Methods and apparatus for content delivery notification and management

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016255378-A1
Application number	US-201615050212-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 22, 2016
Priority date	Feb 14, 2007
Publication date	Sep 1, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for handling situations where requested services require more network capacity than presently available, and notifying network users of an delay in providing such services. In one embodiment, the invention comprises apparatus and methods for the detection of capacity (e.g., bandwidth) shortage, determination of a delayed delivery mode and schedule for the delivery of the requested content, and notification of the availability of the content to the user via, e.g., on-screen display, e-mail, text message, or other mode. The user can also specify their own notification preferences and delivery time. Requests for and delivery of the content may be performed from/to different locations as well. Network server apparatus, consumer premises equipment (CPE), and a software architecture adapted to implement the foregoing functionality, are also disclosed.

First claim

1 .- 54 . (canceled)

55 . A method of providing notification in a content distribution network, the method comprising:
receiving a request for delivery of content from an entity in communication with said network; evaluating at least one parameter related to available bandwidth of said network; when said evaluating indicates that said available bandwidth is limited to a value less than that needed to service the request, delaying the servicing of said request for content; and providing a notification based at least in part on said delaying.

56 . The method of claim 55 , further comprising causing delivery of a previously cached secondary content element during at least a portion of said delaying.

57 . Apparatus configured for delivery of content in a content distribution network, the apparatus comprising a computerized server apparatus in data communication with a plurality of client devices of the network, the server apparatus comprising at least one computer program configured to, when executed by a processing apparatus of the server apparatus:
receive a request for content from client device, or a proxy thereof; evaluate available bandwidth in said network to fulfill said request for content; when said available bandwidth is insufficient to fulfill said request, issue a notification of delay to said client device; cause delivery of alternate content during at least a portion of said delay; and subsequently cause delivery of said requested content after sufficient bandwidth becomes available.

58 . A method of providing contextually relevant secondary content, comprising:
receiving a request for content delivery, said content having at least one context; determining that insufficient network capacity exists to service said request immediately; and generating a communication to a requesting entity indicating that delivery of at least a portion of said content will be delayed; wherein said communication comprises at least one secondary content element that is related to said content via at least said context.

59 . The method of claim 58 , wherein said context is determined at least in part via metadata associated with said content.

60 . The method of claim 58 , wherein said secondary content element comprises an advertising element comprising at least one graphical or audible element shown or played when said communication is presented.

Assignees

• Time Warner Cable Entpr Llc

Inventors

• Brooks Paul D
• Rieger Remi

Classifications

• H04L47/70

  Admission control; Resource allocation · CPC title

• H04N21/2385 Primary

  Channel allocation (H04N21/266 takes precedence); Bandwidth allocation (H04N21/24 takes precedence {; allocation of channels according to the instantaneous demands of the users in time-division multiplex systems H04J3/1682; admission control, resource allocation in open networks H04L12/5692; arrangements for maintenance or administration in data switching networks involving bandwidth and capacity management H04L41/0896; negotiating bandwidth in wireless networks H04W28/16}) · CPC title

• H04N21/2402 Primary

  Monitoring of the downstream path of the transmission network, e.g. bandwidth available (traffic monitoring in data switching networks H04L43/00; monitoring data switching networks utilization H04L43/0876) · CPC title

• G06F11/34

  Recording or statistical evaluation of computer activity, e.g. of down time, of input/output operation {; Recording or statistical evaluation of user activity, e.g. usability assessment} · CPC title

• H04N21/4882

  for displaying messages, e.g. warnings, reminders (arrangements for providing short real-time information to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1895) · CPC title