US20090025027A1 - Systems & methods for allocating bandwidth in switched digital video systems based on interest - Google Patents

Abstract

Systems and methods for allocating bandwidth in a switched digital video (SDV) system based on channel interest. In some embodiments, bandwidth is deallocated from channels and allocated to requested channels having a higher interest. Tiered approaches for allocating bandwidth are disclosed. Embodiments in which QAMs are allocated across services in a multi-service system based on interest are also disclosed. Embodiments for accommodating emergency access system (EAS) functionality in a SDV system are also disclosed.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
• This invention relates to video distribution systems and more specifically switched digital video (SDV) technologies for improving the utilization of available bandwidth on these distribution systems.
• In the current state of the art, SDV systems allocate channels to available bandwidth. Switched channels are assigned to available frequencies as they are requested. Today's SDV systems are typically designed with the assumption that the number of channels being requested will not exceed the available bandwidth. Thus, bandwidth constraints do not generally result in users being blocked from accessing channels they request. As video distribution systems evolve, however, the growing number of media sources and end-users may render this assumption invalid, as the probability that the interest for sources will exceed the amount of available bandwidth will increase. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• In accordance with the principles of the present invention, systems and methods are provided for considering the interest for channels before allocation so that at any given time the channels with the greatest number of requesters are given preference in being allocated to the available bandwidth. By contemplating interest before allocation, only channels that have met a minimum threshold of requesters are made available, keeping bandwidth available for the most requested channels.
• In some embodiments, systems and methods are provided for considering the interest of each allocated channel following allocation so that at any time a channel with very few users may be de-allocated from the bandwidth to make room for another channel with a relatively larger number of requesters.
• A channel-interest manager considers the relative priority of a requested channel before allocating it to bandwidth. The channel-interest manager operates between the SDV server and an SDV client running on a user's equipment (e.g., set-top box, hereinafter “STB”). The channel-interest manager calculates the priority of a currently unallocated channel and determines whether that channel should be allocated, at least in part as a function of the interest for that channel relative to other channels in the system. The channel-interest manager may be any combination of hardware and software suitable for this purpose (e.g., one or more processors, memory, storage, etc., where the processors are programmed with suitable programming logic to perform the functions of the channel-interest manager). As understood to one skilled in the art, the channel-interest manager may be implemented on a stand alone server, co-hosted on a server with other applications, or integrated as part of another system application (e.g., the SDV manager) and operate cooperatively or as part of a system or SDV policy manager which considers other characteristics of the system in making dynamic decisions on which channels to allocate.
• The channel-interest manager allocates the requested channel to available bandwidth if it meets the interest threshold and there is sufficient bandwidth available. If there is insufficient bandwidth, the channel-interest manager allocates the requested channel (after de-allocating or “bumping” another channel) if the requested channel meets the interest threshold and has a greater interest relative to other allocated channels. The channel-interest manager may determine that interest for a channel exceeds the interest threshold using any suitable approach.
• In some embodiments, a request for an SDV channel is counted when a requester “parks” on it by tuning to it in an attempt to watch it and waiting until a channel is switched in. The channel-interest manager may decrement a request count when a requester tunes away. The channel-interest manager may also tag a requester who tunes away as “previously interested” so that when the channel is allocated at some future time, the “previously interested” requester may be notified. In other embodiments, requests are counted when a requester “votes” for the channel's allocation in advance of the scheduled time for the programming (e.g., such as by scheduling a reminder or a recording for a program). In various embodiments, feedback may be provided to the requester as to likelihood of channel allocation. The feedback can be used with an inter-active feature to give the requester the option to wait longer for possible allocation, or to tell the manager he or she is no longer interested. The allocation can also occur automatically with no interaction with the user.
• In some embodiments, the channel-interest manager is made aware of program boundaries on switched channels. With this information, the channel-interest manager may determine that voting or parking by users on a channel at a particular timeframe represents interest in the content that is scheduled for that channel at the given timeframe (e.g., the start of the program).
• Delays may occur in the allocation of the channel as a result of the voting and/or parking interest for the channel remaining below the threshold for the allocation of the channel. These delays might normally result in the users missing the beginning of the programming on the channel.
• However, in some embodiments, when the channel interest manager detects that the channel interest for a channel may actually be a channel interest for a program beginning on that channel at a particular time but that the allocation may involve delays beyond that particular timeframe, it may buffer the channel for the users.
• Such buffering may be accomplished by the channel-interest manager routing the channel content to a channel buffering subsystem until such time as the channel becomes available. Upon allocation of the channel, users may then be presented with the options of (a) joining the program in progress and missing the beginning or (b) watching the program from the beginning (e.g., similar to a start-over function). In the latter case, if the program is watched in real time, it's viewing may run beyond the beginning of the next program scheduled on this or another channel and this may be undesirable to the user. Therefore, in some embodiments, an option of watching the program in faster than real time is provided, or alternatively an option of skipping through some portions of the program may be enabled. This embodiment allows the program to fit into its regularly scheduled timeslot. Audio may be pitch controlled (e.g., by means of an audio processing technique such as the complex cepstrum) to maintain as close to the original pitch as the real-time playback while allowing the audio to be sped up in synchronization with the video.
• In some embodiments, the SDV client may offer the requester advertisements while the requester waits for allocation of bandwidth for a channel. In some embodiments, a delayed allocation is anticipated, a flexible number of advertisements or “filler” programming is provided (e.g., locally stored on a user's hard drive) and programs are pre-edited so they occupy less than the full time slot to accommodate these additional up-front advertisements or filler without loss of meaningful content (e.g., the conclusion to a detective program).
• When sufficient bandwidth does not exist for a requested channel, the channel-interest manager may allocate bandwidth for the channel using any suitable approach. In some embodiments, a requested switched channel (or a previously switched in channel) may be degraded to a version that requires less bandwidth (e.g., SD rather than HD) before allocation is made. In other embodiments, requested channels meeting the interest threshold may “bump” a previously allocated channel with lower relative interest.
• In some embodiments, the channel-interest manager may consider various “bump parameters” before de-allocating a channel. For example, the channel-interest manager may compare how long an allocated channel has been allocated with a “no-bump” threshold time and decide not to bump a program that might otherwise have been bumped if not for the fact that the program's allocation time exceeded this no-bump threshold and its de-allocation might be particularly disruptive to a viewer. A no-bump threshold might be, for example, ten minutes, or long enough for a watcher to become somewhat involved in the program he/she is watching.
• In other embodiments, the channel-interest manager may work with a revenue manager and/or a trend manager and the interest may be considered in light of revenue impacts and trends before a channel is de-allocated. A revenue manager is software and/or hardware (e.g., one or more processors, memory, storage, etc., where the processors are programmed with suitable programming logic to perform the functions of the revenue manager) that compares the revenue potential (e.g., as a result of associated advertisement or pay-per-view fees) of the previously allocated channel to a requested channel before deciding whether or not to de-allocate the previously allocated channel. A trend manager is software and/or hardware (e.g., one or more processors, memory, storage, etc., where the processors are programmed with suitable logic to perform the functions of the trend manager) that measures the previously allocated channel's viewer activity over time before de-allocation. For example, if several users have tuned away from a channel at a given time it could just be because a commercial is present at that time, rather than an indication of waning interest. The number of users currently tuned at any given instant might not be an accurate indication of interest in such a scenario, and de-allocation of the channel would not be desirable or appropriate unless the general trend was moving in the direction of waning viewership over time. As another example, consider that a trend manager and a channel-interest manager, working alone or together, may de-allocate a first channel relative to another if the viewership of the first channel is below the other channel, however, when a revenue manager is employed, it may bring into consideration the revenue associated with viewership of the first channel as well. So, for example, if the first channel has advertisement spots that paid the video service provider twice per viewer what the advertisement spots on the other channel paid, it may be worth maintaining the allocation of the first channel until viewership of the first channel dropped below half viewership of the other channel. The trend manager would be invoked to insure that the maximized revenue trend is likely to be sustained.
