 1, wherein said act of allocating comprises:
selecting at least one of a plurality of allocation methods based at least in part on said act of analyzing; and allocating said bandwidth according to said at least one selected allocation method.
3. The method of Claim 2, wherein said act of selecting comprises selecting one of either a Least-Loaded or Most-Loaded algorithm.
4. The method of Claim 3, wherein said act of allocating comprises allocating said bandwidth within one of a plurality of channels based at least in part on said Least-Loaded or Most-Loaded algorithm.
5. The method of Claim 1, wherein said act of providing comprises providing a session request for SD encoded data or HD encoded data.
6. The method of Claim 4, wherein said act of determining whether fulfilling said session request for said first or second data would violate said maximum number comprises:
identifying whether said at least one session request has requested said first or second data;
selecting a first parameter based at least in part on said act of identifying;
and evaluating said session request with respect to said first parameter.
7. The method of Claim 6, wherein said act of allocating comprises:
selecting at least one of a plurality of allocation methods; and allocating said bandwidth according to said at least one selected allocation method.
8. The method of Claim 1, wherein said allocating of bandwidth comprises allocating channel bandwidth between SD and HD sessions in a cable network adapted for on-demand (OD) content delivery, said channel bandwidth comprising a plurality of substantially similar channels formed within a service group.
9. The method of Claim 1, wherein said act of providing at least one session request comprises receiving a plurality of on-demand (OD) session requests from other entities connected to said network, said plurality of requests comprising a first plurality of requests for data encoded according to said first encoding, and a second plurality of requests for data encoded according to said second encoding.
10. The method of Claim 1, wherein said act of determining whether fulfilling said session request for said first or second data would violate said maximum number comprises:
evaluating an existing bandwidth allocation for a plurality of channels of a service group in relation to a first predetermined allocation variable relating to the maximum number of first encoding or second encoding sessions for said service group;
and evaluating whether the lowest existing bandwidth allocation in said channels of said service group is below a second allocation variable relating to total bandwidth for a given channel; and wherein said act of allocating comprises allocating at least a portion of said requests to one or more of said channels using at least one of a Least-Loaded or Most-Loaded algorithm based at least in part on said acts of evaluating.
11. The method of Claim 1, wherein said act of providing comprises providing a plurality of session requests for both said first data and said second data, and identifying each of said requests as relating to said first or second encodings; and wherein said act of determining comprises evaluating, based at least in part on said act of identifying, each of said session requests to determine its relationship to a relevant one of a plurality of first parameters.
12. The method of Claim 11, further comprising:
providing a plurality of requests for third data having a third encoding; and identifying each of said requests for third data along with said act of identifying said requests relating to first and second data.
13. The method of Claim 1, wherein said first encoding comprises an encoding having a first data rate associated therewith, and said second encoding comprises an encoding having a second data rate, said first and second data rates being different.
14. Network server apparatus adapted for coupling to a data network, comprising:
a digital processor;

a storage device operatively coupled to said processor;
a network interface operatively coupled to said processor; and a computer program stored on said storage device and operative to run on said processor, said computer program being adapted to:
receive a request for at least one of first and second data having respective first and second encoding schemes;
determine a relationship of said request to a session limit number for said first or second data;
determine a relationship of said request to a bandwidth threshold for said first or second data;
when said request is below said threshold, allocate said request using said at least one of said channels according to a Least-Loaded algorithm; and when said request is exceeds said threshold, allocate said request using said at least one of said channels according to a Most-Loaded algorithm.
15. The apparatus of Claim 14, wherein said apparatus comprises a VOD
server and said network comprises a content-based network.
16. The apparatus of Claim 15, wherein said computer program comprises an object-oriented Session Manager Program.
17. The apparatus of Claim 14, wherein said first and second data comprise standard definition (SD) and high definition (HD) encoded video data.
18. The apparatus of Claim 14, wherein said computer program is further adapted to identify third data having a third encoding.
19. The apparatus of Claim 14, wherein determination of said relationship of said at least one data to said session limit number further comprises selecting said session limit number from a plurality of possible parameters based at least in part on whether said request is for said first or said second data.
20. The apparatus of Claim 19, wherein said first and second data comprise SD and HD video data respectively, and said session limit number comprises either (i) an SD session number limit, or (ii) an HD session number limit.
21. The apparatus of Claim 14, wherein said selection of one of a plurality of methods comprises selecting one of either a Least-Loaded or Most-Loaded algorithm.
22. The apparatus of Claim 14, wherein said network interface comprises a plurality of units adapted to selectively modulate data onto a plurality of radio frequency (RF) channels.
23. The apparatus of Claim 22, further comprising a session manager adapted to receive a plurality of OD session requests from other entities connected to said network, said plurality of requests comprising a first plurality of requests for data encoded according to a first scheme, and a second plurality of requests data encoded according to a second scheme, said session manager further being adapted to:
identify each request as belonging to said first or second plurality;
evaluate existing bandwidth allocation on said channels in relation to a plurality of predetermined allocation variables; and allocate at least a portion of said requests to one or more of said channels based at least in part on said acts of identifying and evaluating.
24. The apparatus of Claim 23, wherein said RF channels are divided into service groups, said session manager being adapted to perform said allocation within one or more of said service groups only.
25. The apparatus of Claim 23, wherein said evaluation of existing bandwidth allocation comprises:
comparing the number of HD or SD sessions currently in process on said channels to said session limit number; and comparing the total bandwidth utilized by at least one of said channels to said bandwidth threshold.
26. The apparatus of Claim 17, wherein said at least a standard definition (SD) encoding scheme and high definition (HD) encoding scheme each comprise a plurality of service sub-levels.
27. The apparatus of Claim 26, wherein said plurality of service sub-levels comprise levels having different data rates.
28. A hub station in a content delivery network capable of supplying content on demand (COD) services, said content delivery network having a central headend station coupled to the hub station using a network, the hub station comprising:
a hub media server having at least one content port; and a radio frequency management infrastructure:
coupled to said at least one content port of said hub media server and adapted to receive a content stream from a content transport network; and adapted to transmit said content stream to a plurality of set-top boxes over a distribution network;
wherein said hub media server further comprises a session manager adapted to receive a plurality of COD session requests from said set-top boxes, said plurality of requests comprising a first plurality of requests for data encoded according to a first scheme, and a second plurality of requests data encoded according to a second scheme, said session manager further being adapted to:
identify each request as belonging to said first or second plurality; and evaluate existing bandwidth allocation on channels of said radio frequency management infrastructure, when said existing bandwidth allocation is below a threshold for said identified request, provide said requested data on a Least-Loaded QAM
channel, when said existing bandwidth allocation is above a threshold for said identified request, provide said requested data on a Most-Loaded QAM channel having sufficient bandwidth therefor, and when said Most-Loaded QAM channel does not have sufficient bandwidth, provide said requested data on any QAM channel having available bandwidth.
29. A method of allocating channel bandwidth between SD and HD sessions in a content distribution network adapted for on-demand (OD) content delivery, said channel bandwidth comprising a plurality of substantially similar channels formed within a service group, the method comprising:
receiving a plurality of OD session requests from other entities connected to said network, said plurality of requests comprising a first plurality of requests for HD data, and a second plurality of requests for SD data;
evaluating existing bandwidth allocation on said channels of said service group in relation to a first predetermined allocation variable, said variable comprising information relating to a maximum number of SD session permitted and a maximum number of HD sessions permitted for that service group; and when said evaluation indicates said maximum number of SD and said maximum number of HD sessions is not violated, allocating at least a portion of said requests to one or more of said channels based at least in part on a relationship of an existing bandwidth allocation thereof to a pre-determined threshold, said allocation comprising using a Least-Loaded algorithm when said existing bandwidth is below said threshold, and using a Most-Loaded algorithm when said existing bandwidth exceeds said threshold.
30. The method of Claim 29, wherein said act of allocating further comprises assigning bandwidth such that maximum opportunity is given to grant HD OD
requests among SD OD requests.
31. The method of Claim 30, further comprising providing a service manager configured to:
minimize service disruption by spreading said sessions associated with said requests over multiple QAM channels; and limit the maximum number of active OD sessions associated with both said SD
and HD
sessions.
32. The method of Claim 31, wherein said act of spreading said sessions associated with said requests over multiple QAM channels comprises assigning bandwidth so as to spread said sessions associated with at least said SD requests over multiple QAM
channels while simultaneously minimizing stranded or unused bandwidth within said QAM
channels so as to minimize the impact of QAM failures on said sessions.
33. A method of selectively allocating bandwidth within a plurality of RF
channels existing on a data network, said method comprising:
providing a session request for at least one of first data having a first encoding and second data having a second encoding;
identifying whether said session request has requested said first or said second data;
when said session request has requested said first data, evaluating whether allocating said session request for said first data will not exceed a maximum number of sessions allowed for said first data;
when said session request has requested said second data, evaluating whether allocating said session request for said second data will not exceed a maximum number of sessions allowed for said second data;
when said maximum number of sessions is not violated, comparing the total bandwidth utilized by at least one of said channels to a bandwidth threshold; and allocating bandwidth on said network based at least in part on said act of comparing;
wherein said bandwidth is allocated using Least-Loaded allocation method when said total utilized bandwidth is below said threshold; and wherein said bandwidth is allocated using Most-Loaded allocation method when said total utilized bandwidth is above said threshold.
34. The method of Claim 33, wherein said act of providing comprises providing a session request for advertising data or MPEG encoded data.
