Systems and methods for dynamic bit/bandwidth allocation
View Patent ↗Embodiments of the present invention include systems and methods enabling the send or “push” side of a cable transmission to dynamically obtain additional and/or temporary capacity. Bits and/or bandwidth of transmitted content is restricted by the service provider allowing gaps in the capacity to be filled with value-added content such as advertising, additional supplemental data feeds, or other media content.
1. A method of allocating bandwidth in a broadcast network on a push basis comprising:
monitoring an available capacity in a content delivery network;
determining an amount of unused bandwidth capacity within the delivery network;
on a push basis, dynamically reallocating the amount of unused bandwidth capacity to a broadcast channel responsive to the amount of unused bandwidth comprising a sufficient portion of the available capacity, the unused bandwidth being dynamically reallocated according to the amount of unused bandwidth and a rules engine, the rules engine defining a plurality of allocation criteria, the amount of unused bandwidth capacity expanding the bandwidth capacity of the broadcast channel; and
broadcasting supplemental content over the broadcast channel in real-time or near real-time to a receiver for viewing in real-time or near real-time within the expanded bandwidth capacity to the delivery network.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising: dynamically reallocating the amount of unused capacity based upon allocation criteria selected from the group consisting of: channel selection, time of day, expansion duration, expansion expiration, allocation for pre-purchased advertising, allocation for positioned advertising, allocation for multiple feeds, and allocation for internet protocol streams.
3. A method of advanced advertising to a targeted audience comprising:
broadcasting a channel to a receiver over a delivery network;
monitoring an available bandwidth capacity in the delivery network;
determining an amount of unused bandwidth capacity within the delivery network;
on a push basis, dynamically reallocating the amount of unused bandwidth capacity to the channel responsive to the amount of unused bandwidth comprising a sufficient portion of the available capacity, the unused bandwidth being dynamically reallocated according to the amount of unused bandwidth and a rules engine, the rules engine defining a plurality of allocation criteria, the amount of unused bandwidth capacity expanding the bandwidth capacity of the broadcast channel;
dynamically assembling at least two distinct advertisements to a targeted viewer based on a profile associated with the targeted viewer from a plurality of partial-advertisement media segments; and
broadcasting the at least two distinct advertisements over the channel in real-time or near real-time within the expanded bandwidth capacity of the channel to at least two different receivers.
4. A method of advanced advertising comprising:
broadcasting a channel to a receiver over a delivery network;
monitoring an available capacity in the delivery network;
determining an amount of unused capacity within the delivery network;
on a push basis, dynamically reallocating the amount of unused capacity to the channel responsive to the amount of unused bandwidth comprising a sufficient portion of the available capacity, the unused bandwidth being dynamically reallocated based on the amount of unused bandwidth and a rules engine, the rules engine defining a plurality of allocation criteria defining conditions of the use of the amount of unused capacity;
broadcasting the broadcast channel within the expanded bandwidth capacity to the delivery network; and
dynamically assembling a media message from a plurality of partial-message media segments based on a profile associated with a targeted viewer, the media message being broadcast to the targeted viewer in real-time or near real-time.
5. The method of claim 4 wherein the allocation criteria comprise a pre-scheduled time slot, the amount of unused capacity allocated to the channel during the pre-scheduled time-slot.
6. The method of claim 4 further comprising selling a pre-scheduled time slot for a monetary amount to a content provider.
7. The method of claim 6 further comprising pricing the pre-scheduled timeslot based according to the time slot's location within an hour.
8. The method of claim 6 further comprising pricing the pre-scheduled timeslot based upon a size of an audience.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein the supplemental content comprises an internet protocol feed.
10. The method of claim 1 wherein the supplemental content comprises a targeted advertisement.
11. The method of claim 10 wherein the targeted advertisement comprises an assembly of a plurality of partial-advertisement media segments.
12. The method of claim 11 wherein the targeted advertisement is assembled at a service provider head-end.
13. The method of claim 11 wherein the targeted advertisement is assembled at a receiver device.
14. The method of claim 4 wherein the media message is assembled at a receiver device.
15. The method of claim 4 further comprising transmitting the plurality of media segments within the expanded bandwidth to a receiver device for assembly of the media message.
16. The method of claim 4 wherein the media message is assembled in real-time.
17. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of allocation criteria comprise a expansion expiration criterion,
wherein the expanded bandwidth capacity is de-allocated based on the expansion expiration criterion.
18. The method of claim 1 wherein the supplemental content comprises interactive content.
19. The method of claim 18 wherein the interactive content comprises alternative views of a main broadcast program.
20. The method of claim 18 wherein return path bandwidth is pre-allocated based on available bandwidth.