• In some embodiments, the interest management system may offer a requester, or a bumped-user, one or more options when a channel is not allocated immediately upon request. For example, in one embodiment, a requester may be provided with the option to watch the unavailable program as a pay-per-view program. The SDV channel may then temporarily be provided as a VOD stream and the user may be charged. Alternatively or additionally, the requester may be provided the option to set up a recording to record the program if it becomes available at a later time on a broadcast channel or via a switched channel at a time (e.g., early morning) when demand for bandwidth may have decreased. In some embodiments, the requester or bumped-user may be provided with an option to watch related content. In some embodiments the requester may be provided with an option to watch content that is popular at the moment. This feature may be extended in some embodiments to notify all users when a particular channel is extremely popular at any given time (e.g., breaking news).
• In some embodiments, the channel-interest manager detects program overruns or other last minute scheduling changes associated with programs on non-SDV channels (e.g., broadcast channels). The channel-interest manager may then compare the number of viewers interested in watching these program overruns with the number of viewers interested in watching the regularly scheduled programming for those channels. This statistic may then be sent to the video service provider for consideration before determining which program to allocate to its regularly allocated broadcast bandwidth and which to make optionally available (subject to interest and available bandwidth) on its switched bandwidth allocation. The program not chosen for the regular broadcast bandwidth may be provided via SDV if the interest threshold is met. Moving a program overrun from a broadcast channel to a switched tier channel gives the video service provider the ability to allow viewers to watch the overrun if there is interest while not disturbing the regularly scheduled programming lineup that had been published for the broadcast channel. For example, if on the FOX network, a football game is scheduled from 7-9 PM followed by “House” at 9 PM, and it turns out that the game goes into overtime, the interest management system, in one embodiment, may cause a message to be displayed to a user via the on-screen display of a video terminal (e.g., STB) providing the user with the option to continue to watch the currently watched program or watch “House.” Then, depending on interest, the user may be switched (seamlessly or not) to a channel where he can either watch the continuation of the overrun game or the episode of “House.” In some embodiments, an option may also be provided (e.g., on a dual tuner STB) to record the program that is not watched. In some cases, if insufficient interest is logged for watching the end of the overrun program (e.g., e.g., the game is between two non-local teams of little interest to begin with) the overrun may not be made available at all and this fact may be provided to the potential watchers.
• In some embodiments, channels of the SDV system are assigned to tiers. For example, there may be one SDV premium tier anddiscount tiers1,2,3, etc. Lower tiers may, for example, be associated with a larger tune delay (all the way to not available) and a lower probability of being allocated.
• The channel-interest manager may also allocate bandwidth for a program in a mixed-service system as a function of one channel's interest relative to another's and in some embodiments, additionally, the impact on revenue. For example, the channel-interest manager may consider the relative priority of VOD and SDV by considering the interest and revenue potential of each. In this way, VOD and SDV are competing for the same bandwidth and when no bandwidth is left, one channel must be blocked. In this example, the channel-interest manager allocates the bandwidth to the channel with the higher priority based on interest and revenue potential with the interest “registered” in advance by any of the mechanisms discussed thus far, including trending of advance requests to watch a particular program, consideration of trends for related programs or channels, consideration of the trend of users who watch a channel through program changes, etc.
• In another embodiment, Emergency Alerts may be provided using a switched channel. This makes a good deal of sense given that Emergency Alerts are few and far between and it is thus wasteful to allocate a full channel to emergency alert when it is rarely watched. However, in the prior art, emergency alerts are always assumed to be on non-switched channels because of their importance and because of the classical way in which emergency alert are handled in video distribution systems such as Cable systems. In the first case, there is concern that in a classical SDV system, there is some small blocking probability for any switched channel and this blocking probability is independent of the interest for that channel. In some embodiments of the present invention, however, blocking probability is inversely proportional to the interest for a channel during a given window of time (e.g., the “interest assessment interval”). In classical emergency alert systems, when a STB receives an EAS alert, it is force tuned to the EAS channel. Under this circumstance, in the present invention, this would cause a peak in interest for the EAS channel (given that all STBs are requesting it concurrently) and this high interest for use would logically, absent revenue considerations, result in the EAS channel being quickly allocated. To avoid flooding the network with requests coincidentally from multiple video terminals, in some embodiments of the present invention, the EAS switched channel is treated as a special case by a STB wherein requests for it are delayed by a random backoff before being sent to the SDV server.
• In some embodiments, all force tunes are treated with a random backoff before request in anticipation of these force tunes being sent to multiple terminals concurrently. In some embodiments, a flag is sent with a force tune to indicate that it is a broadcast or groupcast force tune and therefore should result in a random backoff before the channel is requested. When the channel-interest manager receives numerous requests that exceed the interest threshold, the EAS channel is then allocated to bandwidth that is ordinarily free for other channels absent an emergency.
• In some embodiments, the EAS channel tuning information may be stored in a carousel data feed with a time to live of infinity (as a special mechanism only used for EAS) so that it persists in the carousel feed as an “active” channel and does not require a server response of which frequency and program number to use to tune the channel. Thus emergency alert channel tuning can be very fast. In such embodiments, though the EAS channel is listed as active in the carousel, it may not actually be allocated to the bandwidth until the alert is active. This embodiment involves notification of the server of the alert event, in which case the server switches the appropriate EAS program into the carouseled frequency and program number. The purpose of having the channel listed in the carousel is so that the STBs will know where to tune very quickly without having to request the channel from the server. The EAS channel is typically “hidden” from the user. The frequency and program number that is “reserved” for EAS may actually be in use for a “visible” channel. For example, in a cable system such as Comcast's cable systems, a hidden virtual channel number and a specific frequency and program number may be set aside for EAS. For example, frequency550, program #3 and an infrequently watched channel such as “the muppets channel” may be allocated to virtual channel53, frequency550,program #2, the virtual channel number53 being visible to the user.
• Up to this point we have discussed the operation of the channel-interest manager primarily with respect to single-tuner STBs. However, it is anticipated that the manager will function similarly with respect to multiple-tuner STBs and STBs with the ability to handle multiple channels per tuner (e.g., multiple IP stream-based video/audio services or multiple channels within a multiple-service transport multiplex).
• A multiple-tuner STB includes multiple tuners each with at least one associated decoder. Such a STB can tune to more than one channel at a time. A dual-tuner STB, for example, can tune to two frequencies simultaneously. Each tuner can extract a program from the multiplex it finds at its tuned frequency and an associated decoder can be used to decode the program. Thus, a dual tuner STB may be able to tune, extract, decode, and display two programs from two channels simultaneously. Note that the frequency and program number tuned by one tuner may be the same or different than the frequency or program number tuned by the other tuner.
• In embodiments of the channel-interest manager system where multiple-tuner STBs are supported, the channel-interest manager may receive and manage requests and interest on a per-tuner basis instead of on a per-STB basis. In such embodiments, for example, with a threshold of two set for a channel, a single STB may meet that threshold of two by attempting to tune to the channel with both tuners. Also in such embodiments, two STBs, each STB tuned with one tuner to channel A, for example, and each STB tuned with the other tuner to channel B, for example, may result in an interest of two being logged for each of channels A and B at the channel-interest manager. Similar consideration would be given to multiple tuner STBs with greater numbers of tuners per STB (e.g., triple- and quad-tuner STBs or home media managers with multiple tuners). In such embodiments, both a tuner identifier and a STB identifier may be sent in the channel-request message from the STB to the channel-interest manager. In some STBs, there are multiple decoders available to each tuner. So, for example, such a STB with only a single tuner decodes and displays more than one channel at a time.
• In embodiments of the channel-interest manager system where STBs with multiple decoders per tuner are supported, the channel-interest manager may receive and manage requests and interest on a per-decoder basis instead of on a per-STB or per-tuner basis. In such embodiments, for example, with a threshold of two set for a channel, it may be possible for a single-tuner STB with a concurrent decode capability of two decoders to meet that threshold by attempting to decode the same program from the same frequency using both decoders to the channel with both tuners. In such embodiments, a decoder identifier, in addition to a STB identifier, and perhaps a tuner identifier may be sent in the channel-request message from the STB to the channel-interest manager. Note that IP-video based STBs, including those which conform to the DOCSIS standard as well as those that utilize fiber to the curb or fiber to the home technology, typically are of the latter type of system which involve having multiple decoders per tuner. In the case of fiber optic supported STBs, the tuner may be replaced with the appropriate fiber optic receiver and switching circuitry.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• The above and other features of the present invention, its nature and various advantages will be more apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
• FIG. 1 is a diagram of an illustrative switched digital video system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;
• FIG. 2 is a flow chart of an illustrative method for allocating bandwidth after first considering interest in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;
• FIG. 3 is a flow chart of an illustrative method for providing options to a requester when a channel is not available in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;
• FIG. 4 is a flow chart of an illustrative method for allocating bandwidth based on interest when a currently-allocated channel fails due to failed QAM in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;
