Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02643806 2011-04-19
METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR SELECTING DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY FOR
PROGRAMMING AND DATA DELIVERY
Priority
This application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application Publication No.
20070204314
entitled "METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR SELECTING DIGITAL ACCESS TECHNOLOGY
FOR PROGRAMMING AND DATA DELIVERY" (Attorney docket TWAR.030A/TWC 05-35),
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 20070204311 entitled "METHODS AND
APPARATUS
FOR SELECTING DIGITAL CODING/DECODING TECHNOLOGY FOR PROGRAMMING
AND DATA DELIVERY" (Attorney docket TWAR.031A/TWC 05-36), and U.S. Patent
Application
Publication No. 20070204300 entitled "METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR SELECTING
DIGITAL INTERFACE TECHNOLOGY FOR PROGRAMMING AND DATA DELIVERY"
(Attorney docket TWAR.032A/TWC 05-37), each of which were filed February 27,
2006.
Copyright
A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material that is
subject to
copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile
reproduction by
anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the
Patent and
Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright
rights whatsoever.
Background of the Invention
1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of information
distribution across a
network. More particularly, the present invention is related in one exemplary
aspect to the
distribution of information across a content-based and data network having a
set of electronic
devices with at least some heterogeneous capabilities.
2. Description of Related Technology
Digital Television
Digital TV (DTV) is a technology which utilizes digitized and compressed data
formats
(e.g., MPEG) for content transmission, as. compared to earlier analog
"uncompressed"
approaches (e.g., NTSC). The DTV content may be distributed across any number
of different
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types of bearer media or networks with sufficient bandwidth, including HFC,
satellite, wireless,
or terrestrial.
DTV broadcasts are generally more efficient and more flexible than analog
methods. For
=
example, the bandwidth required to transmit video programming using DTV is
less than the
bandwidth required using analog 'methods, assuming similar quality of video
(and audio). Thus,
more video programming can generally be transmitted with a given bandwidth
when DTV
methods are employed.
DTV standards such as the OpenCableTM Application Platform (OCAP) middleware
specification (e.g., Version 1.0, and Version 2.0) require that applications
be downloaded to host
devices from the bearer or broadcast network in real-time. The OCAP
specification is a
middleware software layer specification intended to enable the developers of
interactive =
television services and applications to design such products so that they will
run successfully on
any cable television system in North America, independent of set-top or
television receiver
hardware or operating system software choices.
The aforementioned OpenCable standard also sets forth a Host Core Functional
Requirements specification which defines optional circuitry for digital video
recorders (DVRs),
and digital video interfaces (DVIs); see, e.g., the OpenCable Host Device Core
Functional
Requirements 0C-SP-HOST-CFR-I13-030707 specification (now OC-SP-HOST-CFR-114-
030905 dated Sept. 5, 2003).
DVR technology provides selective recording, playback, and manipulation (e.g.,
storage,
processing, editing, etc.) of digital format content. For example, the
services offered by the
Assignee hereof in conjunction with exemplary Scientific Atlanta Explorer 8000
Digital Video
Recorder set top box equipment (and associated high capacity mass storage
device) are
representative of this technology.
Personal video recording (PVR) functionality is essentially a subset of DVR
technology,
wherein individual users, e.g., family members within the same household, can
selectively
record digital content particular to their choosing while not inhibiting other
individuals from
doing the same. This provides significant flexibility and enhances the user
experience, since
each individual can tailor their viewing as desired.
DVI technology allows, inter alia, for the seamless integration of digital TV
and digital-
based devices with analog devices, such as analog televisions. Accordingly, if
the user possesses
an analog monitor, the DVI selectively converts the otherwise digital signal
to the analog
=
domain. Accordingly, the user (and manufacturer) need not selectively tailor
their equipment to
a particular domain.
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This equipment may be leased from the content/network operator, or
alternatively
purchased "retail" from a third party manufacturer. Clearly, it is desired to
have programming
and software applications distributed by the network operator (or third-party
content provider)
be compatible with the hardware/software environments of these CPE, thereby
avoiding
situations where a downloaded content or application does not function
properly, which can
greatly add to user frustration.
Video-on-demand (VOD)
Providing "on-demand" (OD) services, such as video on-demand or VOD, is also
well
known in the prior art. In a typical configuration, the VOD service makes
available to its users a
selection of multiple video programs that they can- choose from and watch over
a network
connection with minimum setup delay. At a high level, a VOD system consists of
one or more
VOD servers that store the relevant content; one or more network connections
that are used for
program selection and program delivery; and customer premises equipment (CPE)
to receive,
decode and present the video on a display unit. In a cable network, the
.content is typically
distributed over a Hybrid Fiber Coaxial (HFC) network.
Depending on the type of content made available and rate structure for
viewing, a
particular VOD service could be called "subscription video-on-demand (SVOD)"
that gives
customers on-demand access to the content for a flat monthly fee, "free video-
on-demand
(FVOD)" that gives customers free on-demand access to some content, "movies on-
demand"
where VOD content consists of movies only, and so forth. Many of these
services, although
referred to by names different than VOD, still share many of the same basic
attributes including
storage, network and decoder technologies.
Just as different varieties of VOD service offerings have evolved over time,
several
different network architectures have also evolved for deploying these
services. These
architectures range from fully centralized (e.g., VOD servers at a central
location) to fully
distributed (e.g., multiple copies of content distributed on VOD servers very
close to customer
premises), as well as various other network architectures there between. Since
most cable
television networks today consist of optical fiber towards the "core" of the
network which are
connected to coaxial cable networks towards the "edge", VOD transmission
network
architectures also consist of a mixture of optical fiber and coaxial cable
portions.
The CPE for VOD often consists of a digital cable set-top box (DSTB) that
provides the
functions of receiving cable signals by tuning to the appropriate RF channel,
processing the
received signal and outputting VOD signals for viewing on a display unit. Such
a digital set-top
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box also typically hosts a VOD application that enables user interaction for
navigation and
selection of VOD menu.
While the architectural details of how video is transported in the core HFC
network can
be different for each VOD deployment, each generally will have a transition
point where the =
video signals are modulated, upconverted to the appropriate RF channel and
sent over the
coaxial segment(s) of the network. Depending on the topology of the individual
cable plant, this
could be performed at a node, hub or a headend. The coaxial cable portion of
the network is
variously referred to as the "access network" or "edge network" or "last mile
network."
In U. S. cable systems for example, downstream RF channels used for
transmission of
television programs are 6 MHz wide, and occupy a 6 MHz spectral slot between
54 MHz and
860 MHz. Deployments of VOD services have to share this spectrum with already
established
analog and digital cable television services. For this reason, the exact RF
channel used for VOD
service may differ from plant to plant. However, within a given cable plant,
all homes that are
electrically connected to the same cable feed running through a neighborhood
will receive the
same downstream signal. For the purpose of managing VOD services, these homes
are grouped
into logical groups typically called Service Groups. Homes belonging to the
same Service Group
receive their VOD service on the same set of RF channels.
Emerging Technologies and Challenges
A broad variety, of electronic devices have recently been developed to utilize
and
leverage emerging information delivery capabilities. Increasingly, these
devices are being
equipped with DVI (and DVR/PVR) technology. The devices often have very
different
capabilities, and may include e.g., digital set-top boxes (DSTBs), personal
computers (PCs),
personal digital assistants (PDAs), hand-held computers, "smartphones",
personal media devices
(PMDs), etc.
These devices can be operatively coupled to, and placed in communication with,
other
devices (whether of the same or different configuration), or other network
entities such as a
central information source or server via various channels. The different
capabilities of these
electronic devices may result from different purposes, designs, different user
configuration,
being mobile versus fixed in nature, cost/features, etc., and may include
differing encryption
support capabilities, conditional access profiles, memory and/or processing
capability, video or
audio codecs, network interfaces, and so forth. Many of these features,
including notably the
conditional access (CA), codec, and network interface capabilities, are
critical to the proper
selection, delivery, and playing of content at the end-user device.
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The traditional method of digital compression is the well-known MPEG-2 format.
More
advanced codecs include 1-1.264 (also known as MPEG-4) and VC-l. H.264 is a
high
compression digital video codec standard written by the ITU-T Video Coding
Experts Group
(VCEG) together with the ISO/IEC Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) as the
product of a
collective partnership effort known as the Joint Video Team (JVT). The 1TU-T
H.264 standard
and the ISO/IEC MPEG-4 Part-10 standard (formally, ISO/IEC 14496-10) are
highly similar,
and the technology is also known as AVC, for Advanced Video Coding. DTV
methods of
program distribution are also generally more flexible than analog methods. For
example, the
type of compression may be modified or updated. The compression can be
improved when new
techniques become available, or they may be customized or optimized for
certain applications
and attributes such as picture quality, data integrity or transmission delay.
Conditional access (CA) technologies may also be incorporated into the digital
encoding
of various types of data including audio and video programming. Conditional
access can
generally be defined as the control of when and how a user may view and use
the associated
programming or information. Different types of conditional access may be
desirable in a
network delivery system in order to, e.g., accommodate improvements in the
technology as well
as different conditional access attributes such as security and category of
programming or user
access level.
A traditional method of conditional access is known as "Powerkey". Newer
methods of
conditional access include Powerkey Book 2, Powerkey Book 3, NOS, ANSI/SCTE 52
2003
(DVS-042), and DigiCipher. These can be implemented using, for example, the so-
called
"CableCard" plug-in security module access technology. See, e.g., the
CableCard-Host interface
specification, which defines the interface between a digital cable receiver or
STB (Host device)
and the CableCard device provided by the MSO/cable operator.
More recently, emerging technologies have focused on downloadable conditional
access
system (DCAS), which is intended to be implemented in next-generation two-way,
cable-ready
digital TV sets, set-top boxes and/or other TV-related devices. This
"download" approach would
enable cable operators .to download conditional access software directly to TV
sets, set-top
boxes and other digital entertainment devices in the subscribers' premises,
and would be =
especially suited to interactive services such as VOD, PVR, etc. This would
also obviate the
physical CableCard form factor.
End-user devices may also include a variety of interfaces. For example, a set-
top box
might have an RF tuner in order to receive QAM signals over the cable. A cable
modem
similarly receives DOCSIS QAM signals over the cable, but on different
channels, and hence
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requires a separate tuning mechanism. Other types of potential interfaces
include Ethernet
(LAN, WAN, etc.), and even wireless technologies such as satellite, millimeter
wave, WiFi
(IEEE-802.I 1), WiMax (IEEE-802.16), and PAN (IEEE-802.15).
As client devices with different codec/compression, conditional access, and/or
network
interface capabilities are added to a network, the distribution of programming
and other
information over the netwOrk becomes more complex. For example, a video server
system
within a cable or satellite content network must take into account the
compression and
conditional access technology available at the receiving system before
delivering that
programming.
The capabilities of the receiving system must also be taken into account when
providing
directories of available programming. It is important that only compatible
programming is
displayed in a programming directory so that users don't attempt to watch
programs that are
only available in formats that are incompatible with their equipment. This can
lead to significant
user frustration and loss of satisfaction.
Within the network, content may also be delivered to many devices outside of
traditional
STBs as well as being delivered to the STBs directly. Each such device may
support different
encryption and decode abilities.
In some cases, the preferred delivery method may also have to be determined
before
delivery of the programming. That is, the programming might be delivered by
normal "in-band"
RF channels, or by packet-based networks such as the Internet (e.g., via a
cable modem).
Without the ability to determine the capabilities and network environment of
each of the
client devices on the network, many of the benefits that arise from the use of
DTV, including
advanced compression techniques, enhanced conditional access capabilities, and
flexibility in
choice of delivery channel or mode, will not be fully realized.
A variety of different technologies generally relating to conditional access,
codec
operation, and network interface capabilities, are evidenced in the prior art.
For example, United
States Patent No. 6,105,134 to Pinder, et al. issued on August 15, 2000 and
entitled "Verification
of the source of program information in a conditional access system" discloses
a cable television
system which provides conditional access to services. The cable television
system includes a
headend from which service "instances", or programs, are broadcast and a
plurality of set top
units for receiving the instances and selectively decrypting the instances for
display to system
subscribers. The service instances are encrypted using public and/or private
keys provided by
service providers or central authorization agents. Keys used by the set tops
for selective
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decryption may also be Public or private in nature, and such keys may be
reassigned at different
times to provide a cable television system in which piracy concerns are
minimized.
United States Patent No. 6,175,856 to Riddle, issued January 16, 2001 and
entitled
"Method and apparatus for dynamic selection of compression processing during
teleconference
call initiation" describes a digital processing system and method which
controls selection of a
compressor in a communication system. In one embodiment, the method comprises
receiving at
the digital processing system information from a communication port, which
information
identifies decompression processing capabilities at a remote processor, and
selecting in response
to the information a particular compression process for use in compressing
data for transmission
to the remote processor.
United States Patent No. 6,216,152 to Wong, et al. issued April 10, 2001 and
entitled
"Method and apparatus for providing plug in media decoders" discloses a method
and apparatus
for providing plug-in media decoders. Embodiments provide a "plug-in" decoder
architecture
that allows software decoders to be transparently downloaded, along with media
data. User
applications are able to support new media types as long as the corresponding
plug-in decoder is
available with the media data. Persistent storage requirements are decreased
because the
downloaded decoder is transient, existing in application memory for the
duration of execution of
the user application. The architecture also supports use of plug-in decoders
already installed in
the user computer. One embodiment is implemented with object-based class files
executed in a
virtual machine to form a media application. A media data type is determined
from incoming
media data, and used to generate a class name for a corresponding codec (coder-
decoder) object.
A class path vector is searched, including the source location of the incoming
media data, to
determine the location of the codec class file for the given class name. When
the desired coded
class file is located, the virtual machine's class loader loads the class file
for integration into the
media application. If the codec class file is located across the network at
the source location of
the media data, the class loader downloads the codec class file from the
network. Once the class
file is loaded into the virtual machine, an instance of the coded class is
created within the media
application to decode/decompress the media data as appropriate for the media
data type.