35. The method of Claim 33, wherein said act of allocating further comprises assigning bandwidth such that maximum opportunity is given to grant first data requests among second data requests.
36. The method of Claim 35, further comprising providing a service manager configured to:
minimize service disruption by spreading said sessions associated with said requests over multiple QAM channels; and limit the maximum number of active sessions associated with both said first data and second data sessions.
37. A method of allocating channel bandwidth between standard definition (SD) and high definition (HD) sessions in a content distribution network configured for on-demand (OD) content delivery, said channel bandwidth comprising a plurality of substantially similar channels formed within a service group, said method comprising:
receiving a plurality of OD session requests from other entities connected to said network, said plurality of requests comprising a first plurality of requests for HD data, and a second plurality of requests for SD data;
evaluating existing bandwidth allocation on said channels of said service group in relation to a first predetermined allocation variable, said variable comprising information relating to a maximum number of SD session permitted and a maximum number of HD sessions permitted for that service group; and when said evaluation indicates said maximum number of SD and said maximum number of HD sessions is not violated, identifying one or more of said channels as having a lowest amount of used bandwidth, allocating at least a portion of said requests to one or more of said identified channels based at least in part on a pre-determined threshold, when said existing bandwidth exceeds said threshold, identifying a second one or more of said channels as having a highest amount of used bandwidth yet being able to accommodate said portion of said requests, and allocating at least said portion of said requests to one or more of said identified channels.
38. The method of Claim 37, wherein said act of allocating further comprises assigning bandwidth such that maximum opportunity is given to grant HD OD
requests among SD OD requests.
39. The method of Claim 38, further comprising providing a service manager configured to:
minimize service disruption by spreading said sessions associated with said requests over multiple quadrature amplitude modulated (QAM) channels; and limit a maximum number of active OD sessions associated with both said SD and HD
sessions.
40. The method of Claim 39, wherein said act of spreading said sessions associated with said requests over multiple QAM channels comprises assigning bandwidth so as to spread said sessions associated with at least said SD requests over multiple QAM
channels while simultaneously minimizing stranded or unused bandwidth within said QAM
channels so as to minimize an impact of QAM failures on said sessions.
CA2572688A 2004-06-29 2005-06-28 Method and apparatus for network bandwidth allocation Active CA2572688C (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US10/881,979 US8843978B2 (en) 2004-06-29 2004-06-29 Method and apparatus for network bandwidth allocation
US10/881,979 2004-06-29
PCT/US2005/022963 WO2006004772A2 (en) 2004-06-29 2005-06-28 Method and apparatus for network bandwidth allocation

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2572688A1 CA2572688A1 (en) 2006-01-12
CA2572688C true CA2572688C (en) 2014-09-09

Family

ID=35507668

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA2572688A Active CA2572688C (en) 2004-06-29 2005-06-28 Method and apparatus for network bandwidth allocation

Country Status (3)

Country Link
US (2) US8843978B2 (en)
CA (1) CA2572688C (en)
WO (1) WO2006004772A2 (en)

Families Citing this family (235)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN1867068A (en) 1998-07-14 2006-11-22 联合视频制品公司 Client-server based interactive television program guide system with remote server recording
US7992163B1 (en) 1999-06-11 2011-08-02 Jerding Dean F Video-on-demand navigational system
US7010801B1 (en) 1999-06-11 2006-03-07 Scientific-Atlanta, Inc. Video on demand system with parameter-controlled bandwidth deallocation
US6817028B1 (en) 1999-06-11 2004-11-09 Scientific-Atlanta, Inc. Reduced screen control system for interactive program guide
US8516525B1 (en) 2000-06-09 2013-08-20 Dean F. Jerding Integrated searching system for interactive media guide
US7200857B1 (en) 2000-06-09 2007-04-03 Scientific-Atlanta, Inc. Synchronized video-on-demand supplemental commentary
US7975277B1 (en) 2000-04-03 2011-07-05 Jerding Dean F System for providing alternative services
US7934232B1 (en) 2000-05-04 2011-04-26 Jerding Dean F Navigation paradigm for access to television services
US8069259B2 (en) 2000-06-09 2011-11-29 Rodriguez Arturo A Managing removal of media titles from a list
US7962370B2 (en) 2000-06-29 2011-06-14 Rodriguez Arturo A Methods in a media service system for transaction processing
US20060259926A1 (en) 2000-07-20 2006-11-16 Digital Deck, Inc. Adaptable programming guide for networked devices
KR20190096450A (en) 2000-10-11 2019-08-19 로비 가이드스, 인크. Systems and methods for delivering media content
US7340759B1 (en) 2000-11-10 2008-03-04 Scientific-Atlanta, Inc. Systems and methods for adaptive pricing in a digital broadband delivery system
US7512964B2 (en) * 2001-06-29 2009-03-31 Cisco Technology System and method for archiving multiple downloaded recordable media content
US8006262B2 (en) 2001-06-29 2011-08-23 Rodriguez Arturo A Graphic user interfaces for purchasable and recordable media (PRM) downloads
US7496945B2 (en) 2001-06-29 2009-02-24 Cisco Technology, Inc. Interactive program guide for bidirectional services
US7526788B2 (en) * 2001-06-29 2009-04-28 Scientific-Atlanta, Inc. Graphic user interface alternate download options for unavailable PRM content
US8713623B2 (en) * 2001-09-20 2014-04-29 Time Warner Cable Enterprises, LLC Technique for effectively providing program material in a cable television system
US7334251B2 (en) 2002-02-11 2008-02-19 Scientific-Atlanta, Inc. Management of television advertising
US7493646B2 (en) 2003-01-30 2009-02-17 United Video Properties, Inc. Interactive television systems with digital video recording and adjustable reminders
US9247288B2 (en) 2003-08-12 2016-01-26 Time Warner Cable Enterprises Llc Technique for effectively delivering targeted advertisements through a communications network having limited bandwidth
US8161388B2 (en) 2004-01-21 2012-04-17 Rodriguez Arturo A Interactive discovery of display device characteristics
US8843978B2 (en) 2004-06-29 2014-09-23 Time Warner Cable Enterprises Llc Method and apparatus for network bandwidth allocation
US8312267B2 (en) 2004-07-20 2012-11-13 Time Warner Cable Inc. Technique for securely communicating programming content
US8266429B2 (en) 2004-07-20 2012-09-11 Time Warner Cable, Inc. Technique for securely communicating and storing programming material in a trusted domain
US9641902B2 (en) 2007-06-26 2017-05-02 Broadband Itv, Inc. Dynamic adjustment of electronic program guide displays based on viewer preferences for minimizing navigation in VOD program selection
US9584868B2 (en) 2004-07-30 2017-02-28 Broadband Itv, Inc. Dynamic adjustment of electronic program guide displays based on viewer preferences for minimizing navigation in VOD program selection
US7631336B2 (en) 2004-07-30 2009-12-08 Broadband Itv, Inc. Method for converting, navigating and displaying video content uploaded from the internet to a digital TV video-on-demand platform
US9344765B2 (en) 2004-07-30 2016-05-17 Broadband Itv, Inc. Dynamic adjustment of electronic program guide displays based on viewer preferences for minimizing navigation in VOD program selection
US7590997B2 (en) 2004-07-30 2009-09-15 Broadband Itv, Inc. System and method for managing, converting and displaying video content on a video-on-demand platform, including ads used for drill-down navigation and consumer-generated classified ads
US11259059B2 (en) 2004-07-30 2022-02-22 Broadband Itv, Inc. System for addressing on-demand TV program content on TV services platform of a digital TV services provider
JP4843610B2 (en) * 2004-09-20 2011-12-21 キャミアント,インク. Dynamic change method of utilization rate based on selective passive network monitoring
US8341266B2 (en) * 2004-10-06 2012-12-25 Hughes Network Systems, Llc Method and system for load balancing over a set of communication channels
US7904930B2 (en) * 2004-10-14 2011-03-08 Microsoft Corporation Broadcast content delivery systems and methods
KR100636323B1 (en) * 2004-11-04 2006-10-18 삼성전자주식회사 Apparatus and method for changing Mode in digital broadcasting receiver
US8434116B2 (en) 2004-12-01 2013-04-30 At&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. Device, system, and method for managing television tuners
US8522293B2 (en) * 2004-12-15 2013-08-27 Time Warner Cable Enterprises Llc Method and apparatus for high bandwidth data transmission in content-based networks
US9723267B2 (en) * 2004-12-15 2017-08-01 Time Warner Cable Enterprises Llc Method and apparatus for wideband distribution of content
US20060168291A1 (en) * 2005-01-05 2006-07-27 Van Zoest Alexander Interactive multichannel data distribution system
US7602820B2 (en) 2005-02-01 2009-10-13 Time Warner Cable Inc. Apparatus and methods for multi-stage multiplexing in a network