• FIG. 5 is a flow chart of an illustrative method for de-allocating a relatively less requested channel in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;
• FIG. 6 is a flow chart of an illustrative method for considering parameters before de-allocating a channel in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;
• FIG. 7 is a flow chart of an illustrative method for degrading channels when bandwidth is becoming scarce in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;
• FIG. 8 is a flow chart of an illustrative method for detecting allocated program overruns and providing options based on interest in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
• FIGS. 9A-9P show illustrative interactive media guidance application menu display screens in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
• FIG. 1 shows an illustrative switched digital video system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. Insystem100, services and related content flow fromsources111 on the left, to user's set-top boxes (STBs)105 on the right. In this example, there are four services.Sources111 may be any suitable combination of hardware and software for providing the indicated services to edgedevice110 vianetwork109.Source112 provides: data and voice services (e.g., via modular cable modem termination system (M-CMTS)112 which provides IP services over cable according to the data over cable system interface specifications (DOCSIS) published by CableLabs at www.cablelabs.com) such as video over IP and voice over IP (VOIP) services.Source113 provides video for a video-rich-navigation (VRN) based interactive program guide (VRN guides are described in, for example, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/395,380, filed Mar. 30, 2006, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety).Source114 provides television channels as video streams for a switched digital video service.Source115 provides video streams for a video-on-demand service. This list of sources is illustrative and it should be understood that anysuitable services111 may be included in the switched digital video system (e.g., Internet services).
• Sources111-115 modulate and packetize their services for transmission overnetwork109 to edgedevice110.Network109 may be, for example, a gigabit Ethernet network, and sources111-115 may provide their services via TCP/IP and Ethernet and may include use of MPEG transport protocol. Edge device110 (e.g., a Harmonic NGS9000 edge-QAM manufactured by Harmonic Corporation of Sunnyvale, Calif.) includes a bank of modulators. Each modulator (e.g., quadrature amplitude modulators) may accept a digital transport stream of roughly 3 Mbps representing a video program, multiplex it with other video transport streams, create a transport stream multiplex and modulate it onto the cable plant. A 256-QAM modulator, for example, will accept multiple digital transport streams (comprising a multiplex of approximately 45 Mbps) and modulate it to fit within an analog bandwidth of 6 MHz on a cable plant.Edge device110 receives the services fromnetwork109 and, under the control of edge resource manager (ERM)108, allocates portions of modulators to the services. For example,edge device110 may receive a command fromERM108 to connect to a 3 Mbps service fromnetwork109 that originated from a broadcast program source feedingSDV block114. It may then allocate a program within one of its internal 256-QAM modulators.Edge device110 may allocate a portion of a given QAM toVOD115, instead ofVRN113, depending on the instructions fromERM108. Or,edge device110 may allocate QAMs (or not) among different channels of theSDV service114. In this regard, QAMs may be shared flexibly and dynamically across services, or allocated in a fixed manner to specific SDV channels. For example, in a given configuration, four QAMs of an eight QAM edge device may be allocated to switched channels, two to VOD, one to cable modem, and one to VRN.
• Edge device110 allocates and de-allocates QAMs under the control ofERM108.ERM108 may be any suitable combination of hardware and software for performing its features described herein. For example, it may include control circuitry having include one or more processors (e.g., MIPs and/or Motorola 68000 family processors), memory (e.g., RAM, ROM, flash memory, and hard disks), communications circuitry, and any other suitable components for providing its features described herein.ERM108 activates a controllable switch in network109 (not shown) betweennetwork109 andedge device110 to direct what services (or portions of services) are coupled to the inputs ofedge device110.ERM108 instructsedge device110 to QAM modulate an input signal onto a carrier frequency.ERM108 may specify a QAM and track what services or channels are modulated on given QAMs (e.g., using a lookup table), or may simply instructedge device110 to allocate a given input andedge device110 returns the carrier frequency and program number.ERM108 typically informs switched-services session manager (session manager)101 of the carrier frequency and program number where the channel can be found. Thesession manager101 in turn inserts this information into the active channels list in carousel data feed106. Carousel data feed106 acts as a quick-lookup channel map for set-top boxes105.Carousel106 may be transmitted in-band with, or out-of-band from, the other channels and/or services on a cable plant.
• Edge device110 modulates services and channels and transmits them toSTBs105 of a plurality of subscribers over, for example, an analog or digital cable plant or via an analog or digital terrestrial broadcast system. For clarity,FIG. 1 shows only the embodiment whereedge device110 transmits the channels and/or services over asingle path116.Path116 may be a standard hybrid fiber/coax path, full fiber path or satellite, or other high speed data path. In some embodiments, Internet Protocol (IP) is used to transmit the channels and/or services toSTBs105.
• STBs105 include switcheddigital video clients107. In some embodiments,clients107 communicate with an interactive media guidance application also implemented on theSTBs105, such as an interactive television program guide, via a suitable application programming interface (the guide application is not shown to avoid over-cluttering the figure). In other embodiments, the interactive media guidance application includes switched digital video functionality.
• Although in the disclosedembodiment client107 runs onSTB105, any equipment suitable for accessing SDV may be used. For example, a personal computer with a television card and/or Open Cable Unidirectional Receiver (OCUR) (PCTV).STB105 may be any suitable settop such as, for example, a DCT 2000, 2500, 5100, 6208 or 6412 set-top box provided by Motorola, Inc.
• STB105 may include any suitable control circuitry, display circuitry, communications circuitry, memory, etc. The control circuitry may include one or more tuners (e.g., analog or digital tuners), encoders and decoders (e.g., MPEG encoders and decoders), processors (e.g., MIPs and/or Motorola 68000 family processors), memory (e.g., RAM, ROM, flash memory, and hard disks), communications circuitry (e.g., cable modem and ATSC 256QAM receiver circuitry), input/output circuitry (e.g., graphics circuitry), and any other suitable components for providing analog or digital television programming in an SDV system.
• A display device such as a television, and a remote control, may be coupled toSTB105 to display various displays and receive user inputs. The operation of control and other circuitry in a STB is well known to those skilled in the art. The control circuitry is adapted to receive user input frominput device108, execute the instructions of client107 (using suitable microprocessors, memory, etc.), execute the instructions of any other interactive applications (e.g., an interactive television program guide), and direct the display circuitry to generate a display.
• Whatever the chosen approach,client107 detects a user channel/service change and determines whether the desired channel or service is currently allocated by examiningcarousel106. A user may indicate a desire to change channels by, for example, tuning using arrow keys on a remote, entering a channel number on a remote, or using any suitable interactive media guidance function that allows the user to select a program or source. A user may indicate a desire to change services by, for example, linking to a VOD service from a television channel, or accessing a service via the interactive media guidance application. In some embodiments,carousel106 is not used or only used under some circumstances. Typically, however, if a carousel is used,client107 will first check the carousel when it desires to tune to a channel to see if it has already been allocated. If a channel has not already been allocated,client107 issues a request to switched-services session manager101 for the frequency of the QAM and program number within that QAM frequency where the channel or service may be found.
• As described in more detail below, before allocating a channel,session manager101 determines whether there is sufficient bandwidth and/or interest for the requested channel. In response to determining if sufficient interest exists,session manager101 instructsERM108 to allocate bandwidth for the channel and, if necessary, to first de-allocate another channel or service to free-up the required bandwidth.
• A channel-interest manager102, which determines the interest for different channels and services, is embedded within switched-services session manager101. Channel-interest manager102 can work alone, or in cooperation withrevenue manager103, which assigns priority based on potential revenue of each channel or service that may be allocated or potential loss associated with each channel that may be deallocated, andtrend manager104, which considers viewer trends to determine if viewers are active. Channel-interest manager102 may be any suitable combination of hardware and software for performing its features described herein. For example, channel-interest manager102 may include control circuitry having include one or more processors (e.g., MIPs and/or Motorola 68000 family processors), memory (e.g., RAM, ROM, flash memory, and hard disks), communications circuitry, and any other suitable components for providing its features described herein.Trend manager104 may be any suitable combination of hardware and software for performing the features described herein. For example,trend manager104 may include control circuitry having include one or more processors (e.g., MIPs and/or Motorola 68000 family processors), memory (e.g., RAM, ROM, flash memory, and hard disks), communications circuitry, and any other suitable components for providing the features described herein.
• When a request for a channel is made from aSTB105, the STB's local copy of the data fromcarousel106 is first checked to see if that channel has already been allocated bandwidth and whether the allocated frequency and program number is stored in the carouseled channel map. If the channel map does not contain the requested channel,client107 then sends the request to switched-services session manager101.Session manager101 communicates with channel-interest manager102, which then performs the algorithms necessary to determine if a channel is to be allocated to bandwidth and if a currently allocated channel may be bumped (SeeFIGS. 2-8).Session manager101 may also communicate withrevenue manager103 andtrend manager104 in a like manner and/or other external information sources that may aid in the decision.
