Systems & methods for allocating bandwidth in switched digital video systems based on interest

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[0001]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.[0002]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[0003]In accordance with the principles of the present invention...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0011]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.

[0012]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).

[0018]In some embodiments, channels of the SDV system are assigned to tiers. For example, there may be one SDV premium tier and discount tiers 1, 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.

Problems solved by technology

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.

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