Methods and apparatus for content delivery notification and management
Apparatus and methods for handling situations where requested services require more network capacity than presently available, and notifying network users of an delay in providing such services. In one embodiment, the invention comprises apparatus and methods for the detection of capacity (e.g., bandwidth) shortage, determination of a delayed delivery mode and schedule for the delivery of the requested content, and notification of the availability of the content to the user via, e.g., on-screen display, e-mail, text message, or other mode. The user can also specify their own notification preferences and delivery time. Requests for and delivery of the content may be performed from/to different locations as well. Network server apparatus, consumer premises equipment (CPE), and a software architecture adapted to implement the foregoing functionality, are also disclosed.
1. A method of providing notification in a content distribution network, said method comprising:
receiving a request for delivery of content from an entity in communication with said content distribution network;
evaluating at least one parameter related to available bandwidth of said content distribution network;
when said evaluating indicates that said available bandwidth is limited, utilizing recorded bandwidth usage data to predict a first future time window when bandwidth will be available for delivery of said requested content; and
immediately subsequent to said act of evaluating, providing at least two selectable content delivery options and an option to receive a notification at second future time relating to said requested content being available;
wherein said at least two selectable content delivery options comprise at least one option for streamed delivery and at least one option for download delivery of said requested content, said streamed or download delivery occurring at a user specified time within said predicted first future time window.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said content distribution network comprises a cable television network, and said request for content comprises a signal or message received from a subscriber of said content distribution network issued via their consumer premises equipment (CPE).
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said evaluation of at least one parameter related to available bandwidth is based at least in part on actual bandwidth allocation then existing within said content distribution network.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said notification comprises an audio, text, and/or graphical indication presented to a user via a display device in signal communication with said content distribution network.
5. The method of claim wherein said notification comprises an electronic message sent over an Internet.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said notification comprises an electronic message sent over a wireless or cellular service network.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein said notification of a first type of said requested content can be configured differently from a second type of said requested content.
8. A network apparatus adapted to provide notification in a content distribution network, said network apparatus comprising:
a network interface adapted to communicate with at least one user device;
a storage apparatus; and
a processor in data communication with said storage apparatus and said network interface, said processor adapted to run at least one computer program thereon, said at least one computer program comprising a plurality of instructions which are adapted to, when executed, cause said network apparatus to:
receive a request for delivery of content from said at least one user device in communication with said content distribution network;
evaluate at least one parameter related to available bandwidth of said content distribution network;
when said evaluation indicates that said available bandwidth is limited, utilize recorded bandwidth usage data to predict a first future time window when bandwidth will be available for delivery of said requested content; and
immediately subsequent to said evaluation, provide at least two selectable content delivery options and an option to receive a notification at second future time relating to said requested content being available;
wherein said at least two selectable content delivery options comprise at least one option for streamed delivery and at least one option for download delivery of said requested content, said streamed or download delivery occur at a user specified time within said predicted first future time window.
9. The network apparatus of claim 8 , wherein said content distribution network comprises a cable television network, and said request for content comprises a signal or message received from a subscriber of said content distribution network issued via their consumer premises equipment (CRE).
10. The network apparatus of claim 8 , wherein said evaluation of at least one parameter related to available bandwidth is based at least in part on actual bandwidth allocation which currently exists within said content distribution network.
11. The network apparatus of claim 8 , wherein said notification comprises an audio, text, and/or graphical indication presented to a user via a display device in signal communication with said content distribution network.
12. The network apparatus of claim 8 , wherein said notification comprises an electronic message sent over an Internet.
13. The network apparatus of claim 8 , wherein said notification comprises an electronic message sent over a wireless or cellular service network.
14. The network apparatus of claim 8 , wherein said notification of a first type of said requested content can be configured differently from a second type of said requested content.