• Switched-services session manager101 then tellsERM108 that anunallocated channel111 should be allocated to available bandwidth (either already available or available after bumping another channel).ERM108 communicates withedge device110 to first deallocate any bumped channels, (or alternatively degrade HD channels to SD, or take other measures to free bandwidth, including changing the partition of QAMs between service types, e.g., VOD and SDV), and allocate the new channels to edgedevice110. During the new allocation, the new channel is then linked from the network to the newly allocated QAM program number. For example, in some embodiments,network109 is a gigabit Ethernet network andedge device110 is linked tonetwork109 via a switch. Whenedge device110 wants to connect to a service that is carried over IP on thegigabit network109, it registers a multicast join with the switch.Edge device110 communicates the frequency for the new channel toERM108, which in turn provides this information tosession manager101, which updates the channel map incarousel106.Edge device110 modulates the requested channel on the allocated frequency and program number where it is ultimately received bySTB105.STB105 receives the new frequency for the channel by checking the channel map incarousel106 or via direct response to a channel tune request viasession manager101 and tunes to the frequency/program number to watch the program.
• In some embodiments, the Emergency Alert System (EAS) channel is provided using SDV. When a STB receives an EAS alert, channel-interest manager102 (FIG. 1) receives numerous requests such that the interest quickly exceeds a interest threshold set for channel allocation. The EAS channel is thus allocated to bandwidth that is ordinarily free for other channels absent an emergency. In some embodiments, the EAS channel information may be included in carousel data feed106 with a time to live of infinity (as a special mechanism only used for EAS) so that it persists in the carousel feed but on a hidden channel that is not tunable directly by a user. Special provision is made for the EAS channel such that unlike other switched channels in the carousel, it is never really allocated to the bandwidth until the interest threshold is met even though it is shown as active in the carousel so that theclients107 ofSTBs105 may quickly determine where to direct the STB's to tune without having to request the channel from the server. In response to the EAS alert,ERM108 directsEdge device110 to switch in the channel for the EAS (not shown) to the designated QAM frequency and program number.Clients107 respond to the alert by examining the carousel and directingSTBs105 to tune to the indicated QAM frequency and program number.
• In other embodiments, STB requests for EAS channel are preceded with a random backoff and the first STB's request for the EAS channel that gets through the session manager causesERM108 to allocate the EAS channel. Thesession manager101 in turn updates the channel map in the carousel to reflect the EAS channel as active. Once the frequency and program number assigned to the EAS channel is stored on the carousel as, subsequent pending tune requests for the EAS channel will be managed locally by the STB via look up of the frequency and program number for the EAS channel directly from the cached carousel. This results in reduction of upstream traffic that would otherwise result from a large number of STBs concurrently requesting the same channel.
• FIG. 2 shows an illustrative method for allocating bandwidth based on interest in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The method inFIG. 2 is carried out by channel-interest manager102 shown inFIG. 1. Channel-interest manager102 (FIG. 1) keeps a dynamic channel interest calculation that is updated (step206) when an unallocated channel is requested from STB105 (FIG. 1). Channel interest may include many different request types to help it prioritize which channels will ultimately be allocated. Some exemplary request types are parking-based requests and voting-based requests, such as recording-based requests and reminder-based requests. In some embodiments, the various request types may be “weighted” using any suitable weighting algorithm. The weighting algorithm may be used in calculating the channel interest according tostep206. For example, parking-based requests may be weighted more heavily than voting-based requests, and, even among votes, recording-based requests may be weighted more heavily than reminders. In some embodiments, the algorithm for determining interest in the channel includes a weighted sum of these requests.
• When a user attempts to tune to a channel that is presently unallocated and the user “parks” (i.e., does not tune away from) on the channel in anticipation of eventual interest-dependent allocation, this is classified as a parking request. Such a request may or may not be explicitly understood to the user as “parking.” For example, in some embodiments, when a user attempts to tune to a switched channel, the user may be presented with a “one moment please” (OMP) message while the system determines whether or not to allocate the channel based on interest measured, in one case, within a specified window of time. If this window of time is small enough (e.g., less than six seconds) and the decision to allocate the channel is made relatively quickly, the OMP will be removed, the STB will tune to the newly allocated channel, and there may be no explicit indication to the user that any parking and/or allocation decision was going on behind the scenes. If, however, the decision is made to not allocate the channel, or if the decision will take longer, in some embodiments, various degrees of feedback may be provided to the user relating this information to them. This feedback may be in the form of a text message (e.g., “The requested channel is presently unavailable.”) or a graphic (e.g., a bar graph showing interest relative to threshold) or combinations of the two. Typically, when a user “parks” on a channel, they are executing a persistent request to watch a program which has just substantially started or is in progress. In some embodiments, a distinction is provided between requesting a channel and requesting a program on that channel.
• Alternatively, though similarly, a user may choose to “vote” for a channel or a program on a channel. In voting-based requesting, a user may vote concurrently for one or more channels (or programs) he may wish to watch. In some cases, parking can be seen as a special case of voting. When voting, a user may vote for multiple different channels or programs to be allocated, in some situations, specifying relative priority. In some embodiments, the priority may be considered in the weighting algorithm used to calculate channel interest.
• A user may also vote by recording a channel or program on a channel or by setting a reminder for a program on a channel. In some embodiments, recording-based requests and reminder-based requests may be weighted as less than a full request since the requester may ultimately decide not to watch the channel.
• Referring toFIG. 2, instep201, session manager101 (FIG. 1) receives a request for a presently unallocated channel from a STB. Channel-interest manager102 receives a request from client107 (FIG. 1) by any of the methods discussed above (“parking” on a presently unallocated channel in anticipation of it being allocated or “voting” for a channel).
• Once a request is received (step201), session manager101 (FIG. 1) communicates with ERM108 (FIG. 1) to measure the amount of available bandwidth (step202) and then classifies the bandwidth as open, scarce, or full (step203). A classification of open signifies that there is ample space on the bandwidth to allocate a substantial number of new requests, scarce signifies that only a limited amount of space remains, and full signifies that no space remains. These classifications may be based on any threshold amount of space that the ERM programmer determines appropriate. When the bandwidth is open, the requested channel is allocated (step204). If the bandwidth is scarce or full,session manager101 logs the originator (STB) of the request, tags that requester as “interested” (step205), and updates the channel interest for that channel (step206).
• Next, channel-interest manager102 (FIG. 1) compares the interest and the interest threshold (step207). While the interest remains lower than the threshold, channel-interest manager102 (FIG. 1) calculates the probability of allocation (step208) and then sends that probability to client107 (FIG. 1) previously marked “interested” (step209). The client107 (FIG. 1) then gives the requester options while waiting for allocation (step210) (e.g.,FIG. 3). Once the interest for an unallocated channel exceeds the interest threshold, the channel is allocated subject to whether there is another channel that can be bumped based on low relative channel interest (e.g.,FIGS. 5 and 6) or whether the channel has lower quality version available (e.g., SD version rather than HD version as shown inFIG. 7). These conditions will be discussed in greater detail inFIGS. 5-7.
• FIG. 3 shows an illustrative method for providing a requester options when a channel is not available in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. When a channel is not available (or made available), client107 (FIG. 1) simultaneously gives the requester a number of options (FIG. 2, step210). In one option, the requester may choose to watch “related content” (step301). If this option is chosen, client107 (FIG. 1) retrieves an allocated channel frequency from carousel106 (FIG. 1) with similar content as the channel requested and sends it to client107 (FIG. 1) so that STB105 (FIG. 1) may tune to that channel (step302). Session manager101 (FIG. 1) may classify channels as related based on any suitable method. For example,session manager101 may classify all channels with common titles as related (e.g., “Intro to Pilates” and “Pilates for Healthy Living” would be classified as related channels based on the common word “Pilates” in the title).
• Another option allows the requester to remain “parked” on the requested channel (step303) while channel-interest manager102 (FIG. 1) continuously updates the probability of allocation as the requester waits (i.e., “parks”) (step304). Channel-interest manager102 (FIG. 1) updates the channel interest as additional requests are made for the same channel and recalculates the likelihood of allocation feedback, which is dynamically available to the waiting requester. Alternatively, if the requester tunes away, channel-interest manager102 (FIG. 1) decrements the counter (those not actively waiting are not included in the channel interest calculation) and tags the requester as “previously interested” (step305). Once the channel interest exceeds the interest threshold (step306), the “previously interested” requesters are notified (step307) by session manager101 (FIG. 1) sending a message to those STB clients105 (FIG. 1).