US7567565B2 (en) 2005-02-01 2009-07-28 Time Warner Cable Inc. Method and apparatus for network bandwidth conservation
US8214859B2 (en) * 2005-02-14 2012-07-03 At&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. Automatic switching between high definition and standard definition IP television signals
KR100652790B1 (en) * 2005-02-17 2006-12-01 주식회사 커밍미디어 High-speed transmission system of quality of service on hybrid-fiber coaxial for internet protocol broadcasting service
US8028322B2 (en) 2005-03-14 2011-09-27 Time Warner Cable Inc. Method and apparatus for network content download and recording
US7823179B2 (en) * 2005-04-18 2010-10-26 Cisco Technology, Inc. System and method for edge resource management
US20070022459A1 (en) * 2005-07-20 2007-01-25 Gaebel Thomas M Jr Method and apparatus for boundary-based network operation
US20070033282A1 (en) * 2005-08-08 2007-02-08 Weidong Mao Signaling redirection for distributed session and resource management
US8189472B2 (en) * 2005-09-07 2012-05-29 Mcdonald James F Optimizing bandwidth utilization to a subscriber premises
TW201036387A (en) * 2005-11-04 2010-10-01 Interdigital Tech Corp Method and apparatus for mapping 3GPP service primitives to media independent handover event services
US8099756B2 (en) * 2005-11-10 2012-01-17 Versteeg William C Channel changes between services with differing bandwidth in a switched digital video system
US7742407B2 (en) * 2005-11-10 2010-06-22 Scientific-Atlanta, Llc Quality of service management in a switched digital video environment
US7873760B2 (en) 2005-11-11 2011-01-18 Versteeg William C Expedited digital signal decoding
US7889765B2 (en) * 2005-11-30 2011-02-15 Time Warner Cable Inc. Apparatus and methods for utilizing variable rate program streams in a network
US20070157280A1 (en) * 2005-12-29 2007-07-05 Comverse Ltd. Multimedia in-band gateway
US7634652B2 (en) * 2006-01-12 2009-12-15 Microsoft Corporation Management of streaming content
US7669222B2 (en) * 2006-01-17 2010-02-23 Microsoft Corporation Virtual tuner management
US20070174883A1 (en) * 2006-01-20 2007-07-26 Microsoft Corporation Token Bandwidth Portioning
US7685306B2 (en) 2006-01-20 2010-03-23 Microsoft Corporation Streaming content navigation
US8739230B2 (en) * 2006-01-20 2014-05-27 Microsoft Corporation Manager/remote content architecture
US8718100B2 (en) * 2006-02-27 2014-05-06 Time Warner Cable Enterprises Llc Methods and apparatus for selecting digital interface technology for programming and data delivery
US20070204313A1 (en) * 2006-02-27 2007-08-30 Microsoft Corporation Token Locking to Schedule Content Consumption
US8458753B2 (en) 2006-02-27 2013-06-04 Time Warner Cable Enterprises Llc Methods and apparatus for device capabilities discovery and utilization within a content-based network
US7916755B2 (en) 2006-02-27 2011-03-29 Time Warner Cable Inc. Methods and apparatus for selecting digital coding/decoding technology for programming and data delivery
US8170065B2 (en) 2006-02-27 2012-05-01 Time Warner Cable Inc. Methods and apparatus for selecting digital access technology for programming and data delivery
US20070203714A1 (en) * 2006-02-28 2007-08-30 Microsoft Corporation Purchasable Token Bandwidth Portioning
US20070243936A1 (en) * 2006-03-06 2007-10-18 Cbs Corporation Interactive tournament contest
US8209729B2 (en) 2006-04-20 2012-06-26 At&T Intellectual Property I, Lp Rules-based content management
US8280982B2 (en) 2006-05-24 2012-10-02 Time Warner Cable Inc. Personal content server apparatus and methods
US9386327B2 (en) 2006-05-24 2016-07-05 Time Warner Cable Enterprises Llc Secondary content insertion apparatus and methods
US8024762B2 (en) 2006-06-13 2011-09-20 Time Warner Cable Inc. Methods and apparatus for providing virtual content over a network
US7899046B2 (en) 2006-07-07 2011-03-01 Ver Steeg William C Determining strategy for multicast and/or unicast transmission to correct forward errors
US7725797B2 (en) 2006-07-07 2010-05-25 Scientific-Atlanta, Llc Buffer for storing data and forward error correction (FEC)
US7877660B2 (en) 2006-07-07 2011-01-25 Ver Steeg William C Transmitting additional forward error correction (FEC) upon request
US7774672B2 (en) 2006-07-07 2010-08-10 Scientific-Atlanta, Llc Requesting additional forward error correction
US9247208B2 (en) 2006-07-25 2016-01-26 At&T Intellectual Property I, Lp Adaptive video-server reconfiguration for self-optimizing multi-tier IPTV networks
US7761900B2 (en) * 2006-08-02 2010-07-20 Clarendon Foundation, Inc. Distribution of content and advertisement
US7870465B2 (en) 2006-10-18 2011-01-11 Versteeg William C Reducing channel-change time
US8520850B2 (en) 2006-10-20 2013-08-27 Time Warner Cable Enterprises Llc Downloadable security and protection methods and apparatus
US8732854B2 (en) 2006-11-01 2014-05-20 Time Warner Cable Enterprises Llc Methods and apparatus for premises content distribution
US20080168510A1 (en) * 2007-01-10 2008-07-10 At&T Knowledge Ventures, Lp System and method of routing video data
US8621540B2 (en) 2007-01-24 2013-12-31 Time Warner Cable Enterprises Llc Apparatus and methods for provisioning in a download-enabled system
US8181206B2 (en) 2007-02-28 2012-05-15 Time Warner Cable Inc. Personal content server apparatus and methods
US20080235746A1 (en) 2007-03-20 2008-09-25 Michael James Peters Methods and apparatus for content delivery and replacement in a network
US8370889B2 (en) 2007-03-28 2013-02-05 Kanthimathi Gayatri Sukumar Switched digital video client reverse channel traffic reduction
US8832755B2 (en) * 2007-04-30 2014-09-09 Ciena Corporation Methods and systems for interactive video transport over Ethernet networks
US9398346B2 (en) 2007-05-04 2016-07-19 Time Warner Cable Enterprises Llc Methods and apparatus for predictive capacity allocation
US8281352B2 (en) * 2007-05-15 2012-10-02 Time Warner Cable Inc. Methods and apparatus for bandwidth recovery in a network
JP2008311871A (en) * 2007-06-13 2008-12-25 Hitachi Ltd Information recording and reproducing device, and video camera device
US11570521B2 (en) 2007-06-26 2023-01-31 Broadband Itv, Inc. Dynamic adjustment of electronic program guide displays based on viewer preferences for minimizing navigation in VOD program selection
US8254393B2 (en) * 2007-06-29 2012-08-28 Microsoft Corporation Harnessing predictive models of durations of channel availability for enhanced opportunistic allocation of radio spectrum
US20090025027A1 (en) 2007-07-20 2009-01-22 Michael Craner Systems & methods for allocating bandwidth in switched digital video systems based on interest
US7802286B2 (en) * 2007-07-24 2010-09-21 Time Warner Cable Inc. Methods and apparatus for format selection for network optimization
US7770200B2 (en) * 2007-07-24 2010-08-03 Time Warner Cable Inc. Methods and apparatus for format selection for network optimization
US8625607B2 (en) 2007-07-24 2014-01-07 Time Warner Cable Enterprises Llc Generation, distribution and use of content metadata in a network
US8776160B2 (en) 2007-07-27 2014-07-08 William C. Versteeg Systems and methods of differentiated requests for network access
US8832766B2 (en) 2007-07-27 2014-09-09 William C. Versteeg Systems and methods of differentiated channel change behavior
US7720986B2 (en) 2007-08-24 2010-05-18 At&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. Method and system for media adaption
US9071859B2 (en) 2007-09-26 2015-06-30 Time Warner Cable Enterprises Llc Methods and apparatus for user-based targeted content delivery
US8561116B2 (en) * 2007-09-26 2013-10-15 Charles A. Hasek Methods and apparatus for content caching in a video network
US8099757B2 (en) 2007-10-15 2012-01-17 Time Warner Cable Inc. Methods and apparatus for revenue-optimized delivery of content in a network
US9060208B2 (en) 2008-01-30 2015-06-16 Time Warner Cable Enterprises Llc Methods and apparatus for predictive delivery of content over a network
US9503691B2 (en) 2008-02-19 2016-11-22 Time Warner Cable Enterprises Llc Methods and apparatus for enhanced advertising and promotional delivery in a network
US8300541B2 (en) 2008-02-19 2012-10-30 Time Warner Cable Inc. Apparatus and methods for utilizing statistical multiplexing to ensure quality of service in a network
US8813143B2 (en) * 2008-02-26 2014-08-19 Time Warner Enterprises LLC Methods and apparatus for business-based network resource allocation
CN101272479B (en) * 2008-03-31 2011-11-30 华为软件技术有限公司 Resource scheduling device and method, method and system and set-top box for demanding programs
ES2416484T3 (en) 2008-05-21 2013-08-01 Nokia Siemens Networks Oy Deployment of an ul of lte system for arbitrary system bandwidths through PUCCH configuration
US20100049832A1 (en) * 2008-08-21 2010-02-25 Comverse Ltd Computer program product, a system and a method for providing video content to a target system
US9357247B2 (en) 2008-11-24 2016-05-31 Time Warner Cable Enterprises Llc Apparatus and methods for content delivery and message exchange across multiple content delivery networks
US10063934B2 (en) 2008-11-25 2018-08-28 Rovi Technologies Corporation Reducing unicast session duration with restart TV
CN101431535B (en) * 2008-12-01 2011-12-28 中兴通讯股份有限公司 Method for implementing relay channel
US20100138022A1 (en) * 2008-12-03 2010-06-03 Electronics And Telecommunications Research Institute Apparatus for controlling component of application and method thereof