United States Patent No. 6,256,393 to Safadi, et al. issued on July 3, 2001
and entitled
"Authorization and access control of software object residing in set-top
terminals" discloses a
method for providing authentication, authorization and access control of
software object residing
in digital set-top terminals creates a fingerprint ("signature") for each
software object, associates
each fingerprint with a service tier, encodes each association and creates an
association table
containing the information and downloads the association table to the digital
set-top terminal. In
addition, the method utilizes an entitlement management message, sent to each
set-top terminal,
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indicating what software objects the set-top terminal may utilize, and
provides a system routine
at the digital set-top terminal that is invoked whenever software object is
about to be utilized.
The entitlement management message contains the access rights given to a
particular set-top
terminal, which must match the software object's access requirements for the
software object to
be utilized. The entitlement management message may also contain set-top
terminal resource
control access rights that a given software object may utilize. When the
software object requires
the utilization of a set-top resource, a second conditional access routine may
be invoked to
determine the authorization rights for using the resource. Measures to protect
such means are
also described. As such the method provides multiple system cable operators
(MSO's) with
additional capabilities to maintain secure control of features and
applications running on their
networks and within the associated set-top terminals.
United States Patent No. 6,745,245 to Carpenter issued on June I, 2004 and
entitled
"Managing access to set-top box objects using television conditional access
system" discloses
methods for using a conditional access system to modify access control
information maintained
at a set-top box or another client system. The access control information
regulates the
availability of information or entertainment services at the client or
controls the ability of scripts
executed at the client to access objects defined at the client. The
conditional access system can
be a conventional conditional access, such as those used by cable television
providers, that has
been adapted to modify the access control information. The access control
information includes
multiple entries, each being referenced by a token identifier. The conditional
access system
transmits a command and an accompanying token to the client to instruct the
client how to
modify the access control information. The entry that is to be modified is
identified by
comparing the token with the token identifiers. By modifying access control
information in this
manner, the entity that operates the conditional access system is capable of
regulating the
availability of resources or services at the client. For example, a selected
level of a tiered
information service can be made available to the client.
United States Patent No. 6,799,196 to Smith, issued September 28, 2004 and
entitled
"On-demand data streaming parceling" describes a method where a client device,
or information
appliance such as a personal digital assistant, is capable of receiving
multimedia data streams
from a server. However, due to processing and display capabilities, the client
device may not be
able to present the complete data stream, or a user may elect to configure the
client device not to
process data that will unduly reduce the client device's performance.
Accordingly, the invention
provides a method and apparatus for allowing a server to determine the native,
or user selected,
capabilities of a client device, such that the server can filter and parse the
data into meaningfully
presentable data and non-meaningfully presentable data, and then transmit only
the meaningfully
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presentable data to the client device for processing and display. In an
alternative embodiment,
the server sends the complete data stream to the client device, and the client
device filters and
parses the data, and then processes only the meaningfully presentable data for
display on the
client device. =
United States Patent No. 6,985,934 to Armstrong. et al. issued January 10,
2006 and
entitled "Method and system for providing rich media content over a computer
network"
describes a method and system for providing rich media content over a computer
network. In
accordance with the invention, a server on a physical or wireless computer
network polls the
software, hardware, or appliance of an end user on the network, for the
availability of software
and/or hardware necessary for the display of rich media content. This polling
is transparent to
the end user and requires no action on the part of the end user. Based on the
client's response,
the server sends an appropriately formatted version of the rich media file.
The user is not
necessarily aware that this transfer is taking place, as it is taking place in
the background, while
the user is performing other tasks or viewing content other than that which is
being transferred.
Once the rich media has been transferred in its entirety and stored, or
cached, in the local
memory of the client, the rich media content is displayed automatically in a
designated display
area. The user may then be able to manipulate the rich media content without
affecting the other
content or tasks that were being displayed prior to the display of the rich
media content.
United States Patent Publication No. 20020032754 to Logston, et al. published
March
14, 2002 entitled "Method and apparatus for profiling in a distributed
application environment"
discloses a method and apparatus for
deriving and characterizing the resource capabilities of client devices in a
distributed application
(DA) network environment. In a first aspect of the invention, a method and
associated
architecture for obtaining client device configuration and resource
information are disclosed
which incorporate a distributed profiling entity having a server portion and
client portion, the
client portion being used to facilitate query of the client device, and
transfer of device resource
and configuration information back to the server portion. This information is
later used by the
profiling entity to alter and update the distribution of entity components
between the server and
client device. The client device configuration may also be altered if
required. In a second aspect
of the invention, a method of scaling the aforementioned distributed profiling
entity during both
=
initial download and after initiation is disclosed.
United States Patent Publication No. 20020196939 to Unger, et al. published on
December 26, 2002 and entitled "Decoding and decryption of partially encrypted
information"
discloses an encryption arrangement for multiple encryption of television
programs. A system
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according to embodiments of the present invention multiple encrypts only a
portion of the data
required for full presentation of a television program to permit coexistence
of multiple
conditional access encryption systems associated with multiple manufacturer's
set-top boxes
within a single systein. By only encrypting a portion of the program, less
bandwidth is
consumed than the alternative of multiple encryption of all program data, thus
permitting a
larger number of programs to be carried over the same bandwidth while
permitting coexistence
of multiple conditional access systems in a single cable television system.
United States Patent Publication No. 20030021412 to Candelore, et al.
published on
January 30, 2003 and entitled "Partial encryption and PID mapping" discloses
an encryption
arrangement for multiple encryption of television programs. A system according
to
embodiments of the present invention multiple encrypts only a portion of the
data required for
full presentation of a television program to permit coexistence of multiple
conditional access
encryption systems associated with multiple manufacturer's set-top boxes
within a single system.
PID mapping techniques are used to distinguish between multiple encryptions.
By only
encrypting a portion of the program, less bandwidth is consumed than the
alternative of multiple
encryption of all program data, thus permitting a larger number of programs to
be carried over
the same bandwidth while permitting coexistence of multiple conditional access
systems in a
single cable television system.
United States Patent Publication No. 20040123313 to Koo, et al. published on
June 24,
2004 and entitled "Method for updating key in DCATV conditional access system"
discloses an
invention which properly updates a key in various situations in order to
secure liability of a
service in a conditional access system for a digital cable television service.
A method for
updating a key in a conditional access system of a digital cable television
service includes the
step of receiving a request of changing service from a point of deployment
(POD) module of
subscriber having bidirectional or simplex receiver, changing a service at the
head/end and
sending an entitlement management message (EMM) having a changed key from the
head/end
to the point of deployment (POD) module.
Deficiencies of the Prior Art
Despite the foregoing plethora of prior art relating to CA, codec, and network
interface
technology, there is a salient need for improved methods and apparatus able to
readily identify
the different capabilities of two or more heterogeneous client devices on a
network during the
delivery of digital programming and other information, and make dynamic and
effective use of
this information. This includes, inter alia, addressing the lack of facility
in prior art client or
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consumer premises devices for dynamically determining available: (i)
conditional access system
support; (ii) codec support, and (iii) supported network interfaces.
As previously noted, new client or consumer premises devices may utilize any
number of
different conditional access types, codecs, and/or network interfaces, and
hence some
mechanism is needed for conveying a device's capabilities to an appropriate
network entity,
wherein decisions can be made in real time as to how to encrypt content before
it is delivered to
the device, how to compress/encode it, and over which channels to deliver it.
Additionally, user
or subscriber expectations must be managed so that electronic program guides
(EPGs) or other
such listings of available programs contain only those programs or content
elements that are
compatible with that user's client device.
Such improved methods and apparatus would also ideally be implemented using
substantially existing infrastructure, thereby obviating significant
modifications or expense in
implementing such capability.
Such improved methods and apparatus would further ideally allow for
commonalities or
other aspects of client device configuration or operation to be identified
within the network or
segments thereof, so that these commonalities or aspects could be leveraged to
provide a benefit,
such as in terms of optimizing network operation by reducing bandwidth
requirements or
loading.
Moreover, these methods and apparatus could be "self-healing" from the
standpoint that
any errors or deficiencies (in terms of capabilities) within a given network
client device could be
readily identified and rapidly corrected if desired, thereby avoiding user
frustration at being
unable to receive and view certain content.
Summary of the Invention
The foregoing needs are satisfied. by the present invention, which discloses,
inter alia,
methods and apparatus for selecting appropriate digital technology for
programming and data
delivery over a network.
In a first aspect of the invention, a system for distributing video
programming on-demand is
disclosed. In one embodiment, the system comprises: a plurality of video
signal processing
devices, each the device having a set of e.g., conditional access capabilities
and further being
configured to generate a capabilities profile and receive video programming
signals; a video-on-
demand server configured to receive the capabilities profile from individual
ones of the devices and
identify on-demand video programming that is compatible with individual ones
of the capabilities
profiles; and a network connecting the set of video signal processing devices
to the video on-
.
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demand server, and transmitting the capabilities profiles and information
relating to the identified
compatible on-demand video programming between the video signal processing
devices and the
video on-demand server. The conditional access capabilities may be provided by
one or more
hardware-based modules or software modules. In one variant, the network
comprises a hybrid fiber
coaxial (HFC) cable television network, and at least a portion of the
plurality of devices has '
heterogeneous conditional access and/or codec capabilities.
In another variant, at least some of the video processing devices further
comprise a digital
processor and software running thereon, the software comprising a operating
system and an
application component, the application component being adapted to request a
capabilities profile
from the device, and the operating system configured to poll at least one
hardware or software
module.
In a second aspect of the invention, a method of operating client equipment in
communication with a content-based network is disclosed. In one embodiment,
the equipment
comprises e.g., a plurality of supported conditional access options and at
least one application, and
the method comprises: running the at least one application; providing at least
one hardware or
software interface capable of interface with the conditional access options;
discovering the
conditional access options; and reporting the conditional access options to a
process. In one
variant, the act of discovering comprises polling a hardware or software
registry of the client
equipment to identify the conditional access options, and the act of reporting
to a process comprises
transmitting a session setup protocol message to a session resource manager
(SRM) process located
remote from the client equipment on the content-based network. The conditional
access options can
include, for example: (i) Powerkey, (ii) DigiCipher, (iii) NDS, and (iv) a
digital rights manager
(DRM).
In a third aspect of the invention, a method for operating a video processing
device for use
in a content-based network is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method
comprises: polling a set of
hardware elements for e.g., conditional access capabilities; receiving a
plurality of conditional
access capabilities in response to the polling; and generating information
describing the conditional
access options supported. In one variant, the method further comprises
transmitting a session-based
protocol message to a session resource manager (SRM) located on the content-
based network
remote from the video processing device. The session-based protocol comprises,
for example: a
descriptor parameter describing a particular resource descriptor; a descriptor
length parameter; and
a data field, such as that used in the Session Setup Protocol (SSP).
Alternatively, a Session
Initiation Protocol (SIP), MPEG-2 DSM-CC, 1ETF Real Time Streaming Protocol
(RTSP), or other
such protocol may be used.
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In a fourth aspect of the invention, apparatus for receiving digital
information from a
network is disclosed. In one embodiment, the digital information includes a
conditional access
component, and the apparatus comprises a microprocessor for running software
modules, and
further comprises: a plurality of conditional access functions, each having a
substantially distinct
condition access capability; an application for obtaining a conditional access
profile; and an
operating system for polling the plurality of conditional access functions in
order to generate
information for the conditional access profile. In one variant, the apparatus
is in data
communication with a set-top box adapted for use in cable television network.
In another variant,
the apparatus is in data communication with a DOCSIS cable modem box adapted
for use in cable
television network.
In a fifth aspect of the invention, improved network server apparatus is
disclosed. In one
embodiment, the apparatus comprises: a processor; a storage device in data
communication with
the processor; and a computer program configured to run on the processor, the
program being
adapted to: receive e.g., conditional access profile information from at least
one network client
device; determine at least one content element compatible with the profile
information; and
generate information for transmission to the at least one client device
relating to the at least one
content element. In one variant, the network comprises a content-based cable
network, and the
server comprises a server process associated with a video-on-demand function
of the network. The
computer program is also optionally further adapted to: identify when two or
more of the at least
one client devices have the same profile information; and invoke a bandwidth-
conserving content
delivery mechanism to at least the two or more devices.
In a sixth aspect of the invention, a method of identifying programming
deliverable over a
network that is available for on-demand viewing by a user is disclosed. In one
embodiment, the
method comprises: determining a capabilities profile provided by a plurality
of e.g., conditional
access (CA) modules contained in a client device; transmitting the
capabilities profile to a network
agent; determining at least one on-demand program compatible with the
capabilities profile;
transmitting information identifying the at least program to the client
device; and displaying at least
a portion of the information for viewing by a user. In one variant, the
network agent comprises a
system resource manager (SRM) associated with a video on-demand server process
of the network,
and the determination of a capabilities profile comprises polling the modules
to determine which of
a plurality of conditional access functions are supported thereby.
In a seventh aspect of the invention, a method of doing business over a cable
television
network is disclosed. In one embodiment, the Method comprises: receiving first
information
relating to the capabilities of a plurality of CPE operatively communicating
with the network;
receiving second information relating to the respective subscription level of
subscribers associated
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with the plurality of CPE; and selecting, based at least in part on the first
and second information,
one of a plurality of variants of a content element for delivery to each of
the plurality of CPE.
In another embodiment, the method comprises: receiving first information
relating to the
capabilities of a CPE operatively communicating with the network; receiving
second information
relating to the subscriber associated with the CPE; evaluating, based at least
in part on the first
information, content for possible delivery to the CPE; and where the act of
evaluating indicates that
the content is not suitable for the CPE capabilities,, selectively providing a
component to the CPE
based at least in part on the second information.
In an eighth aspect of the invention, a method of operating a content delivery
network is
disclosed. In one embodiment, the network comprises a switched architecture
network having a
one node and a switching mechanism controlling delivery of programs to the
node, and the method
comprises: providing a plurality of programs to the switching mechanism;
obtaining first
information relating to the capabilities of particular client devices serviced
by the node; obtaining
second information relating to program requests from the plurality of client
devices; and based at
least in part on the first and second information, selectively switching at
least one of the programs
for delivery to the node using at least the switching mechanism. In another
embodiment, the
network comprises a broadcast switched architecture (BSA) capable of switched
broadcast
delivery, and the act of obtaining first information comprises obtaining
information relating to the
conditional access (CA), decoders, or network interfaces available to
individual ones of the client
devices.