• In some embodiments, the channel-interest manager102 (FIG. 1) may be aware of program boundaries on switched channels. With this information, the channel-interest manager102 (FIG. 1) may determine that voting or parking by users on a channel at a particular timeframe represents interest in the content that is scheduled for that channel at the given timeframe (e.g., the start of the program). Delays may occur in the allocation of the channel as a result of the voting and/or parking interest for the channel remaining below the threshold for the allocation of the channel. These delays might normally result in the users missing the beginning of the programming on the channel. However, in some embodiments, when the channel interest manager detects that the channel interest for a channel may actually be a channel interest for a program beginning on that channel at a particular time but that the allocation may involve delays beyond that particular timeframe, it may buffer the channel for the users. Such buffering may be accomplished by the channel-interest manager102 (FIG. 1) routing the channel content to a channel buffering subsystem until such time as the channel becomes available. Upon allocation of the channel, users may then be presented with the options of (a) joining the program in progress and missing the beginning or (b) watching the program from the beginning (e.g., similar to a start-over function). In the latter case, if the program is watched in real time, it's viewing may run beyond the beginning of the next program scheduled on this or another channel and this may be undesirable to the user. Therefore, in some embodiments, an option of watching the program in faster than real time is provided, or alternatively an option of skipping through some portions of the program may be enabled.
• Returning toFIG. 3, any delay in the start of the program while waiting for allocation (step308) may be remedied by playing the channel at a faster speed (e.g., 1.02× real time playback) (step309). This option may be implemented automatically (step310) or by user-interaction (step311) as explained above For example, a caching server (e.g., a server with suitable tuners, decoders, and storage to cache unallocated channels) may be coupled to thenetwork108 ofFIG. 1. The caching server may detect and cache the unallocated channels. When a previously unallocated channel is switched in, edge resource manager108 (FIG. 1) may directedge device110 to include the stream from the cache server for the channel, instead of the stream from the actual source of the video. The fast-playback (and other trick play functions, may be provided by the server or, alternatively, handled in local cache by theclient107. As an alternative embodiment of this option (not shown in diagram), channel-interest manager102 (FIG. 1) can include the “previously interested” viewers in its channel interest calculation; thus, decrementing the count instep306 would not be necessary.
• The requester may also have the option of watching displayed advertisements or other alternative content while waiting for allocation (step312). The alternative content may be retrieved by client107 (FIG. 1) from storage on STB105 (FIG. 1). Alternatively, switched-services session manager101 (FIG. 1) may offer the content directly (e.g., from local storage) or indirectly by directingedge resource manager108 to switch in alternative content from a source coupled to network108 (FIG. 1), and update the carousel. Switched-service session manager101 (FIG. 1) will then alert client107 (FIG. 1) to the presence of the alternative content. In response to the alert, client107 (FIG. 1) will check the carousel and, based on a flag in the carousel or an indicator from the alert, select the alternative content.
• Another option allows the requester to watch the most popular channel at that moment in time (step313). If the requester is interested in this option, channel-interest manager102 (FIG. 1) the channel with the highest interest, measured by the counter, to client107 (FIG. 1) along with its corresponding frequency retrieved from carousel106 (FIG. 1) (step314).Client107 may search the carousel for the most popular channel and display it for the user (e.g., by controlling a tuner in STB105 (FIG. 1)).
• A final option embodied inFIG. 3 gives the requester a choice to pay for an unallocated channel, rather than wait for possible allocation (step315). When this option is selected, the channel may be temporarily provided as VOD or astier1 SDV and the requester is charged (step316). For example, in some embodiments, a certain amount of bandwidth is reserved for premium or pay services that is not available in the general pool of bandwidth available for basic switched services. If a user wishes to pay for access to this reserved bandwidth, the service that he parked on or voted for is switched into this reserved bandwidth, the user is charged, and his settop is provided the information that will allow it to tune to the newly allocated channel. Note that this channel may optionally be encrypted and that typically this channel is not added to the active channel list in the carousel, since that would allow other users to access it as well. However, in some embodiments (which emulate the bar jukebox model where one patron's nickel provides music for the entire place), the channel may be paid for by one user and then made available to others users for free or for a reduced rate that may be a function of the number of paying users. In one variant, additional paying users may result in discounts to the first paying user.
• VOD allocation for pay is managed similarly. Though a channel may not be allocated to the general pool of resources for free, it may be buffered to a subsystem such as a VOD server. If a user then wishes to pay for the service, it may be spooled directly from the VOD server in the manner it is typically done. In such cases, the user may or may not be given trick play options on the service.
• In some embodiments, such bandwidth allocation and reservation for premium services is managed byrevenue manager103 working in conjunction with channel-interest manager102 in switched-services session manager101 ofFIG. 1.Revenue manager103 may be any suitable combination of hardware and software for performing its features described herein. For example,revenue manager103 may include control circuitry having include one or more processors (e.g., MIPs and/or Motorola 68000 family processors), memory (e.g., RAM, ROM, flash memory, and hard disks), communications circuitry, and any other suitable components for providing its features described herein.
• In some embodiments, channels of the SDV system are assigned to tiers. For example, there may be a SDV premium tier anddiscount tiers1,2,3, etc. Lower tiers may, for example, be associated with a larger tune delay (all the way to not available) and lower probability of being allocated. Channels may be assigned to higher or lower tiers based on observed or predicted interest, or the expected “take” or profitability of the channel. Each tier may have a certain number of reserved QAMs. In this way, more popular or higher tier channels have a higher probability of being allocated to the QAM and a lower tuning delay. For example, some channels in “Tier1” may have a guaranteed allocation.
• FIG. 4 shows an illustrative method for allocating bandwidth based on interest when a currently-allocated channel fails due to failed QAM in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. When a channel fails due to a QAM failure (step401), session manager101 (FIG. 1) communicates with ERM108 (FIG. 1) to measure the amount of available bandwidth (step402) and then classifies the bandwidth as open, scarce, or full (step403). If the bandwidth is full, the interest for the failed QAM is considered by channel-interest manager102 (FIG. 1) (step402) A classification of open signifies that there is ample space on the bandwidth to allocate a substantial number of new requests, scarce signifies that only a limited amount of space remains, and full signifies that no space remains. These classifications may be based on any threshold amount of space that the ERM programmer determines appropriate. When the bandwidth is open, the failed channel is reallocated (step404). If the bandwidth is scarce or full, channel-interest manager102 (FIG. 1) compares the channel interest and the interest threshold (FIG. 2, step207) and treats the failed channel as a requested channel as inFIG. 2 (seeFIG. 2, steps207-210).
• FIG. 5 shows an illustrative method for de-allocating a relatively less requested channel in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. Channel-interest manager102 (FIG. 1) compares the number of users on currently allocated channels with the channel interest for a requested channel (step501). While the channel interest for a requested channel remains lower than the current number of users on a current channel, ERM108 (FIG. 1) does not allocate the requested channel to QAM110 (FIG. 1) (step502) and channel-interest manager102 (FIG. 1) continues the comparison (step501). Once the interest for an unallocated channel exceeds the number of users for any allocated channel, session manager101 (FIG. 1) considers de-allocating that allocated channel as depicted inFIG. 6.
• FIG. 6 shows an illustrative method for considering various parameters before de-allocating a channel in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. Channel-interest manager102 (FIG. 1) compares the number viewers of a channel selected for de-allocation with a non-bump threshold (NBT) (step601). While the number of viewers remains lower than the NBT, session manager101 (FIG. 1) instructs ERM108 (FIG. 1) not to de-allocate that channel from QAM110 (FIG. 1) (step602). Once the number of viewers exceeds the NBT, session manager101 (FIG. 1) may instruct ERM108 (FIG. 1) to de-allocate that channel based on the amount of time that the allocated channel has been running (step603). While the amount of running time remains lower than the NBT, session manager101 (FIG. 1) does not instruct ERM108 (FIG. 1) to de-allocate that channel from QAM110 (FIG. 1) (step604). If, in the alternative, the running time exceeds the NBT, session manager101 (FIG. 1) may communicate with trend manager104 (FIG. 1), which stores viewer trends (step605). Viewer trends may include any appropriate external viewer or program information (e.g., the program is being interrupted by a commercial).
• For example, the session manager101 (FIG. 1) does not instruct ERM108 (FIG. 1) to de-allocate that channel from QAM110 (FIG. 1) (step606) if trend manager104 (FIG. 1) returns that the inactivity is due to a commercial and not lack of interest. However, if trend manager104 (FIG. 1) returns that the interest-level for the allocated channel has declined, sessions manager101 (FIG. 1) instructs ERM108 (FIG. 1) to de-allocate that channel from QAM110 (FIG. 1) and to allocate the requested channel111 (FIG. 1) in its place (step607). The bumped user is then given new viewing options including: watch as pay-per-view, watch related content, watch content of interest, wait for re-allocation, etc. (SeeFIG. 3).
• FIG. 7 shows an illustrative method for degrading channels when bandwidth is becoming scarce in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. ERM108 (FIG. 1) is continuously checking edge device110 (FIG. 1) to determine if the bandwidth is becoming scarce (step701). While the bandwidth remains open, ERM108 (FIG. 1) continues measuring the availability of the bandwidth (step702). Once the bandwidth becomes scarce, ERM108 (FIG. 1) checks the network109 (FIG. 1) to see if the allocated channel has a lower quality version that is currently unallocated111 (FIG. 1) (e.g., SD rather than HD) (step703). If a lower quality version is available, the channel is degraded either automatically (step704) or by user-interaction (step705). If the degrading is done automatically or if the viewer chooses de-allocation (step706), ERM108 (FIG. 1) replaces the higher quality version of the channel with the lower quality version of the channel at the same QAM (now with more room) (step707), by commanding edge device110 (FIG. 1) to allocate bandwidth to the source of the degraded version of the channel.