TW201031208A (en) * 2009-02-06 2010-08-16 Wistron Corp Media management device, system and method thereof
KR101585010B1 (en) * 2009-03-11 2016-01-14 삼성전자주식회사 Method and Apparatus for allocating channel bandwidth in Wireless Internet Protocol Television System
US11076189B2 (en) 2009-03-30 2021-07-27 Time Warner Cable Enterprises Llc Personal media channel apparatus and methods
US9215423B2 (en) 2009-03-30 2015-12-15 Time Warner Cable Enterprises Llc Recommendation engine apparatus and methods
US8068514B2 (en) 2009-05-22 2011-11-29 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Efficient bandwidth utilization when streaming data over multiple network interfaces
US9602864B2 (en) 2009-06-08 2017-03-21 Time Warner Cable Enterprises Llc Media bridge apparatus and methods
US9866609B2 (en) 2009-06-08 2018-01-09 Time Warner Cable Enterprises Llc Methods and apparatus for premises content distribution
US9094713B2 (en) 2009-07-02 2015-07-28 Time Warner Cable Enterprises Llc Method and apparatus for network association of content
US8813124B2 (en) 2009-07-15 2014-08-19 Time Warner Cable Enterprises Llc Methods and apparatus for targeted secondary content insertion
US10410222B2 (en) 2009-07-23 2019-09-10 DISH Technologies L.L.C. Messaging service for providing updates for multimedia content of a live event delivered over the internet
US9237381B2 (en) 2009-08-06 2016-01-12 Time Warner Cable Enterprises Llc Methods and apparatus for local channel insertion in an all-digital content distribution network
US9027068B2 (en) * 2009-09-18 2015-05-05 Verizon Patent And Licensing Inc. Method and system for allocating broadcast carrier resources
US8434121B2 (en) * 2009-10-16 2013-04-30 At&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. System and method for monitoring whole home digital video recorder usage for internet protocol television
US8396055B2 (en) 2009-10-20 2013-03-12 Time Warner Cable Inc. Methods and apparatus for enabling media functionality in a content-based network
US10264029B2 (en) * 2009-10-30 2019-04-16 Time Warner Cable Enterprises Llc Methods and apparatus for packetized content delivery over a content delivery network
JP2011101162A (en) * 2009-11-05 2011-05-19 Renesas Electronics Corp Data processor, and communication system
US9635421B2 (en) 2009-11-11 2017-04-25 Time Warner Cable Enterprises Llc Methods and apparatus for audience data collection and analysis in a content delivery network
US10298977B2 (en) * 2009-11-20 2019-05-21 Time Warner Cable Enterprises Llc Policy management arbitration by service group
US9519728B2 (en) 2009-12-04 2016-12-13 Time Warner Cable Enterprises Llc Apparatus and methods for monitoring and optimizing delivery of content in a network
US9113226B2 (en) * 2009-12-21 2015-08-18 Bce Inc. Methods and systems for re-securing a compromised channel in a satellite signal distribution environment
US9143813B2 (en) * 2010-02-11 2015-09-22 Beaumaris Networks Inc. Multi-video-service bandwidth allocation
US9342661B2 (en) 2010-03-02 2016-05-17 Time Warner Cable Enterprises Llc Apparatus and methods for rights-managed content and data delivery
US9015783B2 (en) * 2010-03-05 2015-04-21 Time Warner Cable Enterprises Llc Bandwidth conservation
US9167275B1 (en) * 2010-03-11 2015-10-20 BoxCast, LLC Systems and methods for autonomous broadcasting
US8467412B2 (en) 2010-04-14 2013-06-18 Ericsson Television Inc. Adaptive rate shifting for delivery of video services to service groups
US20110264530A1 (en) 2010-04-23 2011-10-27 Bryan Santangelo Apparatus and methods for dynamic secondary content and data insertion and delivery
US8701138B2 (en) 2010-04-23 2014-04-15 Time Warner Cable Enterprises Llc Zone control methods and apparatus
US8677431B2 (en) 2010-05-06 2014-03-18 Time Warner Cable Enterprises Llc Technique for providing uninterrupted switched digital video service
US8406188B2 (en) * 2010-05-11 2013-03-26 Spectrum Bridge, Inc. System and method for managing a wireless radio network
US9300445B2 (en) 2010-05-27 2016-03-29 Time Warner Cable Enterprise LLC Digital domain content processing and distribution apparatus and methods
US9906838B2 (en) 2010-07-12 2018-02-27 Time Warner Cable Enterprises Llc Apparatus and methods for content delivery and message exchange across multiple content delivery networks
US8997136B2 (en) 2010-07-22 2015-03-31 Time Warner Cable Enterprises Llc Apparatus and methods for packetized content delivery over a bandwidth-efficient network
US9185341B2 (en) 2010-09-03 2015-11-10 Time Warner Cable Enterprises Llc Digital domain content processing and distribution apparatus and methods
US8880666B2 (en) * 2010-10-29 2014-11-04 At&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. Method, policy request router, and machine-readable hardware storage device to select a policy server based on a network condition to receive policy requests for a duration
US8930979B2 (en) 2010-11-11 2015-01-06 Time Warner Cable Enterprises Llc Apparatus and methods for identifying and characterizing latency in a content delivery network
US10148623B2 (en) 2010-11-12 2018-12-04 Time Warner Cable Enterprises Llc Apparatus and methods ensuring data privacy in a content distribution network
US8856846B2 (en) * 2010-11-29 2014-10-07 At&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. Content placement
US9602414B2 (en) 2011-02-09 2017-03-21 Time Warner Cable Enterprises Llc Apparatus and methods for controlled bandwidth reclamation
WO2013003174A2 (en) * 2011-06-28 2013-01-03 United Video Properties, Inc. Systems and methods for efficient allocations of transport streams
US9049073B2 (en) 2011-06-28 2015-06-02 Rovi Guides, Inc. Systems and methods for initializing allocations of transport streams based on historical data
US9420354B2 (en) * 2011-09-21 2016-08-16 Verizon Patent And Licensing Inc. Optimizing mobile electronic program guide delivery
US20140181266A1 (en) * 2011-09-29 2014-06-26 Avvasi Inc. System, streaming media optimizer and methods for use therewith
US9118738B2 (en) 2011-09-29 2015-08-25 Avvasi Inc. Systems and methods for controlling access to a media stream
US9015555B2 (en) 2011-11-18 2015-04-21 Cisco Technology, Inc. System and method for multicast error recovery using sampled feedback
WO2013085920A2 (en) 2011-12-06 2013-06-13 DISH Digital L.L.C. Remote storage digital video recorder and related operating methods
US9049484B2 (en) 2011-12-06 2015-06-02 Echostar Technologies L.L.C. Efficient assignment of program copies in a network digital video recorder
US8805418B2 (en) 2011-12-23 2014-08-12 United Video Properties, Inc. Methods and systems for performing actions based on location-based rules
US9680925B2 (en) 2012-01-09 2017-06-13 At&T Intellectual Property I, L. P. Methods and apparatus to route message traffic using tiered affinity-based message routing
US8549570B2 (en) * 2012-02-23 2013-10-01 Ericsson Television Inc. Methods and apparatus for managing network resources used by multimedia streams in a virtual pipe
US8825811B2 (en) * 2012-03-15 2014-09-02 International Business Machines Corporation Connection management and optimization for services delivered over networks
US8904014B2 (en) 2012-03-15 2014-12-02 International Business Machines Corporation Content delivery mechanisms for multicast communication
US8978079B2 (en) 2012-03-23 2015-03-10 Time Warner Cable Enterprises Llc Apparatus and methods for managing delivery of content in a network with limited bandwidth using pre-caching
US9467723B2 (en) 2012-04-04 2016-10-11 Time Warner Cable Enterprises Llc Apparatus and methods for automated highlight reel creation in a content delivery network
US8806529B2 (en) 2012-04-06 2014-08-12 Time Warner Cable Enterprises Llc Variability in available levels of quality of encoded content
US9078040B2 (en) 2012-04-12 2015-07-07 Time Warner Cable Enterprises Llc Apparatus and methods for enabling media options in a content delivery network
US9854280B2 (en) 2012-07-10 2017-12-26 Time Warner Cable Enterprises Llc Apparatus and methods for selective enforcement of secondary content viewing
US9253549B2 (en) * 2012-07-30 2016-02-02 Verizon Patent And Licensing Inc. Program modeling tool
WO2014020742A1 (en) * 2012-08-02 2014-02-06 株式会社Murakumo Load distribution device, information processing system, method, and program
US8862155B2 (en) 2012-08-30 2014-10-14 Time Warner Cable Enterprises Llc Apparatus and methods for enabling location-based services within a premises
US9167310B2 (en) 2012-09-14 2015-10-20 Comcast Cable Communications, Llc Optimized delivery techniques
US20140082645A1 (en) 2012-09-14 2014-03-20 Peter Stern Apparatus and methods for providing enhanced or interactive features
US10516904B2 (en) * 2012-09-14 2019-12-24 Comcast Cable Communications, Llc Controlling delivery of requested content based on delivery bandwidth limitations
US9197712B2 (en) 2012-11-30 2015-11-24 At&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. Multi-stage batching of content distribution in a media distribution system
US9565472B2 (en) 2012-12-10 2017-02-07 Time Warner Cable Enterprises Llc Apparatus and methods for content transfer protection
US9131283B2 (en) 2012-12-14 2015-09-08 Time Warner Cable Enterprises Llc Apparatus and methods for multimedia coordination
US9716916B2 (en) 2012-12-28 2017-07-25 Echostar Technologies L.L.C. Adaptive multicast delivery of media streams
