QoE-Based CATV Network Capacity Planning System

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current traffic engineering methods are inadequate in accurately determining the required bandwidth capacity for maintaining desired Quality of Experience (QoE) for subscribers, as they fail to account for varying bandwidth usage patterns, different types of applications, and concurrent transmission levels, and lack flexibility in projecting future changes in bandwidth usage.

Innovation Solution

The system calculates QoE levels and required bandwidth capacity by grouping subscribers based on their characteristics, using statistical distributions that reflect actual traffic flows, and allows for flexible QoE specifications, enabling accurate modeling of concurrency and application mixes, and projecting changes in bandwidth usage over time.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If traditional traffic engineering methods are used to determine bandwidth capacity, then the system is simple to operate, but the measurement precision of QoE assessment is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveQoE assessment accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments subscribers into different groups based on their bandwidth usage patterns, application preferences, and concurrency behaviors. This segmentation allows for more precise QoE assessment by tailoring measurements to specific subscriber characteristics rather than using a one-size-fits-all approach, thereby improving measurement precision without requiring complete system redesign.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces statistical distributions as an intermediary layer between raw traffic data and QoE assessment. These distributions model bandwidth usage patterns, application mixes, and concurrency levels, enabling accurate QoE measurement without directly complex interactions with each subscriber's detailed behavior, thus improving precision while managing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If detailed subscriber behavior modeling is implemented, then the QoE assessment accuracy improves, but the difficulty of detecting and measuring increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebandwidth requirement assessment accuracyVSAvoidsubscriber behavior analysis complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables the system to automatically model subscriber behaviors using statistical distributions without requiring manual intervention or complex detection mechanisms. The statistical models self-adjust to capture bandwidth usage patterns, application mixes, and concurrency levels, improving assessment accuracy while reducing the operational difficulty of detecting and measuring subscriber behaviors.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If the system accounts for varying bandwidth usage patterns and application mixes, then the adaptability to different network conditions improves, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork condition flexibilityVSAvoidmodeling system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses statistical distributions with adjustable parameters to model varying bandwidth usage patterns, application mixes, and concurrency levels. By changing distribution parameters rather than restructuring the entire system, the patent achieves high adaptability to different network conditions while keeping the underlying system architecture relatively simple and manageable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3639475B1Qoe-based CATV network capacity planning and upgrade system
Publication Date: 2024.04.10 ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC
  • EP3639475B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3639475B1 patent drawingFigure 2A
  • EP3639475B1 patent drawingFigure 2B~2C

AI summary

Systems and methods for analyzing network parameters in a data communications network so as to maintain a desired Quality of Experience (QoE) of at least one subscriber.