• FIG. 8 shows an illustrative method for detecting allocated program overruns and providing options based on interest in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. If a program runs over (step801), channel-interest manager102 (FIG. 1) compares the interest for the overtime and the interest for the regularly scheduled program (step802). ERM/server108 (FIG. 1) then sends the comparison over the network to the cable service provider (step803). The cable service provider is given the option, then, of which program to put on their regularly broadcast QAM-overtime or regular program. If the program not selected by the station programmer exceeds the interest threshold (step804), that program can be put on SDV (step805) so that both programs may be viewed simultaneously-one on the regularly broadcast channel and the other as an SDV channel.
• FIGS. 9A-9P show illustrative interactive media guidance application menu display screens in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention. After requesting an unallocated channel, session manager101 (FIG. 1) may present a requester with any one of menu display screens inFIGS. 9A-9P, while the requester waits for the number of requests to exceed the interest threshold. The screens in9A-9P are illustrative and may include any possible combination of text associated with the various options given to a requester disclosed in the previous embodiments ofFIG. 3.
• Client107 (FIG. 1) may display screen900 (FIG. 9A) as a requester viewsgrid901 from which he may select a channel. The interest-based SDV channels and interest-based services in the guide may be starred or otherwise distinguished as inkey902 to indicate that they are available based on interest and may not be immediately available.
• Client107 (FIG. 1) may display screen903 (FIG. 9B) once a requester selects a channel he or she wishes to watch. A requester may indicate a desire to watch a channel by using arrow keys on a remote and pressing “enter” or using any suitable interactive media guidance function that allows the user to select a response. Channel-interest manager102 (FIG. 1) continues to check the availability of the requested channel until it is allocated. As the requestor waits for allocation, “One Moment Please”overlay904 may be displayed overmenu905 containing highlightedchannel selection906.
• Client107 (FIG. 1) may display screen907 (FIG. 9C) as the requester waits for the channel's allocation in accordance withstep303 ofFIG. 3.Overlay908 may be displayed allowing a requester to indicate a desire to wait for allocation by using arrow keys on a remote and pressing “enter” or using any suitable interactive media guidance function that allows the user to select a response. If “Yes” is selected by the requester, channel-interest manager102 (FIG. 1) continues to check the availability of the requested channel. If “No” is selected, client107 (FIG. 1) may give the requester other options (e.g.,FIG. 3).
• Client107 (FIG. 1) may display screen909 (FIG. 9D) as the requester waits for the channel's allocation in accordance withstep303 ofFIG. 3.Overlay910 may be displayed allowing a requester to indicate a desire to view the channel once it is allocated by using arrow keys on a remote and pressing “enter” or using any suitable interactive media guidance function that allows the user to select a response. If “Yes” is selected by the requester, channel-interest manager102 (FIG. 1) continues to check the availability of the requested channel, tuning that “interested” requester to the channel as it is allocated. If “No” is selected, client107 (FIG. 1) may give the requester other options, (e.g.,FIG. 3).
• Client107 (FIG. 1) may display screen911 (FIG. 9E) as the requester waits for the channel's allocation in accordance withstep303 ofFIG. 3.Overlay912 may be displayed over the currently viewedchannel913, while the name of the requestedchannel914 is displayed at the bottom ofscreen911. Channel-interest manager102 (FIG. 1) continues to check the availability of the requested channel until it is allocated.
• Client107 (FIG. 1) may display screen915 (FIG. 9F) as the requester waits for the channel's allocation in accordance withstep303 ofFIG. 3.Overlay916 indicates that the channel is presently unavailable and also provides feedback to the requester of the likelihood of allocation in accordance withstep304 ofFIG. 3.
• Client107 (FIG. 1) may display screen917 (FIG. 9G) as the requester waits for the channel's allocation in accordance withstep303 ofFIG. 3.Overlay918 may be displayed allowing a requester to indicate a desire to wait for allocation by using arrow keys on a remote and pressing “enter” or using any suitable interactive media guidance function that allows the user to select a response. If “Yes” is selected by the requester, channel-interest manager102 (FIG. 1) continues to check the availability of the requested channel until time X has passed. If “No” is selected, client107 (FIG. 1) may give the requester other options (e.g.,FIG. 3).
• Client107 (FIG. 1) may display screen919 (FIG. 9H) as the requester waits for the channel's allocation in accordance withstep303 ofFIG. 3.Overlay920 may be displayed allowing a requester to indicate a desire to be notified of allocation by using arrow keys on a remote and pressing “enter” or using any suitable interactive media guidance function that allows the user to select a response. If “Yes” is selected by the requester, channel-interest manager102 (FIG. 1) continues to check the availability of the requested channel, notifying that “previously interested” requester as the channel is allocated. If “No” is selected, client107 (FIG. 1) may give the requester other options (e.g.,FIG. 3). Screen905 (FIG. 9F) is illustrative of the notification embodiment of the present invention. An interested user may also be notified automatically by channel-interest manager102 (FIG. 1) tagging the requester as “previously interested” before he or she tunes away from the requested channel (SeeFIG. 3, step305).
• Client107 (FIG. 1) may display screen921 (FIG. 9I) as the requester waits for the channel's allocation in accordance withstep301 ofFIG. 3.Overlay920 may be displayed allowing a requester to indicate a desire to watch related content by using arrow keys on a remote and pressing “enter” or using any suitable interactive media guidance function that allows the user to select a response. If “Yes” is selected by the requester, the STB105 (FIG. 1) tunes to a previously allocated channel with related content. If “No” is selected, client107 (FIG. 1) may give the requester other options (e.g.,FIG. 3).
• Client107 (FIG. 1) may display screen923 (FIG. 9J) if the requester selects “Yes” to watching related content before tuning to the allocated channel with related content.Overlay924 may be displayed allowing a requester to indicate a desire to be notified of allocation by using arrow keys on a remote and pressing “enter” or using any suitable interactive media guidance function that allows the user to select a response. Channel-interest manager102 (FIG. 1) continues to check the availability of the requested channel, notifying that “previously interested” requester as the channel is allocated. If “No” is selected, client107 (FIG. 1) may give the requester other options (e.g.,FIG. 3).
• Client107 (FIG. 1) may display screen925 (FIG. 9K) as the requester waits for the channel's allocation in accordance withstep313 ofFIG. 3.Overlay926 may be displayed allowing a requester to indicate a desire to watch the most popular channel by using arrow keys on a remote and pressing “enter” or using any suitable interactive media guidance function that allows the user to select a response. If “Yes” is selected by the requester, the STB105 (FIG. 1) tunes to a previously allocated channel with the highest number of users at that given moment. If “No” is selected, client107 (FIG. 1) may give the requester other options (e.g.,FIG. 3).
• Client107 (FIG. 1) may display screen927 (FIG. 9L) if the requester selects “Yes” to watching the most popular channel before tuning to the allocated channel with the highest number of requests.Overlay928 may be displayed allowing a requester to indicate a desire to be notified of allocation by using arrow keys on a remote and pressing “enter” or using any suitable interactive media guidance function that allows the user to select a response. Channel-interest manager102 (FIG. 1) continues to check the availability of the requested channel, notifying that “previously interested” requester as the channel is allocated. If “No” is selected, client107 (FIG. 1) may give the requester other options (e.g.,FIG. 3).
• Client107 (FIG. 1) may display screen929 (FIG. 9M) as the requester waits for the channel's allocation in accordance withstep315 ofFIG. 3.Overlay930 may be displayed allowing a requester to indicate a desire to pay to watch the requested channel by using arrow keys on a remote and pressing “enter” or using any suitable interactive media guidance function that allows the user to select a response. If “Yes” is selected by the requester, the requested channel may be temporarily stored as VOD or as atier1 channel, guaranteeing its allocation (SeeFIG. 3, step316). If “No” is selected, client107 (FIG. 1) may give the requester other options (e.g.,FIG. 3).
• Client107 (FIG. 1) may display screen931 (FIG. 9N) if the requester selects “Yes” to watching the channel as pay-per-view before charging the requester.Overlay932 may be displayed allowing a requester to confirm a desire to pay to watch the requested channel by using arrow keys on a remote and pressing “enter” or using any suitable interactive media guidance function that allows the user to select a response. If “Yes” is selected by the requester, the STB105 (FIG. 1) tunes to the requested channel in accordance withstep316 ofFIG. 3 and the requester is charged. If “Exit” is selected, client107 (FIG. 1) may give the requester other options (e.g.,FIG. 3).
• Client107 (FIG. 1) may display screen933 (FIG. 9O) as the requester waits for the channel's allocation to bandwidth in accordance withstep315 ofFIG. 3. Screen912 (FIG. 9O) also provides feedback to the requester of likelihood of allocation before the requester commits to paying for the channel.Overlay934 may be displayed allowing a requester to indicate a desire to pay to watch the requested channel by using arrow keys on a remote and pressing “enter” or using any suitable interactive media guidance function that allows the user to select a response. If “Yes” is selected by the requester, the requested channel may be temporarily stored as VOD or as atier1 channel, guaranteeing its allocation (SeeFIG. 3, step316). If “No” is selected, client107 (FIG. 1) may give the requester other options (e.g.,FIG. 3).
• Client107 (FIG. 1) may display screen935 (FIG. 9P) if the requester selects “Yes” to watching the channel as pay-per-view before charging the requester.Overlay936 may be displayed allowing a requester to confirm a desire to pay to watch the requested channel by using arrow keys on a remote and pressing “enter” or using any suitable interactive media guidance function that allows the user to select a response. If “Yes” is selected by the requester, the STB105 (FIG. 1) tunes to the requested channel in accordance withstep316 ofFIG. 3 and the requester is charged. If “Exit” is selected, client107 (FIG. 1) may give the requester other options (e.g.,FIG. 3).
• The screens inFIGS. 9A-9P may also have paid advertisements displayed in the background of the text in accordance withstep312 ofFIG. 3.
• The above described embodiments of the present invention are presented for purposes of illustration and not of limitation, and the present invention is limited only by the claims which follow. Furthermore, all of the flow charts and processes described above or illustrative. Steps may be added or removed to any of the flow charts, and steps may be performed in a different order.

