Optimized near-simultaneous distribution of multimedia content

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9596095-B2
Application number	US-201113194392-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 29, 2011
Priority date	Jul 29, 2011
Publication date	Mar 14, 2017
Grant date	Mar 14, 2017

Abstract

The “swarming” behavior of multimedia content distribution network subscribers—numerous, near-simultaneous requests for the same content by different users—is predicted, based on analysis of past viewing habits. Users are grouped based on correlations in the multimedia content requested and the time at which it is requested. When a set of users of a group requests particular multimedia content, that content is autonomously distributed, via a shared distribution channel, to the terminal equipment of all users in the group, where it is buffered. As other users in the group request the same multimedia content, an initial portion is distributed to each requesting user via an individual channel. As the rendered content catches up to the buffered content, the terminal equipment switches from the content delivered via the individual distribution channel to the buffered content. The individual distribution is then terminated, and the individual distribution channel released.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of optimizing the distribution of multimedia content to a plurality of users within a predetermined temporal duration, by a computing machine in a network node, the method comprising:
monitoring the multimedia content requests of a plurality of users; correlating users based on the multimedia content requested by the users and the times at which the multimedia content is requested by the users;
forming one or more groups of users based on the correlations among the users; receiving requests for first multimedia content from a set of users in a first one of the one or more groups, the requests received within a predetermined temporal duration;
in response to the reception, predicting requests for the first multimedia content from other users in the first one of the one or more groups;
in response to the prediction, allocating a broadcast channel for the broadcast of the first multimedia content to users in the first one of the one or more groups;
controlling terminal equipments associated with users in the first one of the one or more groups to receive and buffer the first multimedia content;
broadcasting the first multimedia content on the allocated broadcast channel to users in the first one of the one or more groups;

receiving a request for the first multimedia content from a second user in the first one of the one or more groups not in the set of users;
individually distributing at least an initial portion of the first multimedia content to the second user; and
terminating the individual distribution of the first multimedia content to the second user after the terminal equipment associated with the second user begins rendering the first multimedia content from the buffered first multimedia content.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein correlating users based on the multimedia content requested by the users and the times at which the multimedia content is requested by the users comprises correlating users requesting the same multimedia content within a predetermined temporal duration.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein correlating users based on the multimedia content requested by the users and the times at which the multimedia content is requested by the users further comprises adjusting existing correlations based on the coincidences of multimedia content requests and their times among users.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein correlating users based on the multimedia content requested by the users and the times at which the multimedia content is requested by the users further comprises updating all existing correlations with one user, whenever that user requests multimedia content.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein forming one or more groups of users based on the correlations among the users comprises updating existing groups based on changes to correlations among users.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein broadcasting the first multimedia content on the allocated broadcast channel to users in the first one of the one or more groups comprises broadcasting the first multimedia content on at least one of a dedicated cable Quadrature Amplitude Modulated (QAM) channel, a dedicated, transient Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP) group for Internet Protocol (IP) streams, and a broadcast channel of a wireless communication network to a plurality of wireless terminal equipments operatively associated with the network.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein broadcasting the first multimedia content on the allocated broadcast channel to users in the first one of the one or more groups comprises broadcasting the first multimedia content beginning at an offset into the first multimedia content ahead of an aggregate viewing point of the first multimedia content among the set of users of the first one of the one or more groups receiving the first multimedia content.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising: monitoring the number of users requesting the first multimedia content;
at the termination of broadcasting the first multimedia content on the allocated broadcast channel to users in the first one of the one or more groups, if a predetermined number of users in the first one of the one or more groups requested the first multimedia content within a predetermined duration of the end of the first multimedia content broadcast, broadcasting the first multimedia content on the allocated broadcast channel to users in the first one of the one or more groups again.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising: monitoring the number of users requesting the first multimedia content;
at the termination of broadcasting the first multimedia content on the allocated broadcast channel to users in the first one of the one or more groups, if less than a predetermined number of users in the first one of the one or more groups requested the first multimedia content within a predetermined duration of the end of the first multimedia content broadcast, individually distributing the first multimedia content on dedicated channels to selected users in the first one of the one or more groups.

10. A node in a multimedia content distribution network, comprising:
a data interface to the network;
a database operative to store a plurality of multimedia content; and a computing machine operative to:
monitor multimedia content requests received over the network, via the data interface, from a plurality of users;
correlate users based on the multimedia content requested by the users and the times at which the multimedia content is requested by the users;
form one or more groups of users based on the correlations among the users;
receive a request, via the data interface, for first multimedia content from a set of user in a first one of the one or more groups;
in response to the reception, predict requests for the first multimedia content, within a predetermined temporal duration, from other users in the first one of the one or more groups;
in response to the prediction, allocate a broadcast channel for the broadcast of the first multimedia content to users in the first one of the one or more groups;
retrieve the first multimedia content from the database;

control terminal equipments associated with users in the first one of the one or more groups to receive and buffer the first multimedia content;
broadcast the first multimedia content over the network, via the data interface, on the broadcast channel, to users in the first one of the one or more groups;
receive a request, via the data interface, for the first multimedia content from a second user in the first one of the one or more groups not in the set of users;
individually distribute, via the data interface, at least an initial portion of the first multimedia content to the second user; and
terminate the individual distribution of the first multimedia content to the second user after the terminal equipment associated with the second user begins rendering the first multimedia content from the buffered first multimedia content.

11. The node of claim 10 wherein the computing machine is operative to correlate users based on the multimedia content requested by the users and the times at which the multimedia content is requested by the users by performing at least one of a correlation of users requesting the same multimedia content within a predetermined temporal duration, an adjustment of exiting correlations based on the coincidences of multimedia content requests and their times among users, and an update of all existing correlations with one user, whenever that user requests multimedia content.

12. The node of claim 10 wherein the computing machine is operative to form one or more groups of users based on the co

Assignees

• Redmond Stefan Paul
• Ericsson Telefon Ab L M

Inventors

• Redmond Stefan Paul

Classifications

• H04N21/6405

  Multicasting {(data broadcast and multicast in packet switching networks H04L12/18)} · CPC title

• H04L12/1881 Primary

  with schedule organisation, e.g. priority, sequence management · CPC title

• H04N21/252

  Processing of multiple end-users' preferences to derive collaborative data · CPC title

• H04L65/80

  Responding to QoS · CPC title

• H04N21/64322

  IP · CPC title