US10708319B2 (en) 2012-12-31 2020-07-07 Dish Technologies Llc Methods and apparatus for providing social viewing of media content
US10051025B2 (en) 2012-12-31 2018-08-14 DISH Technologies L.L.C. Method and apparatus for estimating packet loss
US10104141B2 (en) 2012-12-31 2018-10-16 DISH Technologies L.L.C. Methods and apparatus for proactive multi-path routing
US20140282786A1 (en) 2013-03-12 2014-09-18 Time Warner Cable Enterprises Llc Methods and apparatus for providing and uploading content to personalized network storage
US10368255B2 (en) 2017-07-25 2019-07-30 Time Warner Cable Enterprises Llc Methods and apparatus for client-based dynamic control of connections to co-existing radio access networks
US9066153B2 (en) 2013-03-15 2015-06-23 Time Warner Cable Enterprises Llc Apparatus and methods for multicast delivery of content in a content delivery network
US9313568B2 (en) 2013-07-23 2016-04-12 Chicago Custom Acoustics, Inc. Custom earphone with dome in the canal
US20150029851A1 (en) * 2013-07-26 2015-01-29 Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson (Publ) Managing the traffic load of a delivery node
US10057608B2 (en) * 2013-10-21 2018-08-21 Time Warner Cable Enterprises Llc Network management, monitoring, and flow control
FR3013933A1 (en) * 2013-11-22 2015-05-29 Orange ADAPTIVE DIFFUSION OF MULTIMEDIA CONTENT
US9621940B2 (en) 2014-05-29 2017-04-11 Time Warner Cable Enterprises Llc Apparatus and methods for recording, accessing, and delivering packetized content
US11540148B2 (en) 2014-06-11 2022-12-27 Time Warner Cable Enterprises Llc Methods and apparatus for access point location
US20160014468A1 (en) 2014-07-14 2016-01-14 International Business Machines Corporation Social delivery of iptv streams
US10028025B2 (en) 2014-09-29 2018-07-17 Time Warner Cable Enterprises Llc Apparatus and methods for enabling presence-based and use-based services
US9935833B2 (en) 2014-11-05 2018-04-03 Time Warner Cable Enterprises Llc Methods and apparatus for determining an optimized wireless interface installation configuration
US9756112B2 (en) 2015-02-11 2017-09-05 At&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. Method and system for managing service quality according to network status predictions
US10116676B2 (en) 2015-02-13 2018-10-30 Time Warner Cable Enterprises Llc Apparatus and methods for data collection, analysis and service modification based on online activity
US9843828B2 (en) 2015-03-27 2017-12-12 Ericsson Ab System and method for providing non-guaranteed channel content in a switched digital video network using multicast ABR streaming
US9788028B2 (en) 2015-03-27 2017-10-10 Ericsson Ab System and method for providing guaranteed channel content in a switched digital video network using multicast ABR streaming
US9621933B2 (en) 2015-03-27 2017-04-11 Ericsson Ab System and method for providing VOD content in a switched digital video network using unicast ABR streaming
US9674300B2 (en) 2015-04-22 2017-06-06 At&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. Apparatus and method for predicting an amount of network infrastructure needed based on demographics
US10873538B2 (en) * 2015-05-05 2020-12-22 Avaya Inc. Automatic cloud capacity adjustment
US9923965B2 (en) 2015-06-05 2018-03-20 International Business Machines Corporation Storage mirroring over wide area network circuits with dynamic on-demand capacity
US10057327B2 (en) 2015-11-25 2018-08-21 International Business Machines Corporation Controlled transfer of data over an elastic network
US10216441B2 (en) 2015-11-25 2019-02-26 International Business Machines Corporation Dynamic quality of service for storage I/O port allocation
US9923784B2 (en) 2015-11-25 2018-03-20 International Business Machines Corporation Data transfer using flexible dynamic elastic network service provider relationships
US10177993B2 (en) 2015-11-25 2019-01-08 International Business Machines Corporation Event-based data transfer scheduling using elastic network optimization criteria
US9923839B2 (en) 2015-11-25 2018-03-20 International Business Machines Corporation Configuring resources to exploit elastic network capability
US10581680B2 (en) 2015-11-25 2020-03-03 International Business Machines Corporation Dynamic configuration of network features
US9986578B2 (en) 2015-12-04 2018-05-29 Time Warner Cable Enterprises Llc Apparatus and methods for selective data network access
CA3010038C (en) 2015-12-29 2020-09-22 DISH Technologies L.L.C. Methods and systems for adaptive content delivery
US9918345B2 (en) 2016-01-20 2018-03-13 Time Warner Cable Enterprises Llc Apparatus and method for wireless network services in moving vehicles
US10404758B2 (en) 2016-02-26 2019-09-03 Time Warner Cable Enterprises Llc Apparatus and methods for centralized message exchange in a user premises device
US10492034B2 (en) 2016-03-07 2019-11-26 Time Warner Cable Enterprises Llc Apparatus and methods for dynamic open-access networks
US20200305220A1 (en) * 2016-03-31 2020-09-24 Nec Corporation Radio access network node, radio terminal, network node, and method therefor
US10586023B2 (en) 2016-04-21 2020-03-10 Time Warner Cable Enterprises Llc Methods and apparatus for secondary content management and fraud prevention
US10687115B2 (en) 2016-06-01 2020-06-16 Time Warner Cable Enterprises Llc Cloud-based digital content recorder apparatus and methods
US10164858B2 (en) 2016-06-15 2018-12-25 Time Warner Cable Enterprises Llc Apparatus and methods for monitoring and diagnosing a wireless network
US10154317B2 (en) 2016-07-05 2018-12-11 BoxCast, LLC System, method, and protocol for transmission of video and audio data
US10291544B1 (en) * 2016-07-19 2019-05-14 Harmonic, Inc. Bandwidth saving with programmable redistribution
US11212593B2 (en) 2016-09-27 2021-12-28 Time Warner Cable Enterprises Llc Apparatus and methods for automated secondary content management in a digital network
US10911794B2 (en) 2016-11-09 2021-02-02 Charter Communications Operating, Llc Apparatus and methods for selective secondary content insertion in a digital network
US10645547B2 (en) 2017-06-02 2020-05-05 Charter Communications Operating, Llc Apparatus and methods for providing wireless service in a venue
US10638361B2 (en) 2017-06-06 2020-04-28 Charter Communications Operating, Llc Methods and apparatus for dynamic control of connections to co-existing radio access networks
US10278174B2 (en) 2017-08-04 2019-04-30 Charter Communications Operating, Llc System and method of spectrum allocation
US10958948B2 (en) 2017-08-29 2021-03-23 Charter Communications Operating, Llc Apparatus and methods for latency reduction in digital content switching operations
US10939142B2 (en) 2018-02-27 2021-03-02 Charter Communications Operating, Llc Apparatus and methods for content storage, distribution and security within a content distribution network
US10523978B1 (en) 2018-02-27 2019-12-31 Amazon Technologies, Inc. Dynamic quality adjustments for media transport
CN111771411B (en) * 2018-02-27 2021-08-24 诺基亚通信公司 VOD load balancing
US10868726B2 (en) 2018-12-07 2020-12-15 At&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. Apparatus and method for selecting a bandwidth prediction source
US11490149B2 (en) 2019-03-15 2022-11-01 At&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. Cap-based client-network interaction for improved streaming experience
CN110191061A (en) * 2019-05-07 2019-08-30 荆楚理工学院 A kind of campus network management system based on SDN technology
US11374779B2 (en) 2019-06-30 2022-06-28 Charter Communications Operating, Llc Wireless enabled distributed data apparatus and methods
US11182222B2 (en) 2019-07-26 2021-11-23 Charter Communications Operating, Llc Methods and apparatus for multi-processor device software development and operation
US11432025B1 (en) * 2019-12-09 2022-08-30 Amazon Technologies, Inc. Multi-encoder bandwidth load balancing based on video format for live video streaming
US11647239B1 (en) * 2019-12-09 2023-05-09 Amazon Technologies, Inc. Multi-encoder bandwidth load balancing for live video streaming
US11638050B1 (en) * 2019-12-09 2023-04-25 Amazon Technologies. Inc. Managing video encoders utilizing IoT-based communications
CN111083532B (en) * 2019-12-26 2021-12-14 北京东土科技股份有限公司 Audio and video transmission control method and device of satellite system and server

Family Cites Families (199)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4521881A (en) 1981-11-02 1985-06-04 Wang Laboratories, Inc. Data communication system with increased effective bandwidth
US4566030A (en) 1983-06-09 1986-01-21 Ctba Associates Television viewer data collection system
US4602279A (en) 1984-03-21 1986-07-22 Actv, Inc. Method for providing targeted profile interactive CATV displays
GB2214758A (en) 1988-01-22 1989-09-06 Philips Electronic Associated Signal distribution network system
US5155591A (en) 1989-10-23 1992-10-13 General Instrument Corporation Method and apparatus for providing demographically targeted television commercials
US20010013123A1 (en) 1991-11-25 2001-08-09 Freeman Michael J. Customized program creation by splicing server based video, audio, or graphical segments
US5313454A (en) 1992-04-01 1994-05-17 Stratacom, Inc. Congestion control for cell networks
US6463585B1 (en) 1992-12-09 2002-10-08 Discovery Communications, Inc. Targeted advertisement using television delivery systems
