Switched Digital Video Bandwidth Management for Subscriber Prioritization
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Video content networks face challenges in providing uninterrupted switched digital video services due to inadequate bandwidth, where existing sessions need to be torn down to accommodate new requests, and existing solutions do not effectively differentiate between preferred and standard subscribers.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that determine available bandwidth for establishing new switched digital video sessions, exempting preferred subscribers from session teardown, and using a set-top terminal to automatically respond to ping messages, ensuring continuous service for preferred subscribers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If bandwidth is allocated to establish new switched digital video sessions, then service availability for new requests is improved, but existing sessions must be torn down which causes service disruption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating between preferred and standard subscribers, assigning different bandwidth allocation policies to each group. Preferred subscribers receive guaranteed bandwidth and are exempt from session teardown, while standard subscribers may have sessions terminated when bandwidth is insufficient. This differential treatment resolves the contradiction by ensuring service continuity for premium users while maintaining flexibility for standard users.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts bandwidth allocation based on subscriber type and current network conditions. When a new session request arrives, the system determines available bandwidth and applies different teardown policies based on subscriber classification. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to maintain service availability for preferred subscribers while managing resources flexibly for standard subscribers.
2Quantity of substance
If existing sessions are torn down to accommodate new requests, then bandwidth availability is improved, but service disruption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by applying different teardown policies to different subscriber groups. Preferred subscribers have their sessions protected from teardown, ensuring continuous service, while standard subscribers may experience session termination to free bandwidth. This differentiated approach minimizes service disruption for premium users while maintaining the ability to allocate bandwidth when necessary.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary classification of subscribers into preferred or standard categories before bandwidth allocation decisions are made. This pre-sorting enables the system to preemptively protect preferred subscriber sessions from teardown, reducing service disruption before it occurs, while still allowing standard subscriber sessions to be terminated when bandwidth is needed.
3Ease of operation
If bandwidth is allocated without differentiating subscriber types, then ease of operation is improved, but service quality differentiation is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by implementing differentiated service policies based on subscriber type. The system maintains a simple unified bandwidth allocation process while introducing selective teardown behavior based on subscriber classification. This allows the system to remain operationally simple at a high level while achieving fine-grained service quality differentiation through the preferred vs. standard subscriber distinction.
Data Source
AI summary
A request is received from a subscriber of a video content network offering a switched digital video service, to establish a new switched digital video session within a service group of the video content network, which group includes both preferred and standard subscribers and has a plurality of existing sessions. It is determined whether adequate bandwidth is available to establish the new switched digital video session without tearing down any of the existing sessions. Responsive to the determination indicating that adequate bandwidth is not available without tearing down any of the existing sessions, at least one of the existing sessions is torn down. In this step, those of the existing sessions corresponding to the preferred subscribers are exempted from teardown. The new switched digital video session is established in accordance with the request. A switched digital video control apparatus, a set-top terminal, and a system are also disclosed.