Methods and apparatus for dynamically adjusting capacity allocation; e.g., to a group of services in a multimedia distribution network. In one embodiment, bandwidth allocation is adjusted by predicting bandwidth utilization of the group of services based on historical bandwidth utilization information. Behavioral templates and statistical models may also be employed for the predictions. The invention provides more efficient use of available bandwidth compared to conventional bandwidth allocation schemes where the overall bandwidth for a group of services is set to a constant value that is not changed frequently. The present invention further provides a bandwidth allocation method in a switched distribution network. The bandwidth allocation method allocates bandwidth such that the bandwidth required by the number of services does not exceed the allocation, i.e., the total usage falls within the allocation.

Methods and apparatus for predictive capacity allocation

An apparatus of processing a digital service signals and a method thereof are disclosed. The present invention includes a PDI module configured to receive a PDI table, wherein the PDI table includes at least one question element having attributes of a PDI question, wherein the PDI table further includes a table Id field identifying the PDI table, a table version field indicating a version of the PDI table and a time field indicating a date and a time of the most recent change to the PDI question and extract the PDI question from the at least one question element, wherein each of the at least one question element has a different type, a PDI answer module configured to receive a PDI answer according to the extracted PDI question, a filtering module configured to receive a filtering criteria information and filter contents of the digital service signal by comparing the filtering criteria information against the received the PDI answer and a content storing module configured to download the filtered contents, wherein the type of the at least one question element indicates a type for the PDI question with one of an integer answer, a Boolean answer, a selection answer, a text answer and an answer with no PDI question.

Method and apparatus for processing digital service signal

A system for and method of transmitting audio and visual programming content, by identifying an amount of broadcast transmission capacity available for transmitting the content to one or more users. The content is separated into at least first and second portions based on user demand for the content and/or the identified available broadcast transmission capacity. The first portion of the content is transmitted, to a receiver/STB associated with at least one of the users, using the identified broadcast transmission capacity; and the second portion of the content is transmitted to the receiver using transmission other than broadcast transmission. The content can include nonlinear content. Transmission other than broadcast transmission can include unicast transmission, which can be in response to a user request and/or an initiation by a server. The received nonlinear content can be stored at the receiver for play back at a time different from the time of transmission.

System for content delivery

Systems and methods for providing a local device with computing services are disclosed. One embodiment includes, identifying one or more file types of files stored on the local device which is not associated with a local application that is installed on the local device and detecting a request to access a file stored on the local device having one of the one or more file types. The remote host can generate an offer to provide access to a remote application which is able to open the file for a fee such that the file is accessible via the local device. A selected service model can determine the fee and whether the remote application is provided for use by the local device when offline.

Providing a local device with computing services from a remote host

Methods and apparatus for optimizing bandwidth utilization in a cable network. In one embodiment, the method comprises predicting which content will be requested by a set of users based upon the exhibited viewing habits of those users (and/or others). A server process gathers viewership data comprising a listing of programs requested by users at various times of the day. The server process aggregates the viewership data, identifies patterns within the aggregated data, and extrapolates a schedule of programs likely to be requested. In certain embodiments, the server process additionally gathers the capabilities of each cable device in an associated subnetwork. Based upon these capabilities, and based upon the total bandwidth predicted to remain available in the network over a target broadcast period, the server process may also select an optimal compression scheme and video quality level before broadcasting a certain program.

Methods and apparatus for predictive delivery of content over a network

Methods and apparatuses for programming content reconstruction in a content delivery system are described. In one embodiment, a method to repair programming content at a receiver controller includes receiving a programming content on the receiver controller from a broadcast transmission; identifying, if present, a portion of the programming content received on the receiver controller that is corrupted; determining in a broadband network, other servers and receiver controllers connected to the broadband network that have an uncorrupted version of the corrupted portion of the programming content; sending a request to one of the other servers and receiver controllers for the uncorrupted version of the corrupted portion of the programming content; and receiving the uncorrupted version of the corrupted portion of the programming content from the one of the other servers and receiver controllers.. Other embodiments are also described.

Programming Content Reconstruction in a Content Delivery System

A method of transmitting audio and visual programming content, by identifying an amount of broadcast transmission capacity available for transmitting the content to one or more users. The content is separated into at least first and second portions based on user demand for the content and/or the identified available broadcast transmission capacity. The first portion of the content is transmitted, to a receiver/STB associated with at least one of the users, using the identified broadcast transmission capacity; and the second portion of the content is transmitted to the receiver using transmission other than broadcast transmission. The content can include nonlinear content. Transmission other than broadcast transmission can include unicast transmission, which can be in response to a user request and/or an initiation by a server. The received nonlinear content can be stored at the receiver for play back at a time different from the time of transmission.

A networked antenna system and video transport unit

A method for transmitting content, comprising: identifying a plurality of programming content for transmission to a receiver controller; indentifying an amount of bandwidth available for broadcasting a first portion of the plurality of programming content in a broadcast network, the broadcast network is configured to have a bandwidth that is variable for content transmission; separating the plurality of programming content into at least the first portion for broadcast transmission and a second portion for unicast transmission based on at least one of demand by viewers and the amount of bandwidth available for broadcasting in the broadcast network, wherein at least a part of the first portion of the plurality of programming content includes nonlinear content; and transmitting the first portion of the plurality of programming content to the receiver controller using the amount of bandwidth available for the broadcast transmission, wherein a rate of transmission of the nonlinear content is independent of a rate for real-time viewing of the nonlinear content at the receiver controller; and transmitting the second portion of the plurality of programming content to the receiver controller using unicast transmission.

Anderson Hoyt Jackson

Papers

System for content delivery

Programming Content Reconstruction in a Content Delivery System

A networked antenna system and video transport unit

Transmitting content partly via broadcast and partly via unicast