Method and apparatus for providing dynamic channel and content provisioning

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9936241-B2
Application number	US-201414246884-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 7, 2014
Priority date	Apr 7, 2014
Publication date	Apr 3, 2018
Grant date	Apr 3, 2018

Abstract

An approach for implementing a content provisioning platform for accurate provisioning of one or more dynamic multicast data channels (e.g., eMBMS) for initiating multicast transmission of contents. The approach includes analyzing content usage data to determine content consumption trend data associated with a topic in a service area. The approach also includes selecting a content package based on the topic, the content consumption trend data, or a combination thereof. Additionally, the approach includes provisioning a dynamic multicast data channel for initiating a multicast transmission of the content package to a plurality of devices in the service area.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
analyzing content usage data to determine content consumption trend data associated with a topic in a service area, wherein the content usage data includes information discussed by users of a wireless service provider, wherein the service area includes a particular cell area associated with the wireless service provider, and wherein analyzing the content usage data includes:
identifying a location, wherein the location includes the particular cell area and a cell area adjacent the particular cell area,
identifying a time period, and
determining that a plurality of users in the location are requesting information about the topic during the time period;

determining, based on the content consumption trend data, that the topic is related to an upcoming event in the particular cell area or in the cell area adjacent the particular cell area;
determining, based on the content consumption trend data and based on determining that the topic is related to the upcoming event, that an increase in demand for content associated with the topic is likely to occur in the particular cell area or in the cell area adjacent the particular cell area at a particular time;
aggregating, when it is determined that the increase in demand for the content associated with the topic is likely to occur, content associated with the topic prior to the increase in demand for the content associated with the topic;
building, prior to the particular time, a dynamic multicast data channel with the content; and
provisioning, in response to building the dynamic multicast data channel, the dynamic multicast data channel for initiating a multicast transmission of the content to a plurality of mobile devices in the service area,
wherein provisioning the dynamic multicast data channel includes allocating resources for the dynamic multicast data channel prior to the particular time.

2. A method of claim 1 , further comprising:
reserving the dynamic multicast data channel on demand.

3. A method of claim 1 , further comprising:
monitoring the content usage data, the content consumption trend data, or a combination thereof over a period of time; and
updating the dynamic multicast data channel, the content, or a combination thereof based on the monitoring.

4. A method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining one or more multicasting parameters based on the topic, the content usage data, the content consumption trend data, or a combination thereof,
wherein the multicast transmission is initiated based on the one or more multicasting parameters; and
wherein the one or more multicasting parameters include a scheduled time.

5. A method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining the content usage data from network sniffer data, internal public trend data, external public trend data, social networking data, or a combination thereof.

6. A method of claim 5 , further comprising:
creating a social network monitoring account; and
collecting the social networking data via the social network monitoring account.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
provisioning a second dynamic multicast data channel when a capacity of the dynamic multicast data channel is at a maximum.

8. An apparatus comprising:
a memory including computer program code for one or more programs, and
a processor to execute the computer program code to:
analyze content usage data to determine content consumption trend data associated with a topic in a service area, wherein the content usage data includes information discussed by users of a wireless service provider, wherein the service area includes a particular cell area associated with the wireless service provider, and wherein, when analyzing the content usage data, the processor is configured to execute the computer program code to:
identify a location, wherein the location includes the particular cell area and a cell area adjacent the particular cell area,
identify a time period, and
determine that a plurality of users in the location are requesting information about the topic during the time period;

determine, based on the content consumption trend data, that the topic is related to an upcoming event in the particular cell area or in the cell area adjacent to the particular cell area;
determine, based on the content consumption trend data and based on determining that the topic is related to the upcoming event, that an increase in demand for content associated with the topic is likely to occur in the particular cell area or in the cell area adjacent to the particular cell area at a particular time;
aggregate, when it is determined that the increase in demand for the content associated with the topic is likely to occur, content associated with the topic prior to the increase in demand for the content associated with the topic;
build, prior to the particular time, a dynamic multicast data channel with the content; and
provision, in response to building the dynamic multicast data channel, the dynamic multicast data channel for initiating a multicast transmission of the content to a plurality of mobile devices in the service area,
wherein, when provisioning the dynamic multicast data channel, the processor further executes the computer program code to allocate resources for the dynamic multicast data channel prior to the particular time.

9. An apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the processor further executes the computer program code to:
reserve the dynamic multicast data channel on demand.

10. An apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the processor further executes the computer program code to:
monitor the content usage data, the content consumption trend data, or a combination thereof over a period of time; and
update the dynamic multicast data channel, the content, or a combination thereof based on the monitoring.

11. An apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the processor further executes the computer program code to:
determine one or more multicasting parameters based on the topic, the content usage data, the content consumption trend data, or a combination thereof,
wherein the multicast transmission is initiated based on the one or more multicasting parameters; and
wherein the one or more multicasting parameters include a scheduled time.

12. An apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the processor further executes the computer program code to:
determine the content usage data from network sniffer data, internal public trend data, external public trend data, social networking data, or a combination thereof.

13. An apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the processor further executes the computer program code to:
create a social network monitoring account; and
collect the social networking data via the social network monitoring account.

14. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the processor further executes the computer program code to:
provision a second dynamic multicast data channel when a capacity of the dynamic multicast data channel is at a predetermined level.

15. A system comprising:
a content provisioning platform, comprising at least one processor, configured to:
analyze content usage data to determine content consumption trend data associated with a topic in a service area, wherein the content usage data includes information discussed by users of a wireless service provider, wherein the service area includes a particular cell area associated with the wireless service provider, and wherein, when analyzing the content usage data, the content provisioning platform is further configured to:
identify a location, wherein the location includes the particular cel

Assignees

• Cellco Partnership Dba Verizon

Inventors

• Basra Arvind K

Classifications

• H04N21/262

  Content or additional data distribution scheduling, e.g. sending additional data at off-peak times, updating software modules, calculating the carousel transmission frequency, delaying a video stream transmission, generating play-lists {(scheduling strategies for dispatcher in multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/4881; arrangements for scheduling broadcast services or broadcast-related services H04H60/06; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10; establishing a time schedule or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/62)} · CPC title

• H04N21/6405

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

• H04N21/24

  Monitoring of processes or resources, e.g. monitoring of server load, available bandwidth, upstream requests {(monitoring of server performance or load G06F11/34; arrangements for observation, testing or troubleshooting for broadcast or for distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/12)} · CPC title

• H04L12/5691

  Access to open networks; Ingress point selection, e.g. ISP selection · CPC title

• H04N21/251 Primary

  Learning process for intelligent management, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies (details of learning user preferences for the retrieval of video data in a video database G06F16/739; computer systems using learning methods G06N3/08) · CPC title