These and other aspects of the invention shall become apparent when considered
in light
of the disclosure provided below.
Brief Description of the Drawings
Fig. 1 is a functional block diagram illustrating an exemplary HFC network
configuration
useful with the present invention.
Fig. la is a functional block diagram illustrating one exemplary head-end
configuration of
an HFC network useful with the present invention.
Fig. 2 is a flow chart illustrating a method of operation performed in
accordance with
one embodiment of the invention.
Fig. 2a is a graphical representation of one embodiment of a software
architecture
adapted for CPE capability profiling and program selection according to the
present invention.
Fig. 3 is a functional block diagram of exemplary CPE configured in accordance
with
one embodiment of the invention.
=
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Fig. 3a is functional block diagram of exemplary CPE configured in accordance
with a
second embodiment of the invention, wherein a cable modem (CM) is also
integrated.
Fig. 3b is functional block diagram of exemplary CPE configured in accordance
with a
third embodiment of the invention, wherein CableCardTM conditional access
functionality is also
=
present within the CPE.
Fig. 4 is a flow chart illustrating the operation of a CPE when configured in
accordance
with one embodiment of the invention.
Fig. 5 is a functional block diagram illustrating the operation of CPE in
gathering profile
data when configured in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.
Fig. 6 is a functional block diagram of one embodiment of a network (server)
device
adapted for capability profile analysis and selection according to the
invention.
= Fig. 7a is a functional block diagram illustrating one exemplary local
service node
configuration useful with the present invention.
Fig. 7b is a functional block diagram illustrating one exemplary broadcast
switched
architecture (BSA) network useful with the present invention.
Detailed Description of the Invention
Reference is now made to the drawings wherein like numerals refer to like
parts
throughout.
As used herein, the term "application" refers generally to a unit of
executable software
that implements theme-based functionality The themes of applications vary
broadly across any
number of disciplines and functions (such as e-commerce transactions,
brokerage transactions,
mortgage interest calculation, home entertainment, calculator etc.), and one
application may
have more than one theme. The unit of executable software generally runs in a
predetermined
environment; for example, the unit could comprise a downloadable Java XIetTM
that runs within
the JavaTVTm environment.
As used herein, the term "computer program" is meant to include any sequence
or human
or machine cognizable steps which perform a function. Such program may be
rendered in
virtually any programming language Or environment including, for example, C/C-
H-, Fortran,
COBOL, PASCAL, assembly language, markup languages (e.g., HTML, SGML, XML,
VoXML), and the like, as well as object-oriented environments such as the
Common Object
Request Broker Architecture (CORBA), JavaTM (including J2ME, Java Beans, etc.)
and the like.
As used herein, the term "middleware" refers to software that generally runs
primarily at
an intermediate layer in a software or protocol stack. For example, middleware
may run on top
of an operating system and platform hardware, and below applications.
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The term "component" refers generally to a unit or portion of executable
software that is
based on a related set of functionalities. For example, a component could be a
single class in
JavaTM or C++.
As used herein, the term "process" refers, without limitation, to executable
software; e.g.,
that runs within its own CPU environment. A server process is an executable
software process
that serves various resources and information to other processes (clients)
that request them.
As used herein, the term "DTV Network Provider" refers to. a cable, satellite,
or
terrestrial network provider having infrastructure required to deliver
services including
programming (e.g., digital TV) and data over those mediums.
As used herein, the terms "network" and "bearer network" refer generally to
any type of
telecommunications or data network including, without limitation, hybrid fiber
coax (HFC)
networks, satellite networks, telco networks, and data networks (including
MANs, WANs,
LANs, WLANs, intemets, and intranets). Such networks or portions thereof may
utilize any one
or more different topologies (e.g., ring, bus, star, loop, etc.), transmission
media (e.g., wired/RF
cable, RF wireless, millimeter wave, optical, etc.) and/or communications or
networking
protocols (e.g., SONET, DOCSIS, IEEE Std. 802.3, ATM, X.25, Frame Relay, 3GPP,
3GPP2,
WAP, SIP, DSM-CC, RTSP, UDP, FTP, RTP/RTCP, TCP/IP, H.323, etc.).
As used herein, the term "head-end" refers generally to a networked system
controlled by
an operator (e.g., an MSO or multimedia specific operator) that distributes
programming to
MSO clientele using client devices. Such programming may include literally any
information
source/receiver including, inter alia, free-to-air TV channels, pay TV
channels, interactive TV,
and the Internet. DSTBs may literally take on any configuration, and can be
retail devices
meaning that consumers may or may not obtain their DSTBs from the MSO
exclusively.
Accordingly, it is anticipated that MSO networks may have client devices from
multiple
vendors, and these client devices will have widely varying hardware
capabilities. Multiple
regional head-ends may be in the same or different cities.
As used herein, the terms "client device" and "end user device" include, but
are not limited
to, personal computers (PCs) and minicomputers, whether desktop, laptop, or
otherwise, set-top
boxes such as the Motorola DCT2XXXJ5XXX and Scientific Atlanta Explorer
2XXX/3XXX/4XXX/8XXX series digital devices, personal digital assistants (PDAs)
such as the
RIM Blackberry , "Palm " family of devices, handheld computers, personal
communicators such
as the Motorola Accompli devices, Motorola .0jo SIP phone, 32ME equipped
devices, cellular
telephones and smartphones, personal music or media devices, or literally any
other device capable
of interchanging data with a network.
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Similarly, the terms "Consumer Premises Equipment (CPE)" and "host device"
refer to
any type of electronic equipment located within a consumer's or user's
premises and connected
to a network. The term "host device" refers generally to a terminal device
that has access to
digital television content via a satellite, cable, or terrestrial network. The
host device
functionality may be integrated into a digital television (DTV) set. The term
"consumer
. premises equipment" (CPE) includes such electronic equipment such as set-
top boxes,
televisions, Digital Video Recorders (DVR), gateway storage devices (Furnace),
personal media
devices (PMDs), and ITV Personal Computers.
As used herein, the term "network agent" refers to any network entity (whether
software,
firmware, and/or hardware based) adapted to perform one or more specific
purposes. For
example, a network agent may comprise a.computer program running in server
belonging to a
network operator, which is in communication with one or more processes on a
CPE or other
device.
As used herein, the term "DOCSIS" refers to any of the existing or planned
variants of
the Data Over Cable Services Interface Specification, including for example
DOCSIS versions
1.0, 1.1, 2.0 and 3Ø DOCSIS (version 1.0) is a standard and protocol for
interne access using a
"digital" cable network. DOCSIS 1.1 is interoperable with DOCSIS 1.0, and has
data rate and
latency guarantees (VolP), as well as improved security compared to DOCSIS
1Ø DOCSIS 2.0
is interoperable with 1.0 and 1.1, yet provides a wider upstream band (6.4
MHz), as well as new
modulation formats including TDMA and CDMA. It also provides symmetric
services (30
Mbps upstream).
The term "processor" is meant to include any integrated circuit or other
electronic device
(or collection of devices) capable of performing an operation on at least one
instruction
including, without limitation, reduced instruction set core (RISC) processors,
CISC
microprocessors, microcontroller units (MCUs), CISC-based central processing
units (CPUs),
and digital signal processors (DSPs). The hardware of such devices may be
integrated onto a
single subStrate (e.g., silicon "die"), or distributed among two or more
substrates. Furthermore,
various functional aspects of the processor may be implemented solely as
software or firmware
associated with the processor.
As used herein, the term "DVR" (digital video recorder) refers generally to
any type or
recording mechanism and/or software environment whereby content sent over a
network can be
recorded and selectively recalled. Such DVR may be dedicated in nature, or
part of a non-
dedicated or multi-function system.
As used herein, the term "DVI"(digital video interface) refers generally to
any type of
interface (e.g., hardware and/or software) adapted to provide interface and/or
conversion between
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different formats or domains, including without limitation interfaces
compliant with the Digital
Display Working Group (DDWG) DV1 specification (e.g., DV1-A, DV1-D, and DVI-
1).
As used herein, the term "video" is meant to generally include, without
limitation, audio
and/or video and other associated multimedia information that comprise
content, such as for
example an on-demand program. Exemplary types of services and models for
providing such video
include, without limitation, Video-On-Demand (VOD), IPTV, "Video To Go", and
network
personal video recorder (NPVR).
As used herein, the term "codec" refers to an video, audio, or other data
coding and/or
decoding algorithm, process or apparatus including, without limitation, those
of the MPEG (e.g.,
MPEG- I, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, etc.), Real (RealVideo, etc.), AC-3 (audio), DiVX,
XViDNiDX,
Windows Media Video (e.g., WMV 7, 8, or 9), ATI Video codec, or VC-1 (SMPTE
standard
421M) families.
As used herein, the term "conditional access" refers to any access control
scheme, whether
implemented in hardware, software, or firmware (or combinations thereof),
including without
limitation members of the "Powerkey" family (Powerkey Book 2, Powerkey Book 3,
etc.), NDS
(including VideoGuard, mVideoGuard, etc.), ANSI/SCTE Standard 52 2003 (DVS-
042),
and Motorola/General Instrument DigiCipher
family (DigiCipher II, etc.). These can be implemented using, for example, the
so-called
"CableCard" plug-in security module access technology, a downloadable CA
system (DCAS), or
otherwise.
As used herein, the term "network interface" refers to any signal or data
interface with a
component or network including, without limitation, those of the Firewire
(e.g., FW400, FW800,
etc.), USB (e.g., USB2), Ethernet (e.g., 10/100, 10/100/1000 (Gigabit
Ethernet), 10-Gig-E, etc.),
MoCA, Serial ATA (e.g., SATA, e-SATA, SATAII), Ultra-ATA/DMA, Coaxsys (e.g.,
TVnetTm),
radio frequency tuner (e.g., in-band or 00B, cable modem, etc.), WiFi
(802.11a,b,g,n), WiMAX
(802.16), PAN (802.15), or IrDA families.
Overview
The present invention provides, inter alia, improved apparatus and methods for
the
management and control of electronic devices connected to a network. In one
embodiment, the
network comprises an HF'C cable or satellite network, and the electronic
devices comprise set-top
boxes, PMDs, or other types of equipment containing one or more hardware and
software functions
or modules. The hardware and software functions/modules of the different
devices on the network
contain various capabilities and options, including conditional access
capabilities, video coding or
compression capabilities, encryption schema, and network interfaces. These
capabilities are
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utilized as a basis for determining which conditional access, coding,
encryption, and/or network
interfaces to utilize for delivery of content to each particular client
device.
The present invention is advantageously adaptable to literally any type of
session
environment or protocol, as well as broadcast switched networks and other
paradigms. In one
embodiment, the network is capable of video-on-demand (VOD) delivery, and
includes a VOD
server and associated session resource manager (SRM) that acts to select and
deliver the desired
content to each subscriber in a device-specific fashion based on sessions
established between the
server and client.
In another embodiment, the client device is used to provide at least a portion
of analysis of
its own capabilities, as well as selection of suitable content compatible with
those capabilities.
In yet another embodiment, the network comprises a broadcast switched
architecture
(BSA), and the client device information is used as a basis for hub/node
switching decisions.
The improved methods and apparatus of the invention are readily implemented
using
substantially existing infrastructure, thereby obviating significant
modifications or expense in
implementing such capability.
These apparatus and methods are also optionally configured to identify
commonalities or
other aspects of client device configuration or operation, so that these
commonalities or aspects
can be leveraged to provide inter alia, optimization of network operation by
reducing bandwidth
requirements or loading.
The disclosed methods and apparatus are also substantially "self-healing" from
the
standpoint that any errors or deficiencies (in terms of capabilities) within a
given network client
device can be readily identified and rapidly corrected if desired, such as
where codecs or
applications are downloaded directly to a client device in order to provide it
with additional
functionality.
An operational and business rules "engine" useful in implementing various
network policies
is also disclosed.
Detailed Description of Exemplary Embodiments
Exemplary embodiments of the apparatus and methods of the present invention
are now
While these exemplary embodiments are described in the context of the
aforementioned
hybrid fiber coax (HFC) cable system architecture having an multi-systems
operator (MSO),
digital networking capability, and plurality of client devices/CPE, the
general principles and
advantages of the invention may be extended to other types of networks and
architectures,
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CA 02643806 2011-04-19
whether broadband, narrowband, wired or wireless, or otherwise, the following
therefore being
merely exemplary in nature. For example, these techniques can readily be
employed in the
context of a broadband satellite network, or even a mobile communications
system such as that
described in co-pending and co-owned U.S. Patent Application Publication No.
20070094691 filed
October 24, 2005 and entitled "Method and Apparatus For On-Demand Content
Transmission and
Control Over Networks.
It will also be appreciated that while described generally in the context of a
network
providing service to a customer (i.e., home) end user domain, the present
invention may be
readily adapted to other types of environments including, e.g.,
commercial/enterprise, and
government/military applications.
System Architecture ¨
Fig. I illustrates a high-level diagram of a typical content-based network
configuration
with which the conditional access determination and selection methodologies of
the present
invention may be used. The various components of the network 100 include (i)
one or more
data and application origination points 102; (ii) one or more content or
program sources 103;
(iii) one or more application/data/content distribution servers 104; (iv) one
or more VOD servers
105, and (v) consumer premises equipment (CPE) 106. The distribution server(s)
104, VOD
servers 105 and CPE(s) 106 are connected via a bearer (e.g., HFC) network 101.
A simple
architecture comprising one of each of the aforementioned components 102, 104,
105, 106 is
shown in Fig. 1 for simplicity, although it will be recognized that comparable
architectures with
multiple origination points, distribution servers, VOD servers, and/or CPE
devices (as well as
different network topologies) may be utilized consistent with the invention.
For example, the
head-end architecture of Fig. la (described in greater detail below) may be
used.
The application origination point 102 comprises any medium that allows an
application
(such as a data download application or VOD-based application) to be
transferred to a
distribution server 104. This can include for example an application vendor
website, CD-ROM,
external network interface, mass storage device (e.g., RAID system), etc. Such
transference may
be automatic, initiated upon the occurrence of one or more specified events
(such as the receipt
of a request packet or ACK), performed manually, or accomplished in any number
of other
modes readily recognized by those of ordinary skill.