Claims (86)

1. A method for allocating bandwidth to channels in a switched digital video (SDV) system based on channel interest, comprising:

determining the interest in a channel requested by an SDV client in the SDV system, wherein the interest is a function of requests for the channel from a plurality of SDV clients;

determining whether the interest for the requested channel meets an interest threshold; and

in response to determining that interest for the requested channel meets the interest threshold, allocating bandwidth to the requested channel and making the requested channel available for access by the requesting SDV client.

2. The method defined inclaim 1 wherein the function is a weighted sum.

3. The method defined inclaim 1 wherein determining whether the interest for the requested channel meets an interest threshold comprises determining the number of times the channel was previously requested by an SDV client and tuned away from when bandwidth was not allocated.

4. The method defined inclaim 1 wherein determining whether the interest for the requested channel meets an interest threshold comprises determining the number of votes made for the channel, wherein the votes are requests made by SDV clients for the channel to be available at a scheduled time.

5. The method defined inclaim 1 further comprising responding to a request for the channel with data indicative of the likelihood that bandwidth will be allocated to the requested channel.

6. The method defined inclaim 1 wherein allocating bandwidth to the requested channel and making the requested channel available for access comprises transmitting a portion of the content of the requested channel at a rate faster than its normal transmission rate.

7. The method defined inclaim 1 further comprising:

in response to determining that interest for the requested channel does not meet the interest threshold, offering alternative content to at least one of the requesting clients.

8. The method defined inclaim 7 wherein the alternative content comprises one or more advertisements.

9. The method defined inclaim 7 wherein the alternative content comprises content related to the content on the requested channel.

10. The method defined inclaim 7 wherein the alternative content comprises content on a channel having greater interest than the requested channel.

11. The method defined inclaim 1 further comprising in response to determining that the interest for the requested channel does not meet the interest threshold, making the channel available to the SDV client as a pay-per-view channel or video-on-demand offering.

12. The method defined inclaim 1 further comprising, in response to determining that interest for the channel meets the interest threshold, notifying requesting SDV clients that the requested channel is available for access.

13. The method defined inclaim 1 wherein allocating bandwidth to the requested channel and making the requested channel available further comprises deallocating bandwidth from a channel having a lesser interest and allocating the requested channel.

14. The method defined inclaim 13 further comprising:

subsequently reallocating bandwidth to the channel having the lesser interest; and

in response to reallocating bandwidth from the channel having the lesser interest, notifying SDV clients that were previously tuned to the channel having the lesser interest at the time bandwidth was deallocated that bandwidth has been reallocated to the channel.

15. A method for providing alternative actions to a user of a switched digital video (SDV) client when a requested channel is denied, comprising:

transmitting a request for an unallocated SDV channel to a switched digital video session manager;

receiving a message from the SDV session manager denying the request; and

in response to the message, informing the user that the channel is not allocated and allowing the user to wait for the channel to be allocated, providing the user with access to the requested channel as a pay-per-view channel, or providing the user with access to the requested channel as a video-on-demand (VOD) service.

16. The method defined inclaim 15 further comprising, in response to the message from the SDV session manager, offering alternative content to the user.

17. The method defined inclaim 16 wherein the alternative content comprises one or more advertisements.

18. The method defined inclaim 16 wherein the alternative content comprises content related to the content on the requested channel.

19. The method defined inclaim 16 wherein the alternative content comprises content on a channel having interest meeting the interest threshold.

20. A method for providing users of a switched digital video (SDV) client with notifications of reallocated channels comprising:

detecting that bandwidth for a currently tuned channel has been deallocated from the SDV system; and

subsequently notifying the user when bandwidth has been reallocated for the channel.

21. The method defined inclaim 20 further comprising in response to detecting the deallocation of the bandwidth, offering alternative content.

22. The method defined inclaim 21 wherein the alternative content comprises one or more advertisements.

23. The method defined inclaim 21 wherein the alternative content comprises content related to the content on the deallocated channel.

24. The method defined inclaim 20 further comprising providing the user with access to the deallocated channel as a pay-per-view or video-on-demand channel.

25. A method for allocating QAMs in a mixed service system as a function of interest, comprising:

determining whether interest for a switched digital video (SDV) channel exceeds interest for a video-on-demand (VOD) channel; and

allocating a QAM to the SDV channel or the VOD channel based on which of the two has higher interest.

26. The method defined inclaim 25 wherein allocating the QAM comprises, in response to determining that interest for the VOD channel exceeds that of the SDV channel, allocating a QAM of the SDV channel to the VOD channel.

27. A method for allocating QAMs in a mixed service system as a function of potential revenue from a channel, comprising:

determining whether potential revenue derived from expected future use of a switched digital video (SDV) channel would exceed potential revenue derived from expected future use of a video-on-demand (VOD) channel; and

allocating a QAM to the SDV channel or the VOD channel based on which of the two has higher potential revenue based on expected future use.

28. The method defined inclaim 27 wherein determining whether potential revenue from expected future use of the SDV channel would exceed potential revenue derived from expected future use of the VOD channel comprises determining which channel would have higher expected advertisement revenues.

29. The method defined inclaim 28 wherein allocating the QAM comprises, in response to determining that the future revenues for the VOD channel exceeds that of the SDV channel, allocating a QAM of the SDV channel to the VOD channel.

30. A method for assigning channels in a switched digital video (SDV) service to tiers, comprising:

assigning channels of an SDV service to a plurality of tiers, wherein each tier of the plurality of tiers is associated with an observed or expected interest or revenue stream; and

reserving QAMs within the SDV channel for each tier, wherein tiers having higher observed or expected interest or revenue streams are allocated more QAMs than tiers having lesser observed or expected interest or revenue streams.

31. A method for accommodating bandwidth constraints in a switched digital video (SDV) system comprising:

receiving a request for a channel;

determining whether sufficient bandwidth exists to allow the requested channel to be switched into the system;

in response to determining insufficient bandwidth exists to switch the requested channel into the system, degrading the quality of a channel to allow the requested channel to be switched into the SDV system; and

switching the requested channel into the SDV system.

32. The method defined inclaim 31 wherein degrading the quality of a channel comprises degrading the quality of the requested channel.

33. The method defined inclaim 31 wherein degrading the quality of a channel comprises degrading the quality of a channel other than the requested channel.

34. The method defined inclaim 31 wherein degrading the quality of a channel comprises:

identifying an HD channel having a corresponding SD version;

switching the HD version of the channel out of the SDV system; and

switching the SD version of the channel into the SDV system.

35. A method for addressing program overruns in a switched digital video (SDV) system, comprising:

detecting a program overrun on a first channel currently allocated bandwidth in the SDV system;

determining whether the interest for the program overrun exceeds interest for a regularly scheduled program;

in response to determining that the interest for the program overrun exceeds the interest for the regularly scheduled program, allocating bandwidth for a second channel in the SDV system to accommodate the program overrun.

36. The method defined inclaim 35 wherein allocating bandwidth for a second channel in the SDV system to accommodate the program overrun comprises carrying the overrunning program on the second channel.

37. A method for handling emergency access service (EAS) events in a switched digital video (SDV) system comprising:

persistently transmitting tuning information for an EAS channel in a carousel data feed to SDV clients; and

in response to an EAS event, switching clients to the EAS channel according to the tuning information.

38. A switched digital video (SDV) system for allocating bandwidth to channels based on channel interest, comprising:

an edge device;

a switched-services session manager comprising a channel-interest manager, wherein the channel interest manager is configured to:

determine the interest in a channel in the SDV system wherein the interest is a function of requests for the channel from a plurality of SDV clients; and

determine whether the interest for the requested channel meets an interest threshold; and

an edge resource manager configured to, in response to the channel-interest manager determining that interest for the requested channel meets the interest threshold, direct the edge device to allocate bandwidth to the requested channel, making the requested channel available for access by the requesting SDV client.

39. The system defined inclaim 38 wherein the function is a weighted sum.

40. The system defined inclaim 38 wherein the channel-interest manager is further configured to determine the interest by determining the number of times the channel was previously requested by an SDV client and tuned away from when bandwidth was not allocated.

41. The system defined inclaim 38 the channel-interest manager is further configured to determine the interest by determining the number of votes made for the channel, wherein the votes are requests made by SDV clients for the channel to be available at a scheduled time.

42. The system defined inclaim 38 wherein the channel-interest manager is further configured to respond to the request with data indicative of the likelihood that bandwidth will be allocated to the requested channel.

43. The system defined inclaim 38 wherein the switched-services session manager is further configured to offer a portion of content of the requested channel at a rate faster than its normal transmission rate.

44. The system defined inclaim 38 wherein the switched-services session manager is further configured to, in response to the channel-interest manager determining that interest for the requested channel does not meet the interest threshold, offer alternative content to at least one of the requesting clients.

45. The system defined inclaim 44 wherein the alternative content comprises one or more advertisements.

46. The system defined inclaim 44 wherein the alternative content comprises content related to the content on the requested channel.

47. The system defined inclaim 44 wherein the alternative content comprises content on a channel having greater interest than the requested channel.