US5600364A (en) 1992-12-09 1997-02-04 Discovery Communications, Inc. Network controller for cable television delivery systems
US20020104083A1 (en) 1992-12-09 2002-08-01 Hendricks John S. Internally targeted advertisements using television delivery systems
US5659350A (en) * 1992-12-09 1997-08-19 Discovery Communications, Inc. Operations center for a television program packaging and delivery system
US5926205A (en) * 1994-10-19 1999-07-20 Imedia Corporation Method and apparatus for encoding and formatting data representing a video program to provide multiple overlapping presentations of the video program
US5758257A (en) 1994-11-29 1998-05-26 Herz; Frederick System and method for scheduling broadcast of and access to video programs and other data using customer profiles
US6240243B1 (en) * 1994-12-05 2001-05-29 International Business Machines Corporation Method and apparatus for storing and retrieving scalable video data in a disk-array-based video server
US5774170A (en) 1994-12-13 1998-06-30 Hite; Kenneth C. System and method for delivering targeted advertisements to consumers
DE69631182T2 (en) * 1995-04-28 2004-08-19 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., Kadoma Data transmission method
JP3288199B2 (en) 1995-06-30 2002-06-04 富士通株式会社 Video data distribution device
US6002393A (en) 1995-08-22 1999-12-14 Hite; Kenneth C. System and method for delivering targeted advertisements to consumers using direct commands
US5862312A (en) * 1995-10-24 1999-01-19 Seachange Technology, Inc. Loosely coupled mass storage computer cluster
US5878324A (en) * 1995-12-08 1999-03-02 Motorola, Inc. Method and system for distribution of wireless digital multimedia signals in a cellular pattern
US6615251B1 (en) 1995-12-11 2003-09-02 John R. Klug Method for providing node targeted content in an addressable network
US6047327A (en) 1996-02-16 2000-04-04 Intel Corporation System for distributing electronic information to a targeted group of users
US6219840B1 (en) * 1996-03-29 2001-04-17 Motorola, Inc. Method for assigning communication resources in a communication system
WO1997037454A1 (en) * 1996-03-29 1997-10-09 Motorola Inc. Apparatus and method for spectrum management in a multipoint communication system
US5886995A (en) 1996-09-05 1999-03-23 Hughes Electronics Corporation Dynamic mapping of broadcast resources
US5963844A (en) 1996-09-18 1999-10-05 At&T Corp. Hybrid fiber-coax system having at least one digital fiber node and increased upstream bandwidth
US6167428A (en) * 1996-11-29 2000-12-26 Ellis; Frampton E. Personal computer microprocessor firewalls for internet distributed processing
US5931901A (en) 1996-12-09 1999-08-03 Robert L. Wolfe Programmed music on demand from the internet
US5935206A (en) * 1996-12-13 1999-08-10 International Business Machines Corporation Automatic replication of digital video as needed for video-on-demand
US6604138B1 (en) 1996-12-18 2003-08-05 Clubcom, Inc. System and method for providing demographically targeted information
JP4044965B2 (en) 1996-12-20 2008-02-06 プリンストン ビデオ イメージ,インコーポレイティド Set-top device and method for inserting selected video into video broadcast
US6124878A (en) 1996-12-20 2000-09-26 Time Warner Cable, A Division Of Time Warner Enterainment Company, L.P. Optimum bandwidth utilization in a shared cable system data channel
US5914945A (en) 1996-12-31 1999-06-22 Northern Telecom Limited Method and system for bandwidth allocation for multimedia services under aggregate traffic conditions
BR9807467B1 (en) 1997-01-06 2010-11-16 method and system for monitoring the use of television media distribution network.
US6211869B1 (en) * 1997-04-04 2001-04-03 Avid Technology, Inc. Simultaneous storage and network transmission of multimedia data with video host that requests stored data according to response time from a server
US6081830A (en) 1997-10-09 2000-06-27 Gateway 2000, Inc. Automatic linking to program-specific computer chat rooms
US6378130B1 (en) * 1997-10-20 2002-04-23 Time Warner Entertainment Company Media server interconnect architecture
US6330609B1 (en) * 1997-11-07 2001-12-11 Lucent Technologies, Inc. Admission control system and method for media-on-demand servers
US6134532A (en) 1997-11-14 2000-10-17 Aptex Software, Inc. System and method for optimal adaptive matching of users to most relevant entity and information in real-time
EP1365582A1 (en) 1998-03-04 2003-11-26 United Video Properties, Inc. Program guide system with targeted advertising
US6272546B1 (en) * 1998-03-12 2001-08-07 Sony Corporation Method of and apparatus for managing resource allocation and bandwidth overflow in a cooperative, distributed computing environment
US6459427B1 (en) 1998-04-01 2002-10-01 Liberate Technologies Apparatus and method for web-casting over digital broadcast TV network
US20030140351A1 (en) 1998-04-17 2003-07-24 Hoarty W. Leo Cable television system compatible bandwidth upgrade using embedded digital channels
US6353626B1 (en) * 1998-05-04 2002-03-05 Nokia Mobile Phones Limited Methods and apparatus for providing non-uniform de-multiplexing in a multi-carrier wide band CDMA system
BR9810699A (en) 1998-05-12 2000-09-05 Nielsen Media Res Inc Television audience measurement system, process and device to identify a television program selected by a viewer, and software agent stored in memory in association with digital television equipment
US6182050B1 (en) 1998-05-28 2001-01-30 Acceleration Software International Corporation Advertisements distributed on-line using target criteria screening with method for maintaining end user privacy
US6201901B1 (en) * 1998-06-01 2001-03-13 Matsushita Electronic Industrial Co., Ltd. Border-less clock free two-dimensional barcode and method for printing and reading the same
US6463096B1 (en) 1998-06-12 2002-10-08 Cisco Systems, Inc MAC protocol employing multiple data rates
US7146627B1 (en) 1998-06-12 2006-12-05 Metabyte Networks, Inc. Method and apparatus for delivery of targeted video programming
US6353609B1 (en) * 1998-06-19 2002-03-05 Marconi Communications, Inc. Digital packet network for the local access loop
US6141010A (en) 1998-07-17 2000-10-31 B. E. Technology, Llc Computer interface method and apparatus with targeted advertising
JP3145083B2 (en) * 1998-08-04 2001-03-12 松下電器産業株式会社 Transmission system, bandwidth management device, and bandwidth management method
US7246150B1 (en) 1998-09-01 2007-07-17 Bigfix, Inc. Advice provided for offering highly targeted advice without compromising individual privacy
US6092178A (en) * 1998-09-03 2000-07-18 Sun Microsystems, Inc. System for responding to a resource request
US6157377A (en) * 1998-10-30 2000-12-05 Intel Corporation Method and apparatus for purchasing upgraded media features for programming transmissions
US7334044B1 (en) 1998-11-17 2008-02-19 Burst.Com Method for connection acceptance control and optimal multi-media content delivery over networks
US6850965B2 (en) 1998-11-17 2005-02-01 Arthur Douglas Allen Method for connection acceptance and rapid determination of optimal multi-media content delivery over network
US20020083441A1 (en) 2000-08-31 2002-06-27 Flickinger Gregory C. Advertisement filtering and storage for targeted advertisement systems
US6216129B1 (en) 1998-12-03 2001-04-10 Expanse Networks, Inc. Advertisement selection system supporting discretionary target market characteristics
US7228555B2 (en) 2000-08-31 2007-06-05 Prime Research Alliance E., Inc. System and method for delivering targeted advertisements using multiple presentation streams
US6560578B2 (en) 1999-03-12 2003-05-06 Expanse Networks, Inc. Advertisement selection system supporting discretionary target market characteristics
US20020123928A1 (en) 2001-01-11 2002-09-05 Eldering Charles A. Targeting ads to subscribers based on privacy-protected subscriber profiles
US20020144263A1 (en) 2000-08-31 2002-10-03 Eldering Charles A. Grouping of advertisements on an advertising channel in a targeted advertisement system
US20020083445A1 (en) 2000-08-31 2002-06-27 Flickinger Gregory C. Delivering targeted advertisements to the set-top-box
CN1161977C (en) 1998-12-23 2004-08-11 皇家菲利浦电子有限公司 Apparatus for receiving programs
ATE496452T1 (en) 1999-02-19 2011-02-15 Nokia Siemens Networks Oy NETWORK ARRANGEMENT FOR COMMUNICATION
US6240553B1 (en) * 1999-03-31 2001-05-29 Diva Systems Corporation Method for providing scalable in-band and out-of-band access within a video-on-demand environment
US7086077B2 (en) * 1999-04-01 2006-08-01 Sedna Patent Services, Llc Service rate change method and apparatus
AU781307B2 (en) 1999-05-10 2005-05-12 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Advertisement subgroups for digital streams
US7006530B2 (en) * 2000-12-22 2006-02-28 Wi-Lan, Inc. Method and system for adaptively obtaining bandwidth allocation requests
US7024676B1 (en) 1999-05-25 2006-04-04 Thomson Licensing System for acquiring and processing broadcast programs, program guide and channel identification data
CA2371795C (en) * 1999-05-26 2012-02-07 Bigband Networks, Inc. Communication management system and method
US6502139B1 (en) * 1999-06-01 2002-12-31 Technion Research And Development Foundation Ltd. System for optimizing video on demand transmission by partitioning video program into multiple segments, decreasing transmission rate for successive segments and repeatedly, simultaneously transmission
