Hybrid central/distributed VOD system with tiered content structure
View Patent ↗The present invention provides a hybrid central/distributed and tiered video on demand (VOD) service network with tiered content structure. In particular, the present invention uses media servers located in both the headend station and the hub stations. Set-top boxes generally would be supplied VOD services from the high-demand content media servers located in the hub station nearest to the user. The central media server located in the headend 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 headend media server is reduced. The invention provides that each user has access to several server ports located on at least two servers. Multiple paths and channels are available for content distribution to each user, assuring high system reliability and enhanced asset availability. Substantial cost benefits are derived from the reduced need for a large content distribution network and the reduced storage capacity requirements for hub servers.
1. A system for selecting a network path for delivering on-demand content comprising:
a multi-channel network, wherein the multi-channel network comprises a content transport network, a supertrunk network, and a distribution network;
a headend comprising a central media server and a resource management processor;
a hub remote from the headend comprising a hub media server and a QAM, wherein the hub and the headend are connected via the content transport network and the supertrunk network; and
a video termination device, wherein the video termination device is connected to the hub via a distribution network and wherein the video termination device comprises an instruction for sending a request for a particular on-demand content to the resource management processor, and
wherein the resource management processor comprises instructions for:
selecting a source from which to obtain the particular on-demand content from a plurality of content sources comprising the hub media server and the central media server in response to the request sent from the video termination device;
selecting a path over which to deliver the particular on-demand content to the video termination device, and
wherein the instruction for selecting a path comprises:
if the selected source is the hub media server, then selecting the distribution network as the selected path;
if the selected source is the central media server, then selecting the content transport network, if available, and the distribution network as the selected path, wherein the content transport network transports a transport network stream comprising the particular on-demand content to the QAM where it is RF modulated prior to routing to the distribution network; and
if the selected source is the central media server and if the content transport network is not available, then selecting the supertrunk network and the distribution network as the selected path, wherein the supertrunk network transports a supertrunk stream comprising the particular on-demand content that is previously RF modulated and that is routed to the distribution network without further modulation by the QAM; and
wherein the selected source delivers the particular on-demand content over the selected path to the video termination device.
2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a data network and wherein the central media server delivers on-demand content to the hub media server via the data network.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the instruction for selecting a content source comprises determining if the particular on-demand content is available from the hub media server and if the particular on-demand content is not available from the hub media server then determining if the particular on-demand content is available from the central media server.
4. The system of claim 1 ,
wherein the system further comprises at least one additional hub remote from the headend, wherein the at least one additional hub comprises another hub media server,
wherein the at least one additional hub and the headend are connected via the content transport network and the supertrunk network,
wherein the hub and the at least one additional hub are connected via the content transport network,
wherein the plurality of content sources further comprises the other hub media server, and
wherein the instruction for selecting a path further comprises if the selected content source is the other hub media server, then selecting the content transport network, wherein the content transport network transports the transport network stream comprising the particular on-demand content to the QAM where it is RF modulated prior to routing to the distribution network.
5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the instructions for selecting a content source comprises determining if the particular on-demand content is available from the hub media server and if the particular on-demand content is not available from the hub media server then determining if the particular on-demand content is available from the other hub media server located in the at least one additional hub.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the content transport network is capable of distributing a MPEG format content stream.
7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the content transport network is a fiber digital video broadcasting-asynchronous serial interface (DVB-ASI) network.
8. The system of claim 7 further comprising an interface coupled to the central media server and the fiber DVB-AS1 network, wherein the interface comprises instructions for converting an electrical MPEG format content stream into an optical MPEG format content stream capable of being transferred over the fiber DVB-ASI network.
9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the video termination device comprises a tuner and wherein the resource management processor further comprises instructions for:
receiving the request for the particular on-demand content from the video termination device;
selecting a tuner frequency at which the particular on-demand content can be received by the video termination device; and
instructing the video termination device to tune the tuner to the tuner frequency; and
wherein the video termination device further comprises instructions for:
receiving the tuner instruction from the resource management processor; and
tuning the tuner to the tuner frequency.
10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the hub media server in the hub is sized to support expected peak demand for VOD service from a subscriber group associated with the hub, wherein the central media server in a headend and the VOD transport network are sized for providing VOD content from the head-end to the hub to support an incremental demand level for VOD service from the subscriber group, wherein the incremental demand level is less than the expected peak demand, and wherein the resource management processor comprises instructions for:
selecting the hub media server as the source when an actual demand for VOD service from the subscriber group is less than or equal to the expected peak demand; and
selecting the central media server as the source when the actual demand for VOD service exceeds the expected peak demand.
11. A method for selecting a network path for delivering on-demand content in a multi-channel network, wherein the multi-channel network connects a headend, a hub remote from the headend and a video termination device, wherein the multi-channel network comprises a content transport network, a supertrunk network and a distribution network, wherein the headend comprises a central media server and a resource management processor, wherein the hub comprises a hub media server and a QAM, the hub and the headend being connected via the content transport network and the supertrunk network, and wherein the video termination device comprises an instruction for sending a request for a particular on-demand content to the resource management processor and is connected to the hub via the distribution network, the method comprising:
selecting a source from which to obtain the particular on-demand content from a plurality of content sources comprising the hub media server and the central media server in response to the request sent from the video termination device;
selecting a path over which to deliver the particular on-demand content to the video termination device, wherein selecting a path comprises:
if the selected source is the hub media server, then selecting the distribution network as the selected path;
if the selected source is the central media server, then selecting the content transport network if available and the distribution network as the selected path, wherein the content transport network transports a transport network stream comprising the particular on-demand content to the QAM where it is RF modulated prior to routing to the distribution network; and
if the selected source is the central media server and if the content transport network is not available, then selecting the supertrunk network and the distribution network as the selected path, wherein the supertrunk network transports a supertrunk stream comprising the particular on-demand content that is previously RF modulated and that is routed to the distribution network without further modulation by the QAM; and
delivering the particular on-demand content over the selected path from the selected content source to the video termination device.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the multi-channel network further comprises a data network and the method further comprises delivering on-demand content to the hub media server via the data network.
13. The method of claim 11 , wherein selecting a content source comprises determining if the particular on-demand content is available from the hub media server and if the particular on-demand content is not available from the hub media server then determining if the particular on-demand content is available from the central media server.
14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the multi-channel network further connects the headend to at least one additional hub remote from the headend via the content transport network and the supertrunk network, wherein the at least one additional hub comprises another hub media server and wherein the hub and the one additional hub are connected via the content transport network,
wherein the plurality of content sources further comprise the hub media server, and
wherein selecting a path further comprises if the selected source is the other hub media server, then selecting the content transport network, wherein the content transport network transports a transport network stream comprising the particular on-demand content to the QAM where it is RF modulated prior to routing to the distribution network.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein selecting a content source comprises determining if the particular on-demand content is available from the hub media server and if the particular on-demand content is not available from the hub media server then determining if the particular on-demand content is available from the other hub media server.
16. The method of claim 11 , wherein the content transport network is capable of distributing a MPEG format content stream.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the content transport network is a fiber digital video broadcasting-synchronous serial interface PVB-AS0 network.
18. The method of claim 16 , the method further comprising converting an electrical MPEG format content stream into an optical MPEG format content stream capable of being transferred over the fiber DVB-AS1 network.
19. The method of claim 11 , wherein the video termination device comprises a tuner and wherein the method further comprises:
receiving the request for the particular on-demand content from the video termination device;
selecting a tuner frequency at which the particular on-demand content can be received by the video termination device; and
instructing the video termination device to tune the tuner to the tuner frequency; and
wherein the video termination device further comprises instructions for:
receiving the tuner instruction from the resource management processor; and
tuning the tuner to the tuner frequency.
20. The method of claim 11 further comprising:
sizing the hub media server in the hub to support expected peak demand for VOD service from a subscriber group associated with the hub; and
sizing the central media server in a headend and sizing the VOD transport network for providing VOD content from the head-end to the hub to support an incremental demand level for VOD service from the subscriber group, wherein the incremental demand level is less than the expected peak demand, and wherein selecting a source from which to obtain the particular on-demand content comprises:
selecting the hub media server when an actual demand for VOD service from the subscriber group is less than or equal to the expected peak demand; and
selecting the central media server when the actual demand for VOD service exceeds the expected peak demand.