The content source 103 may comprise any indigenous (i.e., MSO) or third party
provider
of content, whether direct or indirect. This content may comprise an MPEG
(e.g., MPEG-2,
MPEG-4, etc.) stream, or otherwise. The content may also pass through one or
more
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intermediary nodes or conditioning process before transmission over the
network 101, as is well
understood in the art.
The application distribution server 104 comprises a computer system where such
applications can enter the network system. Distribution servers are well known
in the
networking arts, and accordingly not described further herein.
The VOD server 105 a computer system where on-demand content, as well as the
data
discussed in greater detail below) can be received from one or more data
sources 102 and enter
the network system. These sources may generate the content/data locally, or
alternatively act as
a gateway or intermediary from a distant Source. In one embodiment, the VOD
server 105
includes the Session Resource Manager (SRM) functionality, and asks the
Digital Network
Control System (DNCS) for resources. The DNCS responds with negative or
positive response
to the request, and the VOD server implements the appropriate resource
allocation logic. For
example, when a new VOD session request is made, the SRM receives that
request, allocates
bandwidth on a downstream QAM channel, and sends the information back to the
CPE that
made the request so that it can tune to the right RF channel and the VOD
program therein. Since
the SRM controls mapping of incoming VOD session requests to QAM channels
within the
= Service Group, it is an appropriate place for a Cable Operator to enforce
RF channel usage and
other policies, including CA. In general, SRM should maximize availability of
bandwidth to
VOD sessions (by efficiently recycling bandwidth from expired sessions) and by
ensuring some
level of redundancy in case of equipment failure (e.g. a QAM modulator fails).
It will be appreciated that while several exemplary embodiment of the
invention are
described in the content of an SRM closely associated with a VOD server, (i)
the SRM may be
located outside of or at a location separate from the VOD server (such as,
e.g., on a LAN or
WAN in data communication with the VOD server or its proxy); and (ii) one or
more entities
other than an SRM may be used to provide the described functionality. See,
e.g., the discussion
of the broadcast switched architecture (BSA) embodiments described
subsequently herein.
The CPE 106 includes any equipment in the "customers' premises" (or other
locations,
whether local or remote to the distribution server 104) that can be accessed
by a distribution
server 104. Such CPEs 106 comprise processors and associated computer memory
(and
optionally mass storage) adapted to store and run the downloaded or resident
application, as well
as receive and store the streamed in-band content and data. In the present
context, at least a
portion of the CPE application necessary to facilitate conditional access can
itself be
downloaded to the CPE 106, wherein the latter executes the downloaded
application(s)/components in order to enable the CPE to receive appropriate
types of data,
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although it will be recognized that the application(s) may also be resident on
the CPE before
download, received from another source (such as a third party Internet site,
CD-ROM, etc.).
Referring now to Fig. la, one exemplary embodiment of a head-end architecture
useful
with the present invention is described. As shown in Fig. la, the 'head-end
architecture 150
comprises typical head-end components and services including billing module
152, subscriber
management system (SMS) and CPE configuration management module 154, cable-
modem
= termination system (CMTS) and 00B system 156, as well as LAN(s) 158, 160
placing the
= various components in data communication with one another. It will be
appreciated that while a
bar or bus LAN topology is illustrated, any number of other arrangements as
previously
referenced (e.g., ring, star, etc.) may be used consistent with the invention.
It will also be
appreciated that the head-end configuration depicted in Fig. la is high-level,
conceptual
architecture and that each MS0 may have multiple head-ends deployed using
custom
architectures.
The architecture 150 of Fig. la further includes a
multiplexer/encrypter/modulator
(MEM) 162 coupled to the HFC network 101 adapted to "condition" content for
transmission
over the network. In the present context, the distribution servers 104 are
coupled to the LAN
160, which provides access to the MEM 162 and network 101 via one or more file
servers 170.
The VOD servers 105 are coupled to the LAN 160 as well, although other
architectures may be
employed (such as for example where the VOD servers are associated with a core
switching
device such as an 802.3z Gigabit Ethernet device). As previously described,
information is
carried across multiple channels. Thus, the head-end must be adapted to
acquire the information
for the carried channels froth various sources. Typically, the channels being
delivered from the
head-end 150 to the CPE 106 ("downstream") are multiplexed together in the
head-end and sent
to neighborhood hubs (not shown).
Content (e.g., audio, video, etc.) is provided in each downstream (in-band)
channel
associated with the relevant service group. To communicate with the head-end,
the CPE 106
uses the 00B or DOCSIS channels and associated protocols. The OCAP 1.0
specification
provides for networking protocols both downstream and upstream, although other
protocols and
specifications may be used.
The transmission channels from the head end to the CPE may be 6 MHz bands
populating a forward passband, e.g., 350-750 MHz band, of a coaxial cable,
which is allocated
for downstream communication from headend 105 to a set-top terminal. The use
of other
channel bandwidths and frequencies is also consistent with the present
invention.
It should be noted at this point that the term "transmission channel" is to be
distinguished with a "program channel." A "transmission channel" signifies a
designated
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CA 02643806 2012-05-04
frequency band through which a transport stream containing broadcast programs
is transmitted.
On the other hand, a "program channel" signifies the source of the program
material selected by
a user to view. For example, a user may select program channel 2 to view
program material
provided by CBS, program channel 14 to view program material provided by ESPN;
program
channel 32 to view program material provided by MTV, and so forth.
Upstream data from a set-top or other device to the headend 105 may be
communicated
via a reverse passband, e.g., 5-40 MHz band, of a coaxial cable. The reverse
passband
comprises reverse data channels (RDCs) having a 1 MHz bandwidth in this
instance, through
which quaternary phase shift keying (QPSK) signals containing upstream data
are transmitted.
It should ,be noted that the 1 MHz bandwidth allocated for an RDC here is for
illustrative
purposes only.
It will also be recognized that the multiple servers (OD or otherwise) can be
used, and
disposed at two or more different locations if desired, such as being part of
different server
"farms". These multiple servers can be used to feed one service group, or
alternatively different
service groups. In a simple architecture, a single server is used to feed one
or more service
groups. In another variant, multiple servers located at the same location are
used to feed one or
more service groups. In yet another variant, multiple servers disposed at
different location are
used to feed one or more service groups. One exemplary multi-server
architecture particularly
useful with the present invention is described in co-pending and co-owned
United States Patent
Application Publication No. 20020059619 to Lebar published May 16, 2002 and
entitled
"Hybrid central/distributed VOD system with tiered content structure".
In the exemplary embodiment of the content delivery network of the invention,
a hybrid
central/distributed and tiered video-on-demand (VOD) service network with
tiered content
structure is disclosed. In particular, the exemplary system uses media servers
located in both the
head-end and hub stations. Set-top boxes generally would be supplied VOD
services from the
high-demand content media (and optionally data, as discussed below) servers
located in the hub
station nearest to the user. The central media server located in the head-end
would be used as an
installed backup to the hub media servers; as the primary source for lower
demand VOD
services and as the source of the real time, centrally encoded programs with
PVR (personal
video recorder) capabilities. By distributing the servers to the hub stations,
the size of the fiber
transport network associated with delivering VOD services from the central
head-end media
server is reduced. Hence, each user has access to several server ports located
on at least two
servers. Multiple paths and channels are available for content and data
distribution to each user,
assuring high system reliability and enhanced asset availability. Substantial
cost benefits are
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derived from the reduced need for a large content distribution network and the
reduced storage
capacity requirements for hub servers.
High speed data download capability can also be provided via the
aforementioned VOD
infrastructure; a description of an exemplary high-speed data system and
methods for use over a
video-on-demand system can be found in co-pending and co-owned U.S. Patent
Application
Publication No. 20060130107 filed December 15, 2004 and entitled "Method and
Apparatus for High
Bandwidth Data Transmission in a Content Based Networks".
The CMTS 156 generates network data that is transmitted by way of MEM 162 on
the
out of band channels. Typically the network data comprises internet protocol
(IP) packets that
provide, inter alia, user access to internetworking (e.g., the Internet).
The VOD server 105 (or its proxy) contains a programming library and
associated
database. The database includes, among other things, a list of the programming
and the types of
encoding and conditional access technologies that are to be used with each
program.
Methods -
Fig 2 is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary method of operation performed
in
accordance with one embodiment of the invention.
The exemplary process 200 begins at step 202, wherein a description or list of
capabilities ("profile") relating to one or more CPE 106 is accessed. This
list may be generated
and transmitted using a session setup protocol (SSP) message generated by the
CPE 106; this
protocol is described in greater detail subsequently herein, although it will
be recognized that
any number of different protocols can be used consistent with the invention,
such as for example
the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), those specified in Part 6 of "MPEG-2:
Digital Storage
Media-Command And Control" (referred to as DSM-CC) defined under the ISO/IEC
13818-6
International Standard, IGMPv.3, a Trivial File Transfer Protocol (TFTP), Real
Time Protocol
(RTP/RTCP), the Real Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP), or the Lightweight Stream
Control
Protocol (LSCP). Alternatively, the description or list may be retained in
another location (e.g.,
proxy, network agent, head-end database, or third party server), and provided
from this location
via a messaging interface and protocol, or other such mechanism (e.g., direct
database access by
a VOD server process).
The capabilities described or listed can include, e.g., the conditional access
capabilities
of the CPE, the video compression/decoding capabilities, processing and memory
capability
("thickness" of the CPE's hardware/middieware architecture), hardware or API
registry
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information, etc. Additionally, the network connections and network interfaces
accessible to the
CPE can be reported if desired.
The foregoing information can also be provided on a "specific request" basis,
such as
where a request is transmitted to the CPE 106 (or generated internally) to
determine if a specific
capability, API, etc. (and only that capability, API, etc.) is present in and
accessible to the CPE
106. This approach obviates having to generate highly detailed and potentially
lengthy
capabilities profile on a routine or frequent basis (e.g., every time the CPE
106 is polled),
especially when the required capability, etc. is already identified and
readily ascertained.
Where used, upstream transmission of the CPE capabilities profile(s) can be
conducted
on any number of different bases, including without limitation: (i) at a
prescribed periodicity; (ii)
upon occurrence of an event (e.g., at CPE or VOD server start-up, or a change
in capabilities of
the CPE, such as application upgrade installation); (iii) upon particular
request from an upstream
entity; (iv) based on upstream (e.g., 00B) bandwidth availability, etc.
Upon gaining access to the capabilities profile of the CPE, the processing
entity (e.g.,
SRM associated with the VOD server 105) will compare that profile to a list,
table, or similar
structure containing information on available content elements (e.g.,
programs), including the
conditional access mechanisms available for those programs. Similarly, other
parameters
associated with that program can be evaluated, such as e.g., appropriate video
codecs, etc. The
processing entity will then create a list of programs that are available for
viewing by the CPE
106 for which the profile was derived, and at step 204 the processing entity
will transmit the list
of programming to the CPE 106.
At step 206, the CPE will present the list of programs available for use
(e.g., VOD
selection) by a subscriber. This presentation is typically accomplished via a
visual display, such
as via the user's monitor or television, although another presentation system
(e.g., GUI or menu
structure on a PC, audible cues, etc., may also be used. One exemplary
apparatus and method for
transmitting and displaying program listing information is described in co-
pending and co-
owned U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 20040187150 (Client Docket No.
61575.1014)
filed March 18, 2003 and entitled "Technique For Providing Program Guide Data
Through A
Communications Network Delivering Programming Content", although it will be
appreciated by
those of ordinary skill that other techniques may be used alone or in
combination with the
foregoing.
At step 208, the user selects a particular program for viewing, such as via an
existing
VOD client application (e.g., on-screen navigator or similar application)
resident on the CPE
106. This selection is forwarded to VOD server 105, such as via upstream
message or signaling
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=
interfaces of the type well known in the art, and the server 105 causes
delivery of the program to
the user via, e.g., session and stream instantiation. In one embodiment, the
program comprises
the only variant of the program available for delivery; i.e., server has a
single variant, and
determines via the foregoing method whether or not a given CPE 106 is capable
of utilizing the
program (e.g., has the necessary CA capability, codec, etc.). CPE not having
adequate facility
for access or decoding of the program are not given the option to select it.
In an alternate variant, the server 106 or other content source has a
plurality of different
variants of a given program available for delivery, and the processing entity
evaluates the
capabilities of the relevant CPE 106 against those of the different variants
of a given program or
other content element, and then generates one or more matches where possible.
These matching
program variants can each be delivered to the CPE 106 being profiled,
depending on other
factors which may exist such as availability or demand for one variant over
another, downstream
bandwidth requirements, differences in the actual content of the program
(e.g., one variant
adapted for West Coast viewers, versus other geographic regions of the
country), and so forth.
In another variant, the SRM or other processing entity identifies those
attributes or
features of the required capabilities profile for a given program (variant)
that are not present in
the capabilities profile of the CPE 106 being evaluated, and causes a message
or signal to be
generated. This message or signal may simply comprise an error message or log
file, or may
also comprise a request for service to the CPE, such as for downloading an
application, codec,
CA component, encryption data or key, API, or other component needed by the
CPE 106 to
make use of the content. This process can be controlled by a permission/access
scheme of its
own, such. as where the provision of these "missing" components is controlled
by the user's
prior authorization, payment, subscription level, or other parameter(s). These
components can
be downloaded, e.g., via in-band or 0013 downstream channel, or even via a
separate channel
such as via DOCSIS channel and cable modern. They can be selected, for
example, from a
codec/CA key/API "carousel" or other similar mechanism. This process can be
made
substantially transparent as well, such that it occurs immediately preceding
VOD session
instantiation, or concurrent with or preceding other events (such as CPE
startup).
In the illustrated embodiment of Fig. 2, the processing entity (e.g., VOD SRM)
selects
the format in which to deliver programming based on the capabilities of the
CPE 105 at step
210.
Additionally, in another embodiment of the invention, the VOD server 105 will
determine the network over which to deliver the programming to the CPE (step
212). This
decision could depend upon several factors such as the bandwidth available on
each of the
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possible delivery networks, the possibility of multicasting and re-using an
ongoing transmission
in a network, and so forth. For example, in one embodiment, loading or
available bandwidth is
generated by the network and sent to the VOD server/SRM periodically, such as
via an inter-
process message. Alternatively, the number of dropped packets on each network
could be
monitored and used as a determinant. Network .load can also be evaluated by
looking at the
delay incurred when data is transmitted over the network.