US6986156B1 (en) * 1999-06-11 2006-01-10 Scientific Atlanta, Inc Systems and methods for adaptive scheduling and dynamic bandwidth resource allocation management in a digital broadband delivery system
US6498783B1 (en) * 1999-06-22 2002-12-24 Lucent Technologies Inc. Traffic monitoring system and service differentiation in a dynamic channel assignment system for TCP/IP data transmitted via cable television channels
US20020026351A1 (en) 1999-06-30 2002-02-28 Thomas E. Coleman Method and system for delivery of targeted commercial messages
US7143431B1 (en) 1999-08-06 2006-11-28 Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation Method for reduced bandwidth for on-demand data streaming using mini-clusters
EP1079578A3 (en) * 1999-08-23 2001-11-07 Motorola, Inc. Data allocation in multicarrier systems
US6775843B1 (en) 1999-10-14 2004-08-10 Sony Corporation Method and apparatus for digital TV channel mapping
US6999414B2 (en) 1999-10-27 2006-02-14 Broadcom Corporation System and method for combining requests for data bandwidth by a data provider for transmission of data over an asynchronous communication medium
US7069573B1 (en) * 1999-12-09 2006-06-27 Vidiator Enterprises Inc. Personal broadcasting and viewing method of audio and video data using a wide area network
US6700624B2 (en) 1999-12-30 2004-03-02 Lg Electronics Inc. Combined terrestrial wave/cable broadcast receiver and program information processing method therefor
CN1422496A (en) 2000-02-02 2003-06-04 世界门服务股份有限公司 System and method for transmitting and displaying targeted information
US6842783B1 (en) 2000-02-18 2005-01-11 International Business Machines Corporation System and method for enforcing communications bandwidth based service level agreements to plurality of customers hosted on a clustered web server
US20010030785A1 (en) * 2000-02-23 2001-10-18 Pangrac David M. System and method for distributing information via a communication network
US7293279B1 (en) 2000-03-09 2007-11-06 Sedna Patent Services, Llc Advanced set top terminal having a program pause feature with voice-to-text conversion
US6687735B1 (en) * 2000-05-30 2004-02-03 Tranceive Technologies, Inc. Method and apparatus for balancing distributed applications
CN1218578C (en) 2000-05-19 2005-09-07 英特尔公司 Dynamically controlling video and data transmissions
US6823385B2 (en) * 2000-05-19 2004-11-23 Scientifc Atlanta, Inc. Allocating access across a shared communications medium to user classes
GB0012211D0 (en) 2000-05-19 2000-07-12 Gemstar Dev Limited A targeted advertising system
US7246366B1 (en) * 2000-06-13 2007-07-17 Scientific-Atlanta, Inc. System and method for automatically determining service groups in a subscriber network
US8495679B2 (en) 2000-06-30 2013-07-23 Thomson Licensing Method and apparatus for delivery of television programs and targeted de-coupled advertising
US7690020B2 (en) * 2000-06-30 2010-03-30 Time Warner Cable, A Division Of Time Warner Entertainment Company, L.P. Hybrid central/distributed VOD system with tiered content structure
US6918131B1 (en) 2000-07-10 2005-07-12 Nokia Corporation Systems and methods for characterizing television preferences over a wireless network
US6944166B1 (en) * 2000-08-09 2005-09-13 Nortel Networks Limited Method for controlling service levels over packet based networks
US7047309B2 (en) * 2000-08-23 2006-05-16 International Business Machines Corporation Load balancing and dynamic control of multiple data streams in a network
US7155508B2 (en) 2000-09-01 2006-12-26 Yodlee.Com, Inc. Target information generation and ad server
US20020063621A1 (en) * 2000-09-01 2002-05-30 Next Planet, Inc. Method and apparatus for device communications
US7870576B2 (en) 2000-09-08 2011-01-11 Prime Research Alliance E., Inc. Targeted advertising through electronic program guide
US6742187B1 (en) 2000-09-15 2004-05-25 3Com Corporation Upstream bandwidth allocation map (MAP)-initiated channel change method for data-over-cable systems
US7191461B1 (en) 2000-10-02 2007-03-13 The Directv Group, Inc. Method and apparatus for adapting program guides to meet subscriber criteria
US7272119B2 (en) 2000-11-02 2007-09-18 Sharp Laboratories Of America, Inc. Methods and systems for quality of service in networks comprising wireless devices
US7340759B1 (en) 2000-11-10 2008-03-04 Scientific-Atlanta, Inc. Systems and methods for adaptive pricing in a digital broadband delivery system
CA2326368A1 (en) 2000-11-20 2002-05-20 Adexact Corporation Method and system for targeted content delivery, presentation, management, and reporting
TW561747B (en) 2000-11-21 2003-11-11 Ibm Costs in data networks
US7237250B2 (en) 2000-11-28 2007-06-26 Navic Systems, Inc. Promotion server using video on demand channel
US20020087976A1 (en) 2000-12-28 2002-07-04 Kaplan Marc P. System and method for distributing video with targeted advertising using switched communication networks
US7363371B2 (en) 2000-12-28 2008-04-22 Nortel Networks Limited Traffic flow management in a communications network
ATE321422T1 (en) 2001-01-09 2006-04-15 Metabyte Networks Inc SYSTEM, METHOD AND SOFTWARE FOR PROVIDING TARGETED ADVERTISING THROUGH USER PROFILE DATA STRUCTURE BASED ON USER PREFERENCES
US20020095684A1 (en) 2001-01-12 2002-07-18 St. John James T. Methods, systems and computer program products for bandwidth allocation based on throughput guarantees
US7970645B2 (en) 2001-02-23 2011-06-28 Cox Communications, Inc. Method and apparatus for providing targeted advertisements
US20020129378A1 (en) 2001-03-08 2002-09-12 Cloonan Thomas J. Method and apparatus for controlling traffic loading on a cable modem termination system
US6891841B2 (en) * 2001-03-12 2005-05-10 Advent Networks, Inc. Time division multiple access over broadband modulation method and apparatus
US6925469B2 (en) * 2001-03-30 2005-08-02 Intertainer, Inc. Digital entertainment service platform
US20020178447A1 (en) 2001-04-03 2002-11-28 Plotnick Michael A. Behavioral targeted advertising
US7305691B2 (en) 2001-05-07 2007-12-04 Actv, Inc. System and method for providing targeted programming outside of the home
US7197759B2 (en) * 2001-05-14 2007-03-27 Webtv Networks, Inc. Electronic program guide displayed simultaneously with television programming
US7836178B1 (en) * 2001-06-20 2010-11-16 Microstrategy Incorporated Technique for limiting access to the resources of a system
US6760918B2 (en) * 2001-06-29 2004-07-06 Scientific-Atlanta, Inc. Method and apparatus for recordable media content distribution
US8006262B2 (en) * 2001-06-29 2011-08-23 Rodriguez Arturo A Graphic user interfaces for purchasable and recordable media (PRM) downloads
US20030007516A1 (en) * 2001-07-06 2003-01-09 Yuri Abramov System and method for the application of a statistical multiplexing algorithm for video encoding
US7577118B2 (en) 2001-07-24 2009-08-18 Intel Corporation System and method of classifying remote users according to link quality, and scheduling wireless transmission of information to the to the users based upon the classifications
US20030046704A1 (en) * 2001-09-05 2003-03-06 Indra Laksono Method and apparatus for pay-per-quality of service for bandwidth consumption in a video system
US8713623B2 (en) 2001-09-20 2014-04-29 Time Warner Cable Enterprises, LLC Technique for effectively providing program material in a cable television system
WO2003039154A1 (en) * 2001-10-10 2003-05-08 Xtend Networks Ltd. Method and system for a true-video-on-demand service in a catv network
US20030077067A1 (en) 2001-10-23 2003-04-24 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Television program editing device
US20030093311A1 (en) 2001-11-05 2003-05-15 Kenneth Knowlson Targeted advertising
US8561095B2 (en) 2001-11-13 2013-10-15 Koninklijke Philips N.V. Affective television monitoring and control in response to physiological data
US7308415B2 (en) 2001-12-04 2007-12-11 International Business Machines Corporation Dynamic resource allocation using projected future benefits
US7305357B2 (en) * 2002-01-24 2007-12-04 Shaw Cablesystems, G.P. Method and system for providing and controlling delivery of content on-demand over a cable television network and a data network
US20030149975A1 (en) 2002-02-05 2003-08-07 Charles Eldering Targeted advertising in on demand programming
CA2372092C (en) * 2002-02-15 2010-04-06 Cognos Incorporated A queuing model for a plurality of servers
US7277454B2 (en) * 2002-03-22 2007-10-02 Sun Microsystems, Inc. Arbitration of communication channel bandwidth
EP1504591A1 (en) * 2002-04-26 2005-02-09 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. Security modules for conditional access with restrictions
KR20030087193A (en) 2002-05-07 2003-11-14 엘지전자 주식회사 Method for managing a multi-channel broadcast stream record
US7251657B2 (en) * 2002-05-10 2007-07-31 Oracle International Corporation Method and system for implementing dynamic cache of database cursors
US20030214962A1 (en) * 2002-05-15 2003-11-20 Mark Allaye-Chan Method and apparatus for bandwidth optimization in network ring topology
US7092999B2 (en) 2002-06-10 2006-08-15 Gutman Levitan Data broadcast network for congestion-free internet access
US20040031053A1 (en) * 2002-08-08 2004-02-12 Jong-Hoon Lim Method for providing HDTV-level multimedia service and communication system therefor
US7327692B2 (en) 2002-09-10 2008-02-05 International Business Machines Corporation System and method for selecting fibre channel switched fabric frame paths