48. The system defined inclaim 38 wherein the switched-services session manager is further configured to, in response to channel-interest manager determining that the interest for the requested channel does not meet the interest threshold, direct the edge resource manager to make the channel available to the SDV client as a pay-per-view channel or video-on-demand offering.

49. The system defined inclaim 38 wherein the switched-services session manager is further configured to, in response to the channel-interest manager determining that interest for the channel meets the interest threshold, notify prior requesting SDV clients that the requested channel is available for access.

50. The system defined inclaim 38 wherein the channel-interest manager is further configured to direct the edge resource manager to deallocate bandwidth from a channel having a lesser interest and allocating the bandwidth of the channel having a lesser interest to the requested channel.

51. The system defined inclaim 50 wherein:

the channel-interest manager is further configured to subsequently direct the edge resource manager to reallocate bandwidth to the channel having the lesser interest; and

the switched-services session manager is configured to, in response to the edge resource manager reallocating bandwidth to the channel having the lesser interest, notify SDV clients that were tuned to the channel having the lesser interest at the time bandwidth was deallocated that bandwidth has been reallocated to the channel.

52. A switched digital video (SDV) system client for providing alternative actions to a user when a requested channel is denied, comprising:

communications circuitry; and

control circuitry configured to:

direct the communications circuitry to transmit a request for an unallocated SDV channel to a switched digital video session manager; and

in response to the communications circuitry receiving a message from the SDV session manager denying the request, informing the user that the channel is not allocated and allowing the user to wait for the channel to be allocated, providing the user with access to the requested channel as a pay-per-view channel, or providing the user with access to the requested channel as a video-on-demand (VOD) service.

53. The system defined inclaim 52 wherein the control circuitry is further configured to, in response to the communications circuitry receiving the message from the SDV session manager, offering alternative content to the user.

54. The system defined inclaim 53 wherein the alternative content comprises one or more advertisements.

55. The system defined inclaim 53 wherein the alternative content comprises content related to the content on the requested channel.

56. The system defined inclaim 53 wherein the alternative content comprises content on a channel having greater interest than the requested channel.

57. A switched digital video (SDV) system client for providing users with notifications of reallocated channels comprising control circuitry configured to:

detect that bandwidth for a currently tuned channel has been deallocated from the SDV system; and

subsequently notifying the user when bandwidth has been reallocated for the channel.

58. The system defined inclaim 57 wherein the control circuitry is further configured to, in response to detecting the deallocation of the bandwidth, offering alternative content to the user.

59. The system defined inclaim 58 wherein the alternative content comprises one or more advertisements.

60. The system defined inclaim 58 wherein the alternative content comprises content related to the content on the deallocated channel.

61. The system defined inclaim 57 further configured to provide the user with access to the deallocated channel as a pay-per-view or video-on-demand channel.

62. A switched digital video (SDV) system for allocating QAMs in a mixed service system as a function of interest, comprising:

an edge resource manager; and

a channel-interest manager configured to:

determine whether interest for a SDV channel exceeds interest for a video-on-demand (VOD) channel; and

direct the edge resource manager to allocate a QAM to the SDV channel or the VOD channel based on which of the two has higher interest.

63. The system defined inclaim 62 wherein the channel-interest manager is further configured to direct the edge resource manager to allocate a QAM of the SDV channel to the VOD channel.

64. A switched digital video (SDV) system for allocating QAMs in a mixed service system as a function of potential revenue, comprising:

an edge resource manager; and

a revenue manager configured to:

determine whether potential revenue derived from expected future use of a SDV channel would exceed potential revenue derived from expected future use of a video-on-demand (VOD) channel; and

direct the edge resource manager to allocate a QAM to the SDV channel or the VOD channel based on which of the two has higher potential revenue based on expected future use.

65. The system defined inclaim 64 wherein the resource manager is further configured to determine which channel would have higher expected advertisement revenues.

66. The system defined inclaim 65 wherein the resource manager is further configured to, in response to determining that the future revenues for the VOD channel exceeds that of the SDV channel, direct the edge resource manager to allocate a QAM of the SDV channel to the VOD channel.

67. A switched digital video (SDV) system for assigning channels in a SDV service to tiers, comprising a switched services session manager configured to:

assign channels of an SDV service to a plurality of tiers, wherein each tier of the plurality of tiers is associated with an observed or expected interest or revenue stream; and

reserve QAMs within the SDV channel for each tier, wherein tiers having higher observed or expected interest or revenue streams are allocated more QAMs than tiers having lesser observed or expected interest or revenue streams.

68. A switched digital video (SDV) system for accommodating bandwidth constraints, comprising:

an edge resource manager; and

a channel-interest manager configured to:

determine whether sufficient bandwidth exists to allow a requested channel to be switched into the system;

in response to determining insufficient bandwidth exists to switch the requested channel into the system, direct the edge resource manager to switch a channel with degraded quality into the system to allow the requested channel to be switched into the SDV system.

69. The system defined inclaim 68 wherein the edge resource manager is configured to switch the requested channel with degraded quality into the system in response to the direction of the channel-interest manager.

70. The system defined inclaim 68 wherein the edge resource manager is configured to switch a channel other than the requested channel, in response to the direction of the channel-interest manager.

71. The system defined inclaim 68 wherein the channel-interest manager is further configured to:

identify an HD channel having a corresponding SD version;

direct the edge resource manager to switch the HD version of the channel out of the SDV system; and

direct the edge resource manager to switch the SD version of the channel into the SDV system.

72. A switched digital video (SDV) system for addressing program overruns, comprising:

an edge resource manager; and

a channel-interest manager configured to:

detect a program overrun on a first channel currently allocated bandwidth in the SDV system;

determine whether the interest for the program overrun exceeds interest for a regularly scheduled program; and

in response to determining that the interest for the program overrun exceeds the interest for the regularly scheduled program, direct the edge resource manager to allocate bandwidth for a second channel in the SDV system to accommodate the program overrun.

73. The system defined inclaim 72 wherein the second channel carries the overrunning program.

74. A switched digital system for handling emergency access service (EAS) events, comprising:

an edge resource manager; and

a channel-interest manager configured to:

persistently transmit tuning information for an EAS channel in a carousel data feed to SDV clients; and

in response to an EAS event, switch the clients to the EAS channel according to the tuning information.

75. A method for allocating bandwidth to channels in a switched digital video (SDV) system based on channel interest, comprising:

determining the interest in a channel in an SDV system, wherein the interest is a function of a plurality of SDV client requests for that channel;

determining whether interest for the requested channel meets an interest threshold; and

in response to determining that interest for the requested channel meets the interest threshold, allocating bandwidth to the requested channel and making the requested channel available for access by the requesting SDV client.

76. The method defined inclaim 75, wherein channels in the SDV service are divided between two or more tiers of channels, each tier having an associated threshold, wherein at least two of the thresholds are different.

77. The method defined inclaim 75 wherein the channel is an emergency alert system channel.

78. A system for allocating bandwidth to channels in a switched digital video (SDV) system based on channel interest, comprising:

an edge resource manager; and

a channel interest manager configured to:

determine the interest in a channel in an SDV system, wherein the interest is a function of a plurality of SDV client requests for that channel;

determine whether interest for the requested channel meets an interest threshold; and

in response to determining that interest for the requested channel meets the interest threshold, direct the edge resource manager to allocate bandwidth to the requested channel and making the requested channel available for access by the requesting SDV client.

79. The system defined inclaim 78, wherein channels in the SDV service are divided between two or more tiers of channels, each tier having an associated threshold, wherein at least two of the thresholds are different.

80. The system defined inclaim 78 wherein the channel is an emergency alert system channel.

81-120. (canceled)

121. A method for providing a start-over feature that allows a user to watch a program from the beginning even through the user has tuned to the channel for the program after the program has begun, comprising:

caching a copy of the program on a video server;

providing an option to the user to watch the program after it has already begun at a rate that is faster than the real time rate of the program so that it will fit into a duration that is less than the originally scheduled duration for the program;

determining the time remaining for the program; and

in response to the user selecting the option, streaming the program to the user from its beginning at a rate that is faster than the real time rate of the program so that the viewing time of the stream is substantially the time remaining in the originally scheduled timeslot for the program.

122. The method ofclaim 121, wherein the pitch of the program is algorithmically corrected so it remains substantially the same after rate adjustment as it was before the rate adjustment.

123. A system for providing a start-over feature that allows a user to watch a program from the beginning even through the user has tuned to the channel for the program after the program has begun, comprising:

a client application, implemented on the user's set-top box, configured to provide an option to the user to watch the program after it has already begun at a rate that is faster than the real time rate of the program so that it will fit into a duration that is less than the originally scheduled duration for the program; and

a video server configured to:

cache the program; and

in response to the user selecting the option, streaming the program to the user from its beginning at a rate that is faster than the real time rate of the program so that the viewing time of the stream is substantially the time remaining in the originally scheduled timeslot for the program.

124. The system ofclaim 123, wherein the video server is further configured to algorithmically correct the pitch of the program so it remains substantially the same after rate adjustment as it was before the rate adjustment.

125-126. (canceled)

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