Systems and method for adaptive scheduling and dynamic bandwidth resource allocation management in a digital broadband delivery system

Abstract

A technique for allocating bandwidth in a digital broadband delivery system (DBDS) using a bandwidth allocation manager to dynamically assign a content delivery mode to a plurality of digital transmission channels based on an allocation criteria received from a subscriber is disclosed herein. The bandwidth allocation manager determines a bandwidth allocation schedule for a predetermined bandwidth based on allocation criteria comprising a criteria received from a subscriber. The allocation criteria received from the subscriber may comprise a subscriber reservation request which is processed by the bandwidth allocation manager to determine