As is well known, multicasting is an effective method of reducing bandwidth
requirements for IP or similar packet-based transmissions. For example, where
two IPTV-
capable client devices are in operation on the network, and have consistent or
identical
capability profiles, a given program requested by both devices can be
multicast to these devices
(as opposed to two unicasts), the former requiring less downstream bandwidth
than the latter. =
Myriad different algorithms for determining the best or optimal network
channel(s) to
transmit content over under varying operational conditions will be readily
recognized by those
of ordinary skill provided the present disclosure.
In some instances, the network selected for delivery will be the normal in-
band RF
downstream link to the CPE 106. In other instances, the VOD server 105 might
select a lower
bandwidth VC-1 or H.264-over-DOCSIS channel, or 00B channel. In still other
instances, the
program could be provided via a standard internetworking connection (e.g., via
the Internet as
delivered via another channel outside of the cable network such as a
satellite, WiMAX or WiFi
interface, assuming suitable bandwidth).
The VOD server 105 can also use a list of network connections or interfaces
provided by
the CPE 106 to determine what methods for delivery are available in the first
place.
Alternatively, this information can be drawn from a database or other such
repository maintained
at the head-end or another location within the network, which is based on
initial registration
information as well as periodic updates provided by the CPE or another entity
tasked with
gathering such information.
Upon selection of the network to use for delivery, a message it transmitted to
the CPE
informing it of the selected delivery interface/channel(s). The programming is
then delivered at
step 214 via the selected interface.
In should be noted that in some embodiments of the invention, other
programming or
data may be received and processed by the CPE simultaneously with performance
of the method
200 described in Fig. 2. For example, the CPE 106 may receive a first program
for viewing in
real-time, a second program for storage and later viewing, as well as high
speed data downloads
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via the aforementioned VOD-based download capability described elsewhere
herein, all while
receiving the video-on-demand programming as described above.
In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the CPE 106 is configured to
maintain the
capabilities profile internally, and act as the "processing entity". In this
embodiment, the
application server or other upstream entity will transmit a listing of
programs and variants
thereof available for viewing (this list may be a complete listing, or a
subset thereof), along with
the conditional access and video compression options available for those
programs (variants).
The CPE 106 receives this list of programs, and compares it with its own
capabilities profile in
order to provide a CPE-specific list of programs available for viewing by the
subscriber. This
list of CPE specific programs will be displayed to the user. The CPE-specific
capabilities profile
can also be extended to connected devices; e.g., other devices which are part
of a local network,
or otherwise in communication with the "host" CPE (e.g., DSTB). For example, a
wireless
interface between the CPE (DSTB) and a personal electronic device (such as a
PDA) can be
used as the basis for transmitting capabilities profile information about the
PDA to the CPE, the
latter which then utilizes this information to form a super-set of
capabilities for itself and any
connected devices. This is also true for the prior embodiments described,
wherein the processing
entity is upstream of the CPE, such as at the VOD server/SRM.
In the aforementioned "superset" approach, a mechanism for restricting access
to
particular programs or variants thereof can also be employed in order to avoid
situations where a
non-capable platform attempts to select and access the content. For example,
if only the
wireless PDA previously described has a particular conditional access
capability, whereas its
"host" DSTB does not, then the client application running on the CPE 106 is
configured to
remove this program variant from the listing displayed to the subscriber, or
alternatively mark
this entry as "PDA only" or the like.
Under the foregoing embodiment wherein the CPE 106 acts as the processing
entity, the
processing required by VOD server 105 is reduced, as it is not required to
compare the
programming lists with the capabilities profile providing by the CPE. Rather,
the comparison
function is distributed across the individual CPE. However, the amount of data
that is
transmitted downstream to the CPE in this approach could be greater, as the
complete lists of
available programming and associated formats will be larger than the
customized lists generated
under the previously discussed "centralized" approach, although upstream
communication of the
CPE profiles is also required.
In an exemplary "distributed" processing approach, the CPE 106 will discover
is own
capabilities by polling or by reading a set of capabilities from a registry or
other such
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=
information storage or registration mechanism. The VOD server or its proxy
will transmit a list
of programs and the associated formats available for those programs to the
CPE. Transmission
and delivery of this listing may also follow any number of different paradigms
such as those
previously described with respect to upstream transmission (e.g.,
periodically, upon occurrence
of a particular event, upon request, etc.). The CPE 106 will then determine
the set of programs
available that are compatible with its capabilities (or those of communicating
client devices, as
previously described), and then will display the authorized or accessible
programs (which may
also be on a per-device basis, such as for connected client devices).
In another aspect of the invention, the CPE and/or associated client device
profile
information can be stored at the s'erver or other network repository (e.g.,
database), such that
real-time polling of the CPE is substantially obviated. In one variant, the
CPE 106 is configured
to poll itself (i.e., hardware/software modules) or access its internal
registry only upon certain
events, such as at initial installation and boot-up. This initial profile is
then sent to the head-end,
server, or other repository for storage, so that the configuration profile for
that CPE can be
subsequently accessed based on, e.g., a user/device ID (such as the "TUNER_ID"
variable or
MAC address) or other such indexing mechanism. Thereafter, a configuration
change record is
optionally maintained within the CPE 106, and when a change to the CPE's
hardware or
software configuration or registry occurs, only the change information is sent
up to the
server/repository. This approach obviates polling and sending an entire
capabilities profile
description each time the information is required by the server/SRM. It also
obviates any
downstream profile requests, since the onus is placed on the CPE to update its
own profile and
records (either directly or via a proxy). Furthermore, the server/SRM or other
processing entity
using the CPE profile data need not have communication with the CPE in order
to obtain the
information; hence, during periods of maintenance, failure, high downstream
loading, etc., the
processing entity can perform the profile and program analysis tasks
independently of any
contact with the CPE 106.
In another aspect of the invention, the processing entity (e.g., VOD server
process/SRM)
can be configured to analyze the profile data for two or more CPE 106 in order
to identify
commonalities or other features of interest. This comparison or identification
of features can be
used for other useful purposes, such as identifying instances where multi-
casting of content or
data may be possible. In certain instances, multicasting can advantageously be
used to save
network bandwidth. This scheme becomes even more useful when conditional
access or other
(e.g., network interface or codec/encryption) capability reported by a video
receiver matches the
conditional access capability of another device, that is also receiving (or
desires to receive) the
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CA 02643806 2011-04-19
same program. Even when different conditional access systems are used by these
two devices,
the encrypted multimedia stream can be shared; only the key data stream needs
to be different.
However, since program selections by a user are not made until after the list
of accessible
or available programs or content is generated and transmitted to each user,
the instigation of
, actual multicast operation is not performed until two or more CPE (or
associated client devices)
with matching CA or other capabilities select the same program or content for
viewing. At this
point, the VOD server/SRM or other processing entity can cause those actions
necessary within
the network in order to take advantage of the aforementioned commonalities.
The aforementioned commonalities could also be utilized in conjunction with
the
methods and apparatus set forth is co-owned and co-pending U.S. Patent
Application Publication No.
20060171390 entitled "Method and Apparatus for Network Bandwidth Conservation"
filed February
1, 2005. Specifically, the
aforementioned disclosure describes, infer alia, methods and apparatus for
conserving
bandwidth by taking advantage of the fact that most programming (for most of
the typical
broadcast day and available channels) will be in an SD or other lower-
bandwidth format. For
example, a given movie may be broadcast on user or program Channel X in its
analog or digital
SD form, with an SD simulcast on program Channel Y during parts of the day,
and an HD
simulcast on program Channel Y during other parts of the day (e.g., "prime
time"). However,
until the prime time or other designated HD broadcast slot is reached, the HD
simulcast on
Channel V will simply comprise the same SD content available on Channel X.
Thus by
mapping the user's Channel Y to the QAM channel for Channel X, the network
operator
conserves "multicast" bandwidth associated with the SD content for a
significant fraction (often
the majority) of the programming day. Similarly, the aforementioned
information relating to
CPE capabilities commonality can be used to create intelligent program channel
to QAM
mappings such that the CPE can be controlled on a per-device basis based on
their indigenous
capability profile. As a simple example, if two SD "simulcasts" have a
heterogeneous parameter
(codec, conditional access type, etc.), and two CPE wanting to view the
program content of the
simulcast, the processing entity responsible for program mapping allocations
can evaluate the
capabilities profile of the two CPE and decide which is better mapped to which
QAM (and
hence which variant of the heterogeneous "simulcast" is selected).
Various other types of functionalities may also be included within the CPE or
associated
client device relating to the downloaded content. For example, in one
embodiment, digital
copyright data is included within the downloaded data/content, such as well-
known digital
watermarking data of the type authorized under the United States Digital
Millenium Copyright
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Act (DMCA). For example, Digimarc , SysCoPTM, EIKONAmark'TM, and other similar
commercially available watermarking approaches can be used. Media rights
management
systems such as the Microsoft Windows Media Digital Rights Manager (DRM), may
be used
as well. Various types of steganographic approaches may also be employed
consistent with the
invention in order to enforce copyright and provide the copyright owner with
accountability
and/or trace-ability of the downloaded and copyrighted material. These
features can also act as
the basis for a capabilities analysis, such as where if a given CPE or client
device has no DRM
capability, it will not be authorized to receive rights-protected content, or
alternatively will only
be authorized to receive content that has certain types of additional rights
protection data
associated therewith (e.g., watermarking, steganographic data, etc.).
Fig. 2a is a graphical representation of one embodiment of a software
architecture
adapted for CPE capability profiling and program selection according to the
present invention.
As shown in Fig. 2a, the architecture 250 comprises a server or network
process 252, and one or
more client processes 254 in communication therewith. In one variant, the
network and client
processes comprise parts of an object-oriented distributed application (DA) of
the type known in
the programming arts, although this is not a requirement. Inter-process
communication occurs
over the network 101 (or other available communication channels) between the
network and
client processes 252, 254 in order to affect the various functions described
elsewhere herein (i.e.,
CPE profiling, profile evaluation, program evaluation, and available program
list delivery).
These processes can be integrated with other software (e.g., applications or
even middleware) in
the CPE 106 and the server (e.g., VOD server 105), or alternatively comprise
their own stand-
alone application.
As described previously, the various functions including CPE profile analysis,
profile
evaluation versus available programming, etc. can also be distributed across
these processes 252,
254, as well as others (such as another process 256 disposed on a third party
server). Hence, the
illustrated software architecture provides significant flexibility in terms of
deployment,
especially over existing infrastructure, since little modification to such
infrastructure is required
in order to support these functions.
In another embodiment of the invention, the relevant head-end process (e.g.,
SRM,
proxy, application server, etc.) delivers a generic list of programming and
associated
requirements to the CPE 106, such as via a periodic delivery mechanism, or
alternatively upon a
request issued by the CPE 106. When the CPE 106 requests a given program, the
SRM (or other
process) determines the program configuration to deliver to the hub (and hence
ultimately the
requesting CPE) based on one or more network operational parameters, such as
e.g., current
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utilization of QAM resources for that hub. For example, where the SRM detects
a high current
QAM loading, it may select a program variant that has a lower-bandwidth codec
associated
therewith, and/or select a network interface for delivery of the content that
optimizes network
resources. This selection process is ideally (but not necessarily) mapped to
the requesting CPUs.
profile data; i.e., the SRM selects a program variant encoded using a codec
corresponding to a
codec already installed on the CPE 106. Alternatively, the SRM can select a
program variant
encoded using a non-indigenous codec, and cause a download or installation, of
this codec in
real-time in order to satisfy the CPE request. Similar logic applies to
selected network interfaces
and CA.
It will also be appreciated that so-called "business rules" of the type
described
subsequently herein may act as a basis for such selections and operational
modifications. For
example, a subscriber's subscription level or the like can be used as a
determinant of the type of
codec used, network interface selected, etc. A premium service subscriber, for
example, might
receive programming using the highest bandwidth codec (and hence ostensibly
the highest
picture and audio quality) on a routine basis, and only after such premium
subscribers have
been serviced, will the codec, interface, etc. selections be made for other
subscribers.
The aforementioned operational and business rules can also be combined, such
as
wherein the "premium subscriber" logic described above is combined with QAM
loading data
for a given hub, and hence business rules are only enforced to the extent that
they do not violate
or conflict with certain operational floors, ceilings, or other parameters.
The converse may also
be enforced; i.e., where the operational rules are enforced but only to the
degree that they do not
violate or conflict with business limitations or rules. Myriad combinations of
the foregoing are
also possible consistent with the present invention.
The present invention also contemplates "on demand" configuration of the
various
content elements or programs prior to or during delivery to the CPE 106. For
example, one
alternate embodiment of the invention allows the SRM or other process/agent
within the head-
end or other upstream entity of the network to receive the profile data
associated with a given
CPE (or set of CPEs), and configure a generic version of the content for
delivery thereto. Such
configuration may comprise, e.g., encoding the content before delivery (or
even during
streaming) with the appropriate codec for the one or more profiled CPE. This
approach
substantially obviates many of the different variations within the content
library, since one
substantially generic variant is used as a basis for producing all (or at
least portions) of the
requested coding formats. Transcoding (e.g., conversion from one encoded
format to another) at
the head-end or other such entity may also be employed.
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=
The present invention further contemplates the case where subscriber or user-
supplied or
selected capabilities are used as part of the evaluation process. For example,
one variant of the
invention described herein includes the capability for the client application
running on the CPE
106 (or other software) to present the user with a plurality of choices as to
the configuration of
their CPE.
In one variant, the user is shown a listing of options (or programs utilizing
different
options) from which they may pick, even if the capabilities associated with
these options are not
currently indigenous to their CPE 106. For example, a user might be presented
with a screen
display that shows the same program encoded according to three different codec
formats. Upon
selection of one of these options indigenous to the CPE 106, the content is
delivered to the CPE.
Upon selection of a non-indigenous option, the server 105 or other network
agent then
downloads the necessary component (e.g., codec) to the CPE via, e.g., an in-
band or 00B
channel, and installs the codec thereon.
