Apparatus and methods for identifying and characterizing latency in a content delivery network
Methods and apparatus for identification and characterization of latency in a content delivery network. In one embodiment, interaction of users with content is recorded via the collection of a plurality of tuning records; the latency is then utilize to adjust the timing on the tuning records to account for lapses in time for sending these from between entities of the network and the user devices, and for processing occurring at the devices as required. The latency is determined by taking into account an experimentally or manufacturer-derived device specific latency component, and a network latency component. The network latency component is determined in one variant by sending a message to the device from the network requesting a current system time (or other response). Once the timing of the tuning records is adjusted, these tuning records may be relied upon as being accurate representations of subscriber interaction with content on a second-by-second basis. Accordingly, tuning records may be obtained and analyzed for content which lasts for very short periods of time (e.g. advertisements).
1. A method for providing data relating to interaction of a client device of a content distribution network with one or more portions of programming content provided over said content distribution network, said method comprising:
determining a first latency attributable to said client device;
determining a second latency attributable to a network path within said content distribution network which said programming content must take to be provided to said client device;
utilizing said first latency attributable to said client device and said second latency attributable to said network path to determine an aggregate latency specific to said client device;
collecting data relating to instances of interaction instantiated by button presses performed by said client device with respect to said one or more portions of said programming content; and
adjusting an identified time of said collected data relating to instances of interaction based on said aggregate latency.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said act of determining said first latency attributable to said client device comprises:
receiving second data comprising said first latency attributable to said client device from a manufacturer of said client device;
storing said second data; and
retrieving said second data upon said collection of said data relating to instances of said interaction instantiated by button presses performed by said client device with respect to said one or more portions of said programming content.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said act of determining a second latency attributable to said network path comprises:
sending a request for a current system time to said client device at a first time;
receiving in response to said request a message from said client device indicating a second time; and
determining said second latency attributable to said network path as being a portion of a difference between said first time and said second time.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein said act of utilizing said first latency attributable to said client device and said second latency attributable to said network path to determine said aggregate latency specific to said client device comprises applying a mathematical algorithm which takes into account said portion of said difference between said first time and said second time, and said first latency attributable to said client device.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said act of adjusting said act of adjusting said identified time of said collected data based on said aggregate latency comprises adjusting time data associated with individual ones of said data relating to said instances of interaction by button presses performed by said client device with respect to said one or more portions of said programming content to accurately represent a time at which said individual ones of said data were collected given said aggregate latency.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said data relating to instances of interaction instantiated by button presses performed by said client device with respect to said one or more portions of said programming content comprises data received from said client device and identifying at least one of:
a request to tune-in to one of said portions of said programming content;
a request to tune-out of one of said portions of said programming content; and
a request to tune-away from one of said portions of said programming content.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein said data relating to instances of interaction instantiated by button presses performed by said client device with respect to said one or more portions of said programming content comprises data received from said client device, and said method further comprises identifying a trick mode operation performed with respect to one of said one or more portions said programming content.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein said content distribution network comprises a managed network, and said act of adjusting said identified time of said collected data based on said aggregate latency is performed by a server maintained at a headend of said content distribution network by an operator of said content distribution network.
9. A non-transitory computer readable apparatus comprising a storage medium, said storage medium configured to store at least one computer program thereon, said computer program comprising a plurality of instructions, said plurality of instructions configured to, when executed by a processing apparatus:
determine a first latency attributable to a client device of a content distribution network;
send a request for a current system time to said client device at a first time;
receive in response to said request, a message from said client device which indicates a second time;
determine a second latency attributable to a network path within said content distribution network which programming content must take in order to be provided to said client device as being a portion of a difference between said first time and said second time;
utilize said first latency attributable to said client device and said second latency attributable to said network path to determine an aggregate latency specific to said client device;
collect data relating to instances of interaction instantiated by button presses performed by said client device with respect to said one or more portions of said programming content; and
adjust an identified time of said collected data based at least in part on said aggregate latency.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein said determination of said first latency attributable to said client device comprises reception of second data comprising said first latency attributable to said client device from a manufacturer of said client device.
11. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein utilization of said first latency attributable to said client device and said second latency attributable to said path within said content distribution network to determine said aggregate latency comprises application of a mathematical algorithm which takes into account said portion of said difference between said first time and said second time.
12. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein said adjustment of said identified time causes said each of said plurality of collected data records to accurately represent a time at which individual ones thereof were collected given said aggregate latency.
13. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein said plurality of data records relating to said interaction of said client device with said content comprises data received from said client device and configured to identify at least one of a request to tune-in to said content and a request to tune-away from said content.
14. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein:
said plurality of data records relating to said interaction of said client device with said content comprise data received from said client device; and
said plurality of instructions are further configured to, when executed by said processing apparatus, identify a trick mode operation performed with respect to said content by said client device.
15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein said content distribution network comprises a managed network and said processing apparatus comprises a server maintained at a headend of said managed network by an operator thereof.
16. An apparatus configured to provide data relating to interaction of a client device of a content distribution network with one or more portions of programming content provided over said content distribution network, said apparatus comprising:
a processor;
a storage element in data communication with said processor, said storage element comprising at least one computer program, said at least one program comprising a plurality of instructions configured to, when executed by said processor:
determine a first latency attributable to said client device;
determine a second latency attributable to a network path within said content distribution network which said programming content must take in order to be provided to said client device;
utilize said first latency attributable to said client device and said second latency attributable to said network path to determine an aggregate latency specific to said client device;
collect data relating to instances of interaction instantiated by button presses performed by said client device with respect to said one or more portions of said programming content; and
adjust time data associated with individual ones of said data relating to said instances of interaction by button presses performed by said client device with respect to said one or more portions of said programming content to accurately represent a time at which said individual ones of said data were collected given said aggregate latency.
17. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein said determination of said first latency comprises collection of data comprising a latency attributable to said client device from a manufacturer of said device.
18. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein said determination of said second latency comprises:
relay of a request to said client device at a first time;
in response to said relay, collection of a message from said client device which indicates a second time; and
deteimination of a difference between said first time and said second time, said difference comprising said second latency attributable to said network path.
19. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein said plurality of instructions are further configured to, when executed, based on said adjustment of said time data, remove a particular scene or image from said specific ones of said plurality of content.
20. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein said plurality of instructions are further configured to, when executed, based on said adjustment of said time data, replace a first one of said specific ones of said plurality of content with second content.