CN1509081A (en) 2002-12-20 2004-06-30 �ʼҷ����ֵ��ӹɷ����޹�˾ Method and system for transfering double-layer HDTV signal throught broadcast and network flow
US20040146006A1 (en) * 2003-01-24 2004-07-29 Jackson Daniel H. System and method for internal network data traffic control
KR100476457B1 (en) * 2003-02-13 2005-03-18 삼성전자주식회사 Method for controlling Network Digital Broadcasting Service
US7317728B2 (en) 2003-02-25 2008-01-08 Lucent Technologies Inc. System and method for increasing provisionable bandwidth in time-division multiplexed communication links
US8978090B2 (en) * 2003-03-12 2015-03-10 Qualcomm Incorporated Multimedia transcoding proxy server for wireless telecommunication system
US20040187159A1 (en) * 2003-03-19 2004-09-23 Concurrent Computer Corporation, A Delaware Corporation Multi-tiered content management system
US20040194134A1 (en) 2003-03-25 2004-09-30 Gunatilake Priyan Deveka Method and system for rapid channel change providing stored images of current channel programs
US7246172B2 (en) 2003-06-06 2007-07-17 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Static dense multicast path and bandwidth management
US7352775B2 (en) 2003-06-20 2008-04-01 Broadcom Corporation Partial duplex frequency domain modulator system and method
US9247288B2 (en) 2003-08-12 2016-01-26 Time Warner Cable Enterprises Llc Technique for effectively delivering targeted advertisements through a communications network having limited bandwidth
JP2005102150A (en) 2003-08-29 2005-04-14 Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd Broadcast receiving apparatus
CN101065963B (en) 2003-08-29 2010-09-15 Rgb网络有限公司 Video multiplexer system providing low-latency VCR-like effects and program changes
US7500235B2 (en) 2003-09-05 2009-03-03 Aol Time Warner Interactive Video Group, Inc. Technique for updating a resident application and associated parameters in a user terminal through a communications network
CA2537977A1 (en) 2003-09-05 2005-03-17 Stephen D. Grody Methods and apparatus for providing services using speech recognition
US8214256B2 (en) 2003-09-15 2012-07-03 Time Warner Cable Inc. System and method for advertisement delivery within a video time shifting architecture
US20050086692A1 (en) 2003-10-17 2005-04-21 Mydtv, Inc. Searching for programs and updating viewer preferences with reference to program segment characteristics
US20050123001A1 (en) 2003-11-05 2005-06-09 Jeff Craven Method and system for providing video and data traffic packets from the same device
US8233430B2 (en) * 2003-11-11 2012-07-31 Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha Communication method, terminal, and base station
US7464179B2 (en) 2003-11-24 2008-12-09 At&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. Methods, systems, and products for providing communications services amongst multiple providers
US8302111B2 (en) 2003-11-24 2012-10-30 Time Warner Cable Inc. Methods and apparatus for hardware registration in a network device
US20050111844A1 (en) 2003-11-26 2005-05-26 Comcast Cable Holdings, Llc Apparatus and method for providing HFC forward path spectrum
US20050125832A1 (en) * 2003-12-03 2005-06-09 Jost Arthur P. Method and apparatus for cost effective central transcoding of video streams in a video on demand system
WO2005072320A2 (en) * 2004-01-23 2005-08-11 Camiant, Inc. Video policy server
US8078669B2 (en) 2004-02-18 2011-12-13 Time Warner Cable Inc. Media extension apparatus and methods for use in an information network
US20050289619A1 (en) * 2004-06-01 2005-12-29 Joel Melby Methods and system for resource allocation in an on-demand server
US8843978B2 (en) 2004-06-29 2014-09-23 Time Warner Cable Enterprises Llc Method and apparatus for network bandwidth allocation
US7793321B2 (en) 2004-08-13 2010-09-07 Microsoft Corporation Delivering a geographic-specific comprehensive program guide
US7783316B1 (en) 2004-09-09 2010-08-24 Rockwell Collins, Inc. Public safety communications network using asymmetric receive/transmit channels
US9723267B2 (en) 2004-12-15 2017-08-01 Time Warner Cable Enterprises Llc Method and apparatus for wideband distribution of content
US8522293B2 (en) 2004-12-15 2013-08-27 Time Warner Cable Enterprises Llc Method and apparatus for high bandwidth data transmission in content-based networks
US8458125B1 (en) 2005-01-31 2013-06-04 Oracle America, Inc. Dynamic creation of replicas of streaming data from a storage device without added load
US7602820B2 (en) 2005-02-01 2009-10-13 Time Warner Cable Inc. Apparatus and methods for multi-stage multiplexing in a network
US7567565B2 (en) 2005-02-01 2009-07-28 Time Warner Cable Inc. Method and apparatus for network bandwidth conservation
US8028322B2 (en) 2005-03-14 2011-09-27 Time Warner Cable Inc. Method and apparatus for network content download and recording
US20060253864A1 (en) 2005-03-15 2006-11-09 Optical Entertainment Network, Inc. System and method for household-targeted advertising
US20060253328A1 (en) 2005-05-06 2006-11-09 Ujjal Kohli Targeted advertising using verifiable information
US7634785B2 (en) 2005-06-06 2009-12-15 Microsoft Corporation DVR-based targeted advertising
US20070022459A1 (en) 2005-07-20 2007-01-25 Gaebel Thomas M Jr Method and apparatus for boundary-based network operation
US9286388B2 (en) 2005-08-04 2016-03-15 Time Warner Cable Enterprises Llc Method and apparatus for context-specific content delivery
US8582584B2 (en) 2005-10-04 2013-11-12 Time Warner Cable Enterprises Llc Self-monitoring and optimizing network apparatus and methods
US20070094691A1 (en) 2005-10-24 2007-04-26 Gazdzinski Robert F Method and apparatus for on-demand content transmission and control over networks
US20070101370A1 (en) 2005-10-28 2007-05-03 Stexar Corp. Television program selection
US20070113243A1 (en) 2005-11-17 2007-05-17 Brey Thomas A Targeted advertising system and method
US20070118852A1 (en) 2005-11-22 2007-05-24 Stexar Corp. Virtual television channels for audio-video system
US9554093B2 (en) 2006-02-27 2017-01-24 Microsoft Technology Licensing, Llc Automatically inserting advertisements into source video content playback streams
US8347341B2 (en) 2006-03-16 2013-01-01 Time Warner Cable Inc. Methods and apparatus for centralized content and data delivery
US7941562B2 (en) 2006-03-30 2011-05-10 Red Aril, Inc. Network device for monitoring and modifying network traffic between an end user and a content provider
US9386327B2 (en) 2006-05-24 2016-07-05 Time Warner Cable Enterprises Llc Secondary content insertion apparatus and methods
US8024762B2 (en) 2006-06-13 2011-09-20 Time Warner Cable Inc. Methods and apparatus for providing virtual content over a network
US20080052157A1 (en) 2006-08-22 2008-02-28 Jayant Kadambi System and method of dynamically managing an advertising campaign over an internet protocol based television network
US20080141317A1 (en) 2006-12-06 2008-06-12 Guideworks, Llc Systems and methods for media source selection and toggling
US9270944B2 (en) 2007-02-14 2016-02-23 Time Warner Cable Enterprises Llc Methods and apparatus for content delivery notification and management
US8375405B2 (en) 2007-03-13 2013-02-12 Microsoft Corporation Contextual television advertisement delivery
US20130227608A1 (en) 2007-03-13 2013-08-29 Qurio Holdings, Inc. Late-binding of advertisements using rdma connectivity
US20080244667A1 (en) 2007-03-27 2008-10-02 Osborne Jason C Bandwidth sensitive switched digital video content delivery
US7814521B2 (en) 2007-04-25 2010-10-12 ATT Knowledge Venturers, L.P. System and method for delivering personalized advertising data
US9398346B2 (en) 2007-05-04 2016-07-19 Time Warner Cable Enterprises Llc Methods and apparatus for predictive capacity allocation
US20090025027A1 (en) 2007-07-20 2009-01-22 Michael Craner Systems & methods for allocating bandwidth in switched digital video systems based on interest
US8365212B1 (en) * 2010-12-29 2013-01-29 Robert Alan Orlowski System and method for analyzing human interaction with electronic devices that access a computer system through a network

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US20050289618A1 (en) 2005-12-29
US8843978B2 (en) 2014-09-23
WO2006004772A2 (en) 2006-01-12
US9578355B2 (en) 2017-02-21
WO2006004772A3 (en) 2007-02-22
CA2572688A1 (en) 2006-01-12
US20150046960A1 (en) 2015-02-12

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US9578355B2 (en) Method and apparatus for network bandwidth allocation
US9930387B2 (en) Method and apparatus for network bandwidth conservation
US10277930B2 (en) Quality feedback mechanism for bandwidth allocation in a switched digital video system
US9131255B2 (en) Technique for providing uninterrupted switched digital video service
US6909726B1 (en) Adaptive bandwidth system and method for broadcast data
US8112781B2 (en) Content delivery system having an edge resource manager performing bandwidth reclamation
CA2629310C (en) Quality of service management in a switched digital video environment
US9491498B2 (en) Methods and apparatus for format selection for network optimization
US9015783B2 (en) Bandwidth conservation
US9847844B2 (en) Technique for usage forecasting in a switched digital video system
US20110072474A1 (en) Selective Defragmentation of Quadrature Amplitude Modulators
WO2001031605A1 (en) Adaptive bandwidth system and method for broadcast data
Wauters et al. HFC access network design for switched broadcast TV services

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
EEER Examination request