In another variant, the user can specify a source of a new component (e.g.,
codec), such
as a website URL, wherein the server 105 or agent can fetch the codec if not
already in
possession thereof. The server/agent then can encode a generic variant
(previously described)
using the selected codec, thereby making a somewhat customized version for
that subscriber.
This allows the user to create a coded version of the program for, inter alia,
subsequent or
contemporaneous recording such as by way of the apparatus and methods
described in co-
pending and co-owned U.S. patent application Publication No. 20060218604 filed
March 14, 2005
and entitled "METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR NETWORK CONTENT DOWNLOAD AND
RECORDING". This may be useful
for example in cases where the user desires to obtain a copy of the content in
a specific encoded
format that may not be supported by the network library previously described.
The server/agent
hence acts as an encoding facility for encoding content in formats designated
by the user. This
feature can also form the basis for a business model, such as where only
"premium" users are
offered this ability, or it is provided on a pay-per-use or similar basis.
Exemplary CPE -
Fig. 3 illustrates a first embodiment of the improved CPE 106 according to the
present
invention. As shown in the simplified diagram of Fig. 3, the device 106
generally comprises and
OpenCable-compliant embedded system (e.g., DSTB) having an RF front end 302
(including
tuner and demodulator/decryptors) for interface with the HFC network 101 of
Figs. 1-1a, digital
processor(s) 304, RAM 305, storage device 306, and a plurality of interfaces
308 (e.g.,
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video/audio interfaces, IEEE-1394 "Firewire, USB, serial/parallel ports, WiFi
wireless
interfaces, etc.) for interface with other end-user apparatus such as
televisions, personal
electronics, client devices, computers, WiFi or other network hubs/routers,
etc. Other
components which may be utilized within the device (deleted from Fig. 3 for
simplicity) various
'processing layers (e.g., DOCSIS MAC or DAVIC 00B channel, MPEG, etc.) as well
as media
processors and other specialized SoC or ASIC devices. The CPE 106 may also
comprise an
integrated HD decoder, thereby relieving any connected monitors or other
devices from the
requirement of having such a decoder, although many monitor platforms now
carry such HD
decoders internally. These additional components and functionality are well
known to those of
ordinary skill in the cable and embedded system fields, and accordingly not
described further
herein.
The CPE 106 of Fig. 3 is also provided with an OCAP 1.0-compliant application
and
Java-based middleware which, inter alia, manages the operation of the device
and applications
running thereon. It will be recognized by those of ordinary skill that myriad
different device and
software architectures may be used consistent with the tuning and channel
request functions of
the present invention, the device of Fig. 3 being merely exemplary. For
example, different
middlewares (e.g., MHP, ARIB, or ACAP) may be used in place of the OCAP
middleware of
the illustrated embodiment.
The exemplary CPE 106 further comprises a conventional "Watch TV" application,
electronic program guide (EPG) or the like, which services those program or
user channels
available over the network. The Watch TV application, residing in memory,
provides such
functions as channel navigation control, channel selection in response to a
channel change event,
etc. In another embodiment, the Watch TV application further comprises all
necessary
functionality need to support both the channel request and CPE capability
profiling features
previously described herein.
In the exemplary embodiment, conditional access functions of the CPE 106
include the
ability to receive and process conditional access information, such as
encryption key streams.
The conditional access information is typically associated with the primary
content (e.g., video
programming), and may be transmitted within the same data structure (e.g.,
file) or data stream.
Processing of the conditional access information can also include determining
the license
rights (e.g., digital rights management, or DRM) allocated therein as they
relate to the programming
information. The license rights may specify for example, with regard to the
associated
programming, the duration of use, total number of uses, total number of
simultaneous uses, list of
system(s) on which use may occur, or other similar types of information. Use
typically comprises
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CA 02643806 2011-04-19
viewing or listening to the programming, but any type of use including copying
or recording, or
even transmitting to another platform or environment, is consistent with the
present invention.
Once the licensing rights have been determined, the relevant functional module
(e.g., CA
module within the CPE) can then report the licensing rights available to the
video display system.
This report can, for example, take the form of a complete summary of the
licenses available, or just
a positive or negative indication if the program can be viewed at this time.
In some embodiments
of the invention, the conditional access module may also perform some
processing on the
programming information including any type of pre-processing, descrambling or
decryption
necessary for view or further processing by other systems (such as connected
PMDs).
Fig. 3a is a functional block diagram of a "integrated" CPE 106 configured in
accordance
with another embodiment of the invention. Within this embodiment of the CPE
106 is an RF
front end 352 coupled to cable modem 354 and programming demodulator 356.
Hence, both "in
band" QAMS carrying program content, and DOCSIS channels carrying e.g., IP-
based packets,
can be delivered and processed using a unified device. The codecs, CA, and
network interface
capabilities can also all be optionally "pooled" so that access, decoding and
distribution of data
received via the cable modem can be accomplished before delivery if desired.
The RF front end 352 including tuning apparatus (e.g., one or more tuners)
adapted to tune to
prescribed QAMs delivered over the network 101. A wideband tuner arrangement
such as that
described in co-owned and co-pending U.S. Patent Application Publication No.
20060130113 entitled
"Method and Apparatus for Wideband Distribution of Content" filed December 15,
2004, such as
where the content associated with one or more program streams is distributed
across two or more
QAMs.
It will be appreciated that while multiple instances of each type of module
(e.g., CA,
codec, etc.) 360, 362, 364 are shown in Fig. 3a, the use of single instance of
a module is
consistent with the use of the present invention. In one embodiment of the
invention, the
various components that make up CPE are semiconductor integrated circuits, the
use of which is
well known in the art.
During operation the RF front end receives RF signals transmitted from the
head end.
These RF signals include normal in-band RF downstream used for video
programming
distribution as well as "out-of-band" RF transmissions normally for cable
modem services and
high definition television services.. The RF front end isolates the various RF
channels and
provides the appropriate signals to the cable modem 354 and programming modem
356.
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CA 02643806 2012-05-04
The cable modem signals are typically QAM modulated RF signals processed in
accordance with the DOCS1S standard. The programming signals are both analog
modulated
RF signals and digitally modulated RF signals that typically carry video and
audio information.
= The RF front end also generates RF signals for transmission to the head
end via HFC 101
in response to digital signals from the cable modem 354 or programming modem
356. These
signals are used to communicate with the various systems that make up the head
end (Fig. la) as
well as any other systems on the network or associated networks. They also
provide one
upstream communication capability for the, cable modem 354.
Fig. 3b illustrates another embodiment of the CPE 106 of the invention,
wherein the
aforementioned conditional access (CA), network interface, and/or codec
capability within the
CPE is combined with "CableCard" functionality as described in, inter alia,
OpenCablerm
Specification 0C-SP-MC-IF-001-050331 entitled "Multi-Stream CableCARD
Interface".
In this fashion, the CPE can be configured to
operate both in a downloadable CA (e.g., DCAS) environment as well as via the
CableCard
hardware environment. The CableCard unit 370 can also act as a CA capability
within the larger
CA profile of the CPE 106, such that it can be polled or accessed and included
with any *file
or other data sent upstream or otherwise utilized by the CPE as previously
described herein. If so
configured, the CA functions of the present invention can also download
applications or other
software for use with the CableCard unit, so as to provide expanded capability
for this unit 370.
The Cable Card unit may be, e.g., a multi-stream (M-CARD) or otherwise.
In another embodiment of the invention, a personal video encoder (PVE) or
comparable
device is used as the basis for the CPE 106 or associated client device. For
example, the
"Slingbox" device manufactured by Sling Media of San Mateo, CA is one such
exemplary
device which is capable of enabling a user to watch TV programming from
various locations via
an Internet-connected PC or similar device. The device is generally connected
between the
subscriber's cable/satellite video drop and DSTB, and has a TV tuner inside.
The user tunes to a
given channel, and the device encodes the video streamed over the
cable/satellite in Windows
Media or similar format. The encoded content is streamed to a client
application on a Windows
XP-based or similar PC via an IP network such as the Internet, and hence the
user can view the
data locally (i.e., at the same premises) or remotely so long as they have
access to the IP
distribution network. Hence, the present invention advantageously extends the
capability of
such PVE devices by providing the capability to profile these devices (or
others in data
communication therewith) to determine their CA, codec, network interface, etc.
capabilities,
much as would be performed for a CPE or associated client device. In one
embodiment, the
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CA 02643806 2011-04-19
PVE is outfitted with the necessary polling/profiling software, and can
profile itself and any
devices that it is in data communication with (e.g., the subscriber's distant
laptop computer or
remote PC). In another embodiment, the PVE Merely acts as pass-through or
router entity, with
the 'profiling functions being disposed entirely on the PC or laptop computer
used as the
subscriber's "viewing" device at their actual location.
It will be appreciated that the PVE may also be updated itself via the network
or other
mechanism in terms of capabilities. For example, the PVE can receive new
codecs or CA key
data from the network so that it can modify its own configuration. These
"upgrades" can also be
passed through to the subscriber viewing device.
It will also be recognized that the present invention may be used in
conjunction with the
error logging and reporting methods and apparatus described in co-owned and co-
pending U.S. Patent
Application Publication No. 20100223491 entitled "Methods and Apparatus for
Event Logging in an
Information Network" filed November 24, 2003. For example, the aforementioned
disclosure
describes methods and apparatus
(including APIs) for logging errors that occur on client devices or CPE 106.
In the present
context, these errors (which might relate to an error resulting from improper
use of a codec,
failure to properly authenticate or implement conditional access, failed
encryption key(s), etc.)
can then be transmitted upstream to a responsible entity (e.g., VOD or
conditional access
server).
The present invention may also be utilized consistent with the hardware
registry
apparatus and methods described in co-owned and co-pending U.S. Patent
Application Publication
No. 20050114900 entitled "Methods and Apparatus for Hardware Registration in a
Network Device"
filed November 24, 2003. This
disclosure provides apparatus and methods for control of hardware within a
networked
electronic device (e.g., CPE) through use of a hardware registry. The registry
contains records
that correspond to an optional set of hardware functionality (e.g., personal
video recorder). Each
record (or set of records) may contains fields that: (i) identify the type of
circuitry and
peripherals, (ii) uniquely identifies circuitry and peripherals of the same
type, (iii) specify
parameters that are specific to the circuitry and peripherals types, and/or
(iv) contain a reference
to an application programming interface that can be used to access and
manipulate the circuitry
and peripherals. In the exemplary configuration, the electronic device
comprises an OCAP-
compliant consumer premises device (e.g., embedded set-top box, etc.) adapted
to provide
control over Host CORE optional circuitry for a digital video recorder (DVR)
and digital video
interface (DVI). A DVR/DVI application can therefore be downloaded to retail
or leased set-top
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WO 2007/100850 PCT/US2007/005155
boxes and other consumer electronics equipment, which provides control of any
available
DVR/DVI circuitry found therein or functions associated therewith. This not
only permits "after-
the-fact" control of optional hardware features in a retail (third party)
electronics device by the
MS0 or other system operator, but also allows for control and reconfiguration
of leased devices
after distribution to the end user(s).
It will further be appreciated that the client application (or other software
process, such
as a WatchTV application or the middleware/OS) running on the CPE 106 can be
configured to
select network interface technology for delivery of content (as contrasted
with an upstream
entity such as the SRM making this determination). For example, where the CPE
comprises a
plurality of RF tuners, Ethernet interface, and/or cable modem, etc., the
client application can:
(i) determine these capabilities as previously described (e.g., via access to
a registry or polling),
and then (ii) apply one or more criteria in selecting the appropriate
interface. These criteria may
be indigenous; e.g., information derived solely from the CPE 106 itself or
connected devices, or
alternatively be based wholly or in part on information obtained from an
external entity (e.g.,
SRM, BSA switch, proxy server on the Internet, etc.). As an example of the
latter, the SRM
might forward a list of available in-band QAM frequencies (channels) or CM
QAMs to the CPE,
these channels/QAMs being "ranked" or in some way prioritized based on e.g.,
current QAM
contention or loading. In the BSA environment described subsequently herein
with respect to
Figs. 7a and 7b, the information form the BSA switch 726 or other supervisory
entity might
comprise a QAM or channel list prioritized in order to optimize (minimize)
bandwidth
consumption.
Alternatively, the client application of the CPE 106 can select the best (most
optimal)
network interface to use based on its own internal considerations or
parameters, which include
the availability of certain interface types, their bandwidth capability,
current loading, etc.
Various inter-relationships and hierarchies can also be utilized in
implementation of the
foregoing logic, such as where the network (e.g., SRM) supplied priorities are
imposed upon the
CPE, and the CPE attempts to utilize these in order of decreasing priority
consistent with its own
network interface capabilities. For example, the SRM might broadcast a
priority list to multiple
CPE (e.g., CM RF tuner first, in-band RF tuners second, etc.). For CPE with an
associated CM
tuner stage, the first priority interface is selected, while those CPE without
a CM. tuner will
select the second propriety interface, and so forth.
Fig. 4 is a flow chart illustrating the operation of the CPE 106 in accordance
with one
embodiment of the invention. The process 400 begins at step 402, wherein a
request for the
capabilities of the CPE is generated. This request may be generated in
response to external
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CA 02643806 2011-04-19
stimulation such as a signaling message from another system on the network (or
connected
client device), or it may be generated in response to an internal event such
as power up, user
request, or timer-based triggering.
In response to this request, the CPE polls the functional modules at step 404.
The
polling can be performed on modules with only a certain type of capability
such as conditional
access, or video decoding capability or network access. Or, in alternative
embodiments of the
invention the polling can be performed across multiple capabilities in order
to gain a more ,
global profile of the device.
After the results of the polling have been received, the capabilities profile
of the CPE is
transmitted to the processing entity (e.g., VOD server/SRM) at step 406. The
VOD server 105
will normally generate a list of available programming that is compatible with
the capabilities of
the CPE. This is typically done by comparing the capabilities of the CPE
versus those required
by the available programming; e.g., comparing the video encoding of the
program with the video
decoding capability of the CPE. If they match in terms of the minimum critical
attributes
necessary to deliver and play the programming for the subscriber, the
associated program is
added to the available content list. Similarly, the conditional access control
associated with the
program is also compared with the conditional access capabilities of the CPE.
