Methods and apparatus for revenue-optimized delivery of content in a network
Methods and apparatus for optimizing the distribution and delivery of multimedia or other content within a content-based network. In one embodiment, the network comprises a broadcast switched cable television network, which utilizes a Network optimization controller (NOC) that processes subscriber program viewing requests to identify options available to fulfill the request (including, e.g., the creation of one or more “microcasts” specifically targeting one or more users), and evaluate these options to determine one that optimizes network operation. The NOC performs these decisions by considering various parameters including network resource availability, type of CPE, subscriber's targeted advertisement profile, and business rules programmed by operator of the network.
1. A method of operating a content delivery network having a plurality of consumer premises equipment (CPE) associated therewith, said method comprising:
receiving a request for program delivery from one of said plurality of CPE;
evaluating at least two possible delivery options for servicing said request,
said at least two possible delivery options comprising:
(i) creating a new program stream having content at least partly determined based on demographic, psychographic, or profile data associated with a user of said one of said plurality of CPE, and causing said one of said plurality of CPE to tune thereto; and
(ii) causing said one of said plurality of CPE to tune to a pre-existing program stream having predetermined content not particularly selected for the user of said one of said plurality of CPE;
said act of evaluating being performed based on:
at least one operational consideration of said network; and
a historical pattern of bandwidth use of said one of said plurality of CPE; and
based at least in part on said act of evaluating, performing one of said at least two possible delivery options in order to service said request.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said historical pattern of bandwidth use of said one of said plurality of CPE comprises a use thereof resulting in a network profit.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said at least one operational consideration of said network comprises an available bandwidth thereof.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said act of evaluating is performed using a supervisory software process of said network.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said act of evaluating comprises performing a cost analysis for each of said at least two possible delivery options, and selecting an option having an optimal cost.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said act of performing one of said delivery options in order to service said request comprises creating the new program stream, and causing said CPE to tune thereto, said new stream containing spliced-in advertising content, said advertising content being selected based at least in part on said demographic, psychographic, or profile data associated with said requesting CPE.
7. Apparatus for use in a content delivery network configured to deliver content to a plurality of user devices, said apparatus comprising:
at least one interface;
a storage apparatus;
a processor configured to execute at least one computer program thereon, said at least one program comprising a plurality of instructions which are configured to, when executed by said processor, cause said apparatus to:
receive a program request for content from a first one of said plurality of user devices;
determine a likelihood of profitability of a geographic region associated with said first one of said plurality of user devices;
perform an analysis between two or more possible options for servicing said program request, said analysis being based at least in part on said likelihood of profitability and on one or more network considerations, said two or more possible options for servicing said program request comprising:
(i) creating a new program stream having content at least partly determined based on said geographic region associated with said first one of said plurality of user devices, and causing said first one of said plurality of user devices to tune thereto; and
(ii) causing said first one of said plurality of user devices to tune to a pre-existing program stream having predetermined content not particularly selected for users of said geographic region associated with said first one of said plurality of user devices; and
select one of said two or more possible options for delivery based at least in part on said analysis.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein said geographic region associated with said first one of said plurality of users is determined based at least in part on an address associated to said first one of said plurality of user devices.
9. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein said plurality of instructions are further configured to, when executed by said processor, cause said apparatus to cause said first one of said plurality of user devices to tune to a Quadrature Amplitude Modulated (QAM) channel which corresponds to said selected delivery option.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein said selected delivery option comprises use of an existing program stream to satisfy said request.
11. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein said apparatus comprises a control apparatus used in a broadcast switched architecture (BSA) network switching hub.
12. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein said analysis comprises a revenue-based analysis of said two or more possible options, said two or more possible options each having an at least partly different geographic region profile, said at least partly different geographic region profiles resulting in different revenues.
13. A non-transitory computer readable apparatus comprising a storage medium, said storage medium comprising at least one computer program having a plurality of instructions, said plurality of instructions configured to, when executed by a processing apparatus:
establish a plurality of at least partly different program streams for at least some of respective ones of a plurality of consumer equipment, said plurality of at least partly different program streams comprising (i) a program stream having content at least partly determined based on demographic, psychographic, or profile information associated with users of said at least some of respective ones of said plurality of consumer equipment, and (ii) a program stream having predetermined content not particularly selected for said users of said at least some of respective ones of said plurality of consumer equipment;
identify at least one bandwidth constraint on a content delivery network from which said plurality of consumer equipment receive content;
migrate at least one of said plurality of consumer equipment from one of said plurality of at least partly different program streams to which it is presently tuned to a different one of said plurality of at least partly different program streams; and
selectively remove one or more of said plurality of program streams from being delivered over said network;
wherein said migration is based at least in part on a historical profitability of bandwidth use by said respective ones of said plurality of consumer equipment.
14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein said migration comprises:
identification of at least one of said plurality of at least partly different program streams that has a highest level of said historical profitability of bandwidth use; and
migration of said at least one of said plurality of consumer equipment to said identified program stream.
15. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein said identification of said at least one bandwidth constraint comprises identification thereof based on analysis of a predicted value of bandwidth consumption based at least in part on historical data.
16. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein said identification of said at least one bandwidth constraint comprises:
determine a projected available bandwidth at a future time;
determine a projected demand for a particular programming content associated to said plurality of program streams; and
determine said deficiency based at least on said projected available bandwidth and said projected demand.
17. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein at least one of said projected available bandwidth and said projected demand is based on historical data for a network.
18. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein said selective removal comprises consolidation of a plurality of users of said network onto one of said plurality of streams so as to permit said removal.