Internet protocol broadcasting
Methods, apparatuses, and systems are provided for improving utilization of a communications system through various atom-based techniques for enhancing the viewing experience for Internet protocol content. Some embodiments exploit atom-based processing to determine which content atoms to broadcast (e.g., multicast) over which channels to which subscribers. Other embodiments make atom-based filtering, caching, and/or other determinations at the user terminal. For example, low-level (e.g., physical layer) filtering may be used to limit the amount of user-layer processing needed, and to facilitate delivery of content to those users most likely to desire that content. Still other embodiments allow users to create customized channels of cached content for viewing as a shared channel. Embodiments include techniques for addressing synchronization of channel content and viewing, and social networking, for subscribers to the shared channel. The shared channels may be further used to facilitate social networking among subscribers.
1. A non-transitory medium storing computer-readable instructions, which, when executed, cause a processor to perform steps comprising:
receiving at a content broadcaster from a content source digital data comprising a content atom;
calculating, by the content broadcaster, a digital data value of the content atom to subscribers from subscriber preference data received as digital data at the content broadcaster from at least two of the subscribers and metadata regarding the content atom received as digital data at the content broadcaster wherein the calculating comprises determining a correlation between the subscriber preference data and the metadata, the subscriber preference data comprises individual content preferences of the at least two subscribers, and the correlation comprises a number of the subscribers for which the metadata matches at least one of the individual content preferences of the subscribers;
determining, by the content broadcaster, whether to add the content atom to a multicast broadcast channel based on the calculated digital data value; and
only if it is determined from the calculated digital data value to add the content atom to the multicast broadcast channel, multicasting the content atom from the content broadcaster over the multicast broadcast channel to the subscribers.
2. The non-transitory medium of claim 1 , wherein the content atom comprises a payload and a header containing the metadata.
3. The non-transitory medium of claim 1 , wherein the metadata is received from a source external to the subscribers and the content source.
4. The non-transitory medium of claim 3 , wherein:
the external source is a scout, and
the metadata comprises a popularity rating of the content atom from the scout.
5. The non-transitory medium of claim 1 , wherein the metadata is received from the content source.
6. The non-transitory medium of claim 1 , wherein the subscriber preference data comprises content preference data entered by the at least two of the subscribers.
7. The non-transitory medium of claim 1 , wherein the subscriber preference data comprises a history of past content consumption by the at least two subscribers.
8. The non-transitory medium of claim 1 , wherein the calculating comprises determining a correlation between the subscriber preference data and the metadata.
9. The non-transitory medium of claim 8 , wherein:
the subscriber preference data comprises individual content preferences of the at least two subscribers, and
the correlation comprises a number of the subscribers for which the metadata matches at least one of the individual content preferences of the subscribers.
10. The non-transitory medium of claim 1 , wherein the subscriber preference data comprises features of the broadcast channel requested by the at least two subscribers.
11. A method for multicasting over a broadcast channel between a content broadcaster and subscribers, the method comprising:
receiving at the content broadcaster from a content source digital data comprising a content atom;
calculating, by the content broadcaster, a digital data value of the content atom to the subscribers from subscriber preference data received as digital data at the content broadcaster from at least two of the subscribers and metadata regarding the content atom received as digital data at the content broadcaster, wherein the calculating comprises determining a correlation between the subscriber preference data and the metadata, the subscriber preference data comprises individual content preferences of the at least two subscribers, and the correlation comprises a number of the subscribers for which the metadata matches at least one of the individual content preferences of the subscribers;
determining, by the content broadcaster, whether to add the content atom to the broadcast channel based on the calculated digital data value; and
only if it is determined from the calculated digital data value to add the content atom to the broadcast channel, multicasting the content atom from the content broadcaster over the broadcast channel to the subscribers.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the content atom comprises a payload and a header containing the metadata.
13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the metadata is received from a source external to the subscribers and the content source.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein:
the external source is a scout, and
the metadata comprises a popularity rating of the content atom from the scout.
15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the metadata is received from the content source.
16. The method of claim 11 , wherein the subscriber preference data comprises content preference data entered by the at least two subscribers.
17. The method of claim 11 , wherein the subscriber preference data comprises a history of past content consumption by the at least two subscribers.
18. The method of claim 11 , wherein the calculating comprises determining a correlation between the subscriber preference data and the metadata.
19. The method of claim 11 , wherein the subscriber preference data comprises features of the broadcast channel requested by the at least two subscribers.