If they match,
then the associated program is added to the available list. Other parameters
or capabilities of the
CPE 106 can readily be evaluated in this way also.
At step 408, the CPE receives a list of programming available for viewing is
transmitted
to the relevant CPE over the network. At step 410, the list of programming
available for
viewing is processed by the CPE 106 and presented to the user, such as via a
connected display
device or monitor. In the case of a DSTB, this display device might comprise a
television set.
For a PC, handheld, or laptop, this might be the computer monitor.
At step 412, a programming selection is received from the user. Such selection
can be
made via input mechanism including physical switches or buttons on the CPE, or
via a remote
using wireless technology such as infrared light or radio frequency, the use
of which is well
known in the art. Selections may also be made using an onscreen menu structure
and computer
mouse or joystick, and also from a proxy device (e.g., a remote device in
communication with
the server 105 that allows it to select programming or data for delivery to
the CPE 106), such as
a mobile telephone (see, e.g., U.S. Patent Application Publication No.
20070094691 filed October 24,
2005 and entitled "Method and Apparatus For On-Demand Content Transmission and
Control Over
Networks.
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CA 02643806 2011-04-19
Upon receiving the programming selection from the user or its proxy, that
selection is
forwarded to the VOD server 105 at step 414. At step 416, the on-demand or
other
programming selected by the subscriber is received and displayed. This
typically takes the form
of displaying the programming on a video monitor of some sort, although the
present invention
is not so limited. The program may also be stored for later viewing, or
recorded onto a desired
media. See, e.g., the techniques described in co-owned and co-pending U.S.
Patent Application
Publication No. 20060218604 entitled "Method and Apparatus for Network Content
Download and
Recording" filed March 14, 2005. It may also be routed to a connected device;
e.g., a client device in
data communication with the CPE 106 that has its own decoder and CA
functionality.
The program information will typically contain the conditional access
information (e.g.,
key stream) and video compression information that will allow the CPE (or
other device) to
select the correct processing to view the programming when needed, although
this information
can feasibly also be provided via another communications channel or from
another source.
In some embodiments, the CPE 106 may receive a message indicating the network
or
(physical) channel on which to receive the selected programming. For example,
the CPE may
be instructed to receive the programming through the cable modem interface
Versus normal in-
band downstream channels. Similarly, the CPE 106 may comprise two or more
tuners which
allow the receipt of multiple in-band channels. The CPE can also be instructed
to receive the
programming through another type network connection (e.g., WiFi, LAN, etc.)
using one of the
network interface modules. Hence, the CPE may receive one or more programs for
viewing or
storage simultaneously with the receipt of the video-on-demand programming
issued by the
VOD server 105.
Fig_ 5 is a graphical illustration of the interaction of various components
within the
exemplary CPE of Fig. 3 during certain embodiments of the operating methods
disclosed herein.
The CPE 106 (e.g., a set-top box) includes a software application 502 which
interfaces with the
CPE's operating system (0/S) 504. The 0/S 504 interfaces with the various
modules 506 (e.g.,
various types of conditional access or encryption, codecs, etc.). The
application 502 also
interfaces with the HFC network 101 (specifically other entities in
communication therewith,
such as a VOD server process or SRM) at a logical level.
The modules 506 can be software, firmware, or hardware modules, but will often
be
embodied as hardware in typical DSTB environments. These modules 506 provide
additional
functionality or capabilities to the CPE 106. In some instances, the modules
506 provide
conditional access capabilities as described above. In other instances,
modules 506 provide
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CA 02643806 2012-05-04
video decoding functionality. In still other instances, the modules 506
provide network interface
functionality. Yet other uses for these functional modules will be readily
apparent to those of
ordinary skill.
During operation of one embodiment of the CPE 106, the application 502
generates and
transmits a capabilities request message to the 0/S 504. The message may be
generated
spontaneously by the application itself (such as upon expiration of a
countdown timer or the
like), or in response to an inquiry received by way of the HFC 101 (or from
another system
within the CPE 106, such as a "back end" communications interface such as USB,
IEEE-1394,
WiFi, etc.). In one embodiment of the invention, this process will involve a
call made using a
predefined application programming interface (API). For example, to determine
the conditional
access capabilities of the CPE or other device, a get_ca( ) call may be used.
To determine the
video decoder capabilities, a get_decoder( ) call could be used. To determine
the network
interfaces available, a get network() call could be used.
In response to the Capabilities request message, the 0/S 504 polls or
otherwise accesses
the modules 506. For example, if the capabilities request message is for
conditional access
support, the 0/S 504 polls each module 506 for a description or other
information relating to its
conditional access support capabilities. Each module responds by indicating
the conditional
access technologies supported back to the 0/S 504.
The 0/S 504 then forwards a list or other description (profile) of the
conditional access
technologies supported based on the reports received from the modules 506 to
the application
502. The application 502 then stores the profile for later retrieval and
access. The application
502 may also forward the profile information using an appropriate message
interface (e.g.,
Session Setup Protocol (SSP) message, for example) to the VOD server
process/SRM via the
HFC network 101 if a capabilities request message is received. In other
embodiments of the
invention, the application 502 will forward the profile periodically or
automatically, such as
during power up or whenever a VOD programming list is requested, or according
to any number
of other possible algorithms of the type previously described herein.
In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, many of the steps performed in
the methods
described above can be implemented as signal exchanges generally fitting with
the SSP protocol
described in the Assignee's Pegasus Interactive Network specification,
"Session Setup Protocol",
Version 2.3, published May 29, 2003. The
information signal exchange between a network server and a video receipt and
decoding device
(e.g., CPE 106) can occur using messages described as above formatted to
follow the Pegasus SSP
Resource Descriptor structure defined in the foregoing specification. In one
embodiment, the signal
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WO 2007/100850 PCT/US2007/005155
exchanges for gathering capabilities information can occur by conveying
conditional access system
information, video decoder information and network interface information using
a descriptor format
from the Session Setup Protocol document and shown in Appendix 1 hereto.
= It will also be recognized that the methods described herein can employ
validation of
conditional access. For example, it may be desirable in certain applications
to use the results of the
get_ca( ) call obtained from the CA modules 506 in order to verify, with the
corresponding
conditional access system, that the responding device belongs to the set of
devices authenticated to
operate within the network. This device authentication, inter alia, frustrates
surreptitious attempts at
gaining conditional access by non-authenticated devices ("spoofing") or the
like.
Server Device
Referring now to Fig. 6, a first embodiment of the improved network server
device with
digital capability selection functionality according to the present invention
is described. It will be
appreciated that while described in the context of a substantially centralized
VOD server/SRM 105
as shown in Fig. 1, the device may be adapted for use at other locations
within the network.
Furthermore, as previously noted, the VOD server process (and SRM) may
comprise a distributed
functionality, wherein two or more portions of a distributed application (DA)
in communication
with one another are utilized.
As shown in Fig. 6, the exemplary server device 601 generally comprises an
OpenCable-
compliant network server module including a digital processor(s) 604, RAM 605,
mass storage
device 606, and a plurality of interfaces 607 for connection with other
network apparatus such as
distribution infrastructure of the VOD network, LANs, the local service node
hardware, IP routers
and other packet network devices, network management and provisioning systems,
local PCs, etc.
Other components which may be utilized within the server device 601 (depending
on where the
device is employed and how it is physically implemented) include RF tuner
stages,
modulators/demodulators, encryption/decryption, amplifiers, board level
electronic components, as
well as media processors and other specialized SoC or ASIC devices. Support
for various
processing layers and protocols (e.g., lightweight stream control protocol, or
LSCP, 802.3, DOCS1S
MAC, 00B channels, DHCP, SNMP, UDP, SNMP, H.323/RTP/RTCP, VolP, SIP, etc.) may
also
be provided as required.
A VOD application is also disposed to run on the server module 601 to provide
a functional
interface for VOD session requests received from network CPE 106, or other
interposed entities.
These additional components and functionalities are well known to those of
ordinary skill in the
cable and embedded system fields, and accordingly not described further
herein.
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WO 2007/100850 PCT/US2007/005155
The server device 601 of Fig. 6 may take any number of physical forms,
comprising for
example one of a plurality of discrete modules or cards within a larger
network head-end or edge
device of the type well known in the art, including the MEM 162 itself. The
server may also
comprise firmware, either alone or in combination with other hardware/software
components such
as those previously described (e.g., disposed in the aforementioned edge
device). Alternatively, the
server module 601 may be a stand-alone device disposed at the head end or
other location (such as
an application server 104), and may even include its own RF front end (e.g.,
modulators,
encryptors, etc.) or optical interface so as to interface directly with
various portions of the HFC
network 101. Numerous other configurations may be used: The server device 601
may also be
integrated with other types of components (such as satellite transceivers,
encoders/decoders, etc.)
and form factors if desired.
It can also be appreciated that the methods of the present invention may be
practiced
using any configuration or combination of hardware, firmware, or software, and
may be
disposed within one or any number of different physical or logical entities.
For example, the
CPE capabilities profile and program analysis functionality described above
(Fig. 2) may take
the form of one or more computer programs running on a single device disposed
within the
network (e.g., the VOD server module 105), such as at a head-end, node, or
hub. Alternatively,
such computer programs may have one or more components distributed across
various hardware
environments at the same or different locations, such as where various of the
functions are
distributed across the VOD servers 105, application servers 104 and Business
Management
System (BMS).
As yet another example, portions of the functionality may be rendered as a
dedicated or
application specific IC having code running thereon. Myriad different
configurations for
practicing the invention will be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the
network arts
provided the present disclosure.
"Broadcast Switched" Embodiments -
In yet another embodiment, a "switched" network architecture is used in
conjunction
with the invention.
Figs. 7a and 7b illustrate an exemplary switched network architecture.
Switching
architectures allow improved efficiency of bandwidth use for ordinary digital
broadcast
programs. Ideally, the subscriber will be unaware of any difference between
programs delivered
using a switched network and ordinary streaming broadcast delivery.
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CA 02643806 2011-04-19
Specifically, as shown in Fig. 7a, the network 101 of Figs. 1 and la comprises
a
fiber/coax arrangement wherein the output of the MEM 162 of Fig. 1 a is
transferred to the
optical domain (such as via an optical transceiver 707 at the head-end or
further downstream).
The optical domain signals are then distributed to a fiber node 708, which
further distributes the
signals over a distribution network 710 to'a plurality of local servicing
nodes 712. This provides
an effective 1:N expansion of the network at the local service end.
Fig. 7b shows the implementation details of one exemplary embodiment of this
switched
= network .architecture. Specifically, the head-end 150 contains switched
broadcast control and
media path functions 720, 722; these element cooperating to control and feed,
respectively,
downstream or edge switching devices 724 at the hub site which are used to
selectively switch
broadcast streams to various service groups. A BSA server 726 is also disposed
at the hub site,
and implements functions related to switching and bandwidth conservation (in
conjunction with
a BSA manager entity disposed at the head-end). An optical transport ring 727
is utilized to
distribute the dense wave-division multiplexed (DWDM) optical signals to each
hub in an
efficient fashion.
Co-owned and co-pending U.S. Patent application Publication No. 20030056217
filed
September 20, 2001 and entitled "Technique For Effectively Providing Program
Material In A Cable
Television System", describes one exemplary switched architecture useful with
the present invention,
although it will be recognized by those of ordinary skill that other
approaches and architectures may
be substituted.
BSA programming may comprise, without limitation, simulcasts, interactive pay-
per-
view (IPPV), live sporting and other events, and other selected offerings. A
set-top box (STB)
or two-way Digital Cable Ready (e.g., CableCard) television is typically
required for viewing:
In order for the BSA function to be transparent to the subscriber, channel
change
latencies must be kept to a minimum (e.g., 250 ms or less as compared to
average linear digital
broadcast services). Like the video-on-demand (VOD) systems previously
described, BSA
programs are streamed to a service group (contrast: switch) only when being
viewed. Unlike
VOD, many viewers can view the same stream. Typically, only real-time linear
programs are
included in BSA broadcasts. Since there is no storage involved, the "VCR"
controls (e.g., trick
mode functions) common to VOD are not available. In this regard, BSA is much
simpler that .
VOD. Commercials or other programming segments cannot be skipped, and program
bit rates
are treated as in more conventional systems.
In the context of the aforementioned BSA network, there are several metrics or
indices
which are useful in evaluating the performance of the network. Specifically,
the expression
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"peak streams" represents the maximum number of different program streams that
are
instantaneously (based on specified data intervals) needed as a worst case.
Using software, CPE
tuner addresses can be purposely or randomly assigned to service groups, and
peak stream
requirements can be analyzed for each group size. It has been noted by the
Assignee hereof that
generally speaking, as service group size is decreased, peak stream needs also
decrease. When
viewed over a sufficiently short time scale (e.g., two hour periods), it is
possible to compare the
moment-to-moment variability in peak stream use.
It has also been noted that the smaller service groups display roughly the
same variability
as the larger service groups. When considered as a percentage of maximum
stream use, as
service group size decreases, variability increases, and will impose a limit
the amount of
concentration that can be safely implemented within the system. Concentration
in BSA. is
defined as a ratio of the total bandwidth of the programs offered, to the BSA
bandwidth
provided to the service group. While this is conveniently expressed as a ratio
of stream counts,
in practice streams will be of various bit rates; concentration is therefore
best thought of as the
ratio of the bitrates. Concentration generally (at a given grade of service or
blocking frequency)
trends upwards with decreasing service group size.
Another useful metric of the value of BSA is yield. Yield is a function of
concentration
and the total number of programs included. Yield is important to consider when
comparing the
value of various bandwidth reclamation techniques.
As verified by actual trials conducted by the Assignee hereof, BSA provides
significant
concentration, which results in the ability to vacate significant portions of
the previously
occupied bandwidth ("free" bandwidth yield).
Also of interest is the metric of "redundant viewership". Redundant viewers
are those
which view otherwise unique programs. Generally speaking, the highest number
of redundant
viewers occurs at prime-time or just post prime time. This is also the time of
greatest total
viewership and the time of highest peak stream needs. In the exemplary
configuration, a design
point of 70 streams would provide a non-blocking grade of service. However,
significant
surplus bandwidth still exists below the 70-stream level. Unfortunately, the
greatest surpluses
occur at times when other services (e.g., VOD) also have their lowest demands.
Edge QAM
resource sharing with VOD is therefore not expected to provide significant
interleaving
bandwidth gains. However, the BSA system can be advantageously operated to
allow this
surplus bandwidth to be utilized in other ways, such as for transport of data,
video, voice, or
even future applications which would require additional bandwidth.
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Gain is a useful parameter for comparison of BSA with statistical multiplexing
technology. In BSA, percent gain is defined as:
(Concentration ¨ 1) x'100 Eqn. (1)
=
In this context, content that occupies the "freed up" spectrum is assumed to
operate with the
same level of efficiency as the content being processed (i.e. switched under
the BSA
architecture, or alternatively statistically multiplexed).
A primary advantage of the BSA paradigm is bandwidth
conservation/preservation.
Bandwidth for unviewed programs is not consumed, and can be re-allocated.
Similarly, new
programs can be added without adding bandwidth. Advantageously, programs with
narrow appeal
can be added in a BSA system with little if any bandwidth impact. More popular
programs will
impact the BSA bandwidth, but to a lesser extent than was traditionally the
case. Multiple bit rates
can also be made available for use or sale to programmers or advertisers.
BSA bandwidth efficiencies are at least in part a result of over-subscription.
Specifically,
the selection of programming is greater than the bandwidth allocated to the
service group. This can
result in blocking, the case where a viewer is denied access to a requested
program. However, the
aforementioned trials conducted by the Assignee hereof demonstrate that when
properly
configured, blocking events are sufficiently rare, so as to be less common
than a network outage,
thereby providing a sufficient level of service.
Additionally, a BSA system must typically gather and keep logs or other
records of
programmer-specific viewership data in order to function. These logs or
records are maintained
to allow for well-considered "recapture" of non-viewed program streams (i.e.,
reclamation of
bandwidth). The server manages bandwidth by removing streams based on this
activity data. In
typical practice, unviewed streams will be marked, but not actually removed
until the bandwidth
is needed either because of a client request, or based on external resource
demands such as VOD
overflow.
In one exemplary embodiment, the network switch 724 (Fig. 7b) logs all channel
change
events and is aware of the tuning locations of all tuners, not just those that
happen to be viewing
BSA programs. This provides highly accurate and complete viewership data based
on actual
channel changes as contrasted with extrapolations or other estimation
techniques.
It is often an important factor to maintain subscriber privacy, for both legal
and
commercial reasons. Accordingly, subscriber identities may be protected by
hashing or
encryption of the tuner address prior to logging and storage. The stored
address and associated
events are therefore not traceable to the user account. The resulting obscured
tuner address is
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repeatable so the necessary tuning location and user activity tracking may be
performed while
still maintaining complete anonymity.
In the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the edge switch 724
(generally
located in the distribution hub as shown in Fig. 7b) is flooded with all
available programs. This
improves transport efficiency, because a simple unidirectional "drop and
continue" protocol. is
performed at each hub location on a given optical transport ring 727. The
concept of flooding
also simplifies the transport network in that no control system is needed;
rather a simple "deliver
everything" paradigm is used. This approach also advantageously makes this
portion of the
signal chain more robust, since more complex control systems generally lend
themselves to a
higher operational failure rate.
Because ordinary broadcast programming is supplied using BSA, the transport
network
727 needs to have a high degree of availability. In the exemplary embodiment,
BSA program
transport is supplied through a redundant, spatially diverse counter-rotating
Ethernet ring
topology, although other topologies may be utilized with success.
In one embodiment of the invention, the different codecs, network interfaces,
and/or CA
modules within different CPE 106 may be used as a basis for BSA switching
decisions ancUor
operation. Specifically, the switch/hub operation can consider CPE capability
information as
well as other parameters as part of the switching logic. For example,
information relating to
whether anyone is capable of watching a given program stream on a hub or other
node may be
used as an input to the switching algorithm. As a simple illustration, the
aforementioned polling
of the CPE 106 associated with a node or hub may return CPE profiles that
indicate that none of
the CPE on that hub have MPEG-4 decoders. Hence, delivery of any MPEG-4
encoded content
to that hub would be a waste of bandwidth, since no one on that hub will ever
select that MPEG-
4 encoded program stream. This information can be used by the switch 726 or
similar entity
(e.g., supervisory process or rules engine that controls the switch) to avoid
switching MPEG-4
encoded program streams to that hub, thereby conserving bandwidth.
The foregoing approach can also be extended to CPE 106 that are active at a
given point
in time; i.e., while MPEG-4 capable CPE may be associated with a given hub, if
they are not
active or powered up, then there will again be no need for MPEG-4 encoded
program delivery,
until such CPE is actually switched on or activated (thereby enabling the
subscriber to actually
select that MPEG-4 program). Similarly, the subscriber's affirmative act of
selecting an MPEG-
4 encoded program may be used as the (a) basis of switching, such as where the
MPEG-4
encoded variant of a program stream is only delivered to the hub upon actual
selection by one or
more subscribers having MPEG-4 encoders on that hub.
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The foregoing approaches are also readily employed with respect to CA and
network
interface configurations of the CPE, whether alone or in combination with one
another. For
example, templates or masks can be used wherein switching decisions are made
based on
compliance by one or more CPE within the hub/service group with a pre-stored
or ad hoc
masking function, such as where a given program stream will be switched to the
relevant hub
when both a given codec and CA profile are present.
In another embodiment, the BSA switching process can be made "CPE-centric",
such
that switching decisions or portions of the switching logic can be performed
at the CPE. For
example, a given CPE might be provided with a complete list of available
programming and,
using an installed client application such as that previously described
herein, mask out certain
portions of the available content or programming list based on CPE indigenous
capabilities. The
unmasked (or alternatively masked) portions of the list can then be provided
to the switch 726 or
other supervisory process, such as via upstream signaling or message, to be
used in the
switching algorithm. The switch 726 or supervisory process can, for example,
use this
information to identify those programs for which no codec, CA, and/or
interface support is
provided within the CPE of that hub, and hence which can be deleted from the
program lineup
for that hub.
Other features useful with such broadcast switched networks May also be used
consistent
with the features and functions of the present invention. For example, the
efficient network
multicasting apparatus and techniques described in co-owned and co-pending
U.S. patent application
Publication No. 20070153820 filed January 3, 2006 and entitled "Methods and
Apparatus For
Efficient IP Multicasting in a Content-Based Network" may be used to provide,
inter alia, both
efficient delivery of multicast content and
efficient network operation (switching) based on subscriber STB configuration
or other such
parameters. For example, where an IP multicast is destined for two CPE within
the same service
group, one of the CPE can be tuned to the appropriate CM QAM, thereby freeing
QAM
resources. This logic is overlaid onto the decision of whether to even deliver
the multicast to
that service group (e.g., wherein none of the CPE in that group have an
appropriate decoder or
CM interface necessary to receive and decode the multicast content).
Similarly, the apparatus and methods for selective delivery of targeted
content to
individual ones or subsets of CPE within a switched network described in co-
owned and co-
pending U.S. patent application Publication No. 20070022459 filed July 20,
2005 and entitled
"Method and Apparatus for Boundary-Based Network Operation", may be used to
provide, inter alia,
both targeted delivery of content and efficient
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CA 02643806 2011-04-19
,
network operation (switching) based on subscriber STB configuration or other
such parameters.
For example, decisions of whether to switch a given program to a node may be
based on both
targeting criteria (e.g., whether a given CPE is even within a target group of
subscribers) and the
CPE capabilities/profile for CPE within that node.
Similarly, the anticipatory network allocation and control apparatus and
techniques
described in co-owned and co-pending U.S. patent application Publication No.
20070076728 tiled
October 4, 2005 and entitled "Self-Monitoring and Optimizing Network Apparatus
and Methods",
may be used to provide, inter alia,
efficient network operation (switching) based on both anticipated network and
STB operational
parameters as well as subscriber STB configuration and requirements.
Moreover, the vacated bandwidth "stuffing" and extraction apparatus and
techniques
described in co-owned and co-pending U.S. patent application Publication No.
20070121678 filed
= November 30, 2005 entitled "Apparatus and Methods for Utilizing Variable
Rate Program Streams in
a Network",
inter alia, loading of non-time sensitive secondary content onto QAMs, as well
as efficient
network operation (switching) based on subscriber CPE configuration and
requirements. For
example, the CPE configuration might be used by the "stuffing" algorithms and
control process
to determine which types of secondary content can be inserted (and
subsequently extracted) into
one or more program streams having vacated bandwidth. Similarly, switching
decisions can be
predicated at least in part based on the need to insert secondary content,
such as where the
number of QAMs loaded for a service group is altered in order to make the
creation of vacated
bandwidth possible or more likely.
Operations/Business Rules and Methods -
In another aspect of the invention, the aforementioned processing entity
(e.g., rendered as
one or more computer programs disposed on the VOD server/SRM, CPE 106, or
other location)
includes a so-called "rules" engine. This engine comprises, in an exemplary
embodiment, a
series of software routines adapted to control the operation of the capability
profile, analysis and
selection (and even component distribution) algorithms previously described.
These rules may
comprise a separate entity or process, and may also be fully integrated within
the processing
entity 252 (Fig. 2a) itself, and controlled via e.g., a GUI on a PC connected
to the server 105. In
effect, the rules engine comprises a supervisory entity which monitors and
selectively controls
via the processing entity 252 the CPE profiling, analysis, and program
selection and distribution
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processes at a higher level, so as to implement desired operational or
business rules. The rules
engine can be considered an overlay of sorts to the profiling and analysis
algorithms.
For example, the processing entity 252 may invoke certain operational
protocols or
decision processes based on profiles or requests received from the CPE,
conditions existing
within the network, demographic data, geographic data, etc. However, these
processes may not
always be compatible with higher level business or operational goals, such as
maximizing profit
or system reliability. Hence, when imposed, the business/operational rules can
be used to
dynamically (or manually) control the operation of the processing entity 252
(and even the
associated client process 254 on the CPE). The rules may be, e.g., operational
or business-
oriented in nature, and may also be applied selectively in terms of time of
day, duration, specific
local areas, or even at the individual user level (e.g., via specific
identification of the CPE or
client device via TUNER_ID, MAC address, or the like).
For example, one rule implemented by the rules engine may comprise only
providing
certain types or formats of programming to certain subscribers or classes of
subscribers.
Subscriber CPE may possess an MPEG-4 decoder, for example, but programs
rendered in
MPEG-4 encoding would not be made available to such subscribers unless they
met certain
criteria (e.g., "premium" subscription, etc.). Similarly, if the subscriber
did not possess a
required codec, CA keys, or network interface, the download of this missing
component could
be controlled to only subscribers meeting certain criteria.
Another rule might impose a moratorium or restrictions on upstream profile
messages
(e.g., SSP) from the CPE during conditions of very heavy loading (e.g., until
a certain minimum
threshold of available bandwidth is present), thereby avoiding contention for
bandwidth
resources with "premium" services. Similarly, the profile and program
processing could be
dynamically shifted to the CPE under such circumstances so as distribute the
processing load
(and hence upstream messaging bandwidth consumed) to the CPE, as previously
discussed
herein.
Yet another rule might impose restrictions on establishing or allocating new
physical
channels/QAMs to the subscriber channel requests based on CPE profile data
(e.g., the presence
of a certain required codec, CA, etc.). As previously discussed, bandwidth/QAM
resource
allocation and other relevant network considerations may be used as a basis of
implementing or
, modifying user program requests in a broadcast switched network. For
example, where a
subscriber has both high-bandwidth and low-bandwidth codecs available on their
CPE, and they
request the high-bandwidth variant of a given program, QAM resource allocation
within the
network can be evaluated, and the user's selection modified to implement the
lower-bandwidth
program in cases where QAM loading to that hub is high. This process can also
be made
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dynamic if desired; such as where QAM loading and similar parameters can be
continuously or
periodically re-evaluated, and the operation of the network (including which
program stream is
delivered to a subscriber) altered accordingly. For example, when sufficient
bandwidth is again
present, the subscriber of the previous example may be switched over to a
program stream
associated with the higher bandwidth codec.
In another aspect of the invention, business methods based on the foregoing
profiling,
analysis and selection functions are disclosed. In one such method, a vendor
of a particular
codec may want to advertise to subscribers the enhancements afforded by use of
their codec (i.e.,
the content they are missing because they do not have the vendor's codec
installed on their CPE
, or client device). The MS0 may also enter into a relationship with the
codec, etc. vendor to
provide the codec either via the MS0 network, or an alternate channel (e.g.,
Internet download).
Furthermore, proprietary icons or symbols may be used on the available program
listing
(e.g., EPG) to indicate certain capabilities or compatibility for certain
content. Hence the
subscriber can instantly know that a given program is encoded with a given
codec for example,
somewhat akin to the well known use of proprietary microprocessor logos on the
outside and
packaging of PCs to indicate that a certain type of microprocessor is used.
This association
provides tangible benefits to the content provider and MSO (as well as the
codec provider).
Many other approaches and combinations of various operational and business
paradigms
are envisaged consistent with the invention, as will be recognized by those of
ordinary skill
when provided this disclosure.
Thus, methods and apparatus for selecting digital technology for programming
and data
delivery has been described. Many other permutations of the foregoing system
components and
communication methods may also be used consistent with the present invention,
as will be =
recognized by those of ordinary skill in the field.
It will be recognized that while certain aspects of the invention are
described in terms of
a specific sequence of steps of a method, these descriptions are only
illustrative of the broader
methods of the invention, and may be modified as required by the particular
application. Certain
steps may be rendered unnecessary or optional under certain circumstances.
Additionally,
certain steps or functionality may be added to the disclosed embodiments, or
the order of
performance of two or more steps permuted. All such variations are considered
to be
encompassed within the invention disclosed and claimed herein.
While the above detailed description has shown, described, and pointed out
novel features
of the invention as applied to various embodiments, it will be understood that
various omissions,
substitutions, and changes in the form and details of the device or process
illustrated may be made
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by those skilled in the art without departing from the invention. The
foregoing description is of the
best mode presently contemplated of carrying out the invention. This
description is in no way
meant to be limiting, but rather should be taken as illustrative of the
general principles of the
invention. The scope of the invention should be determined with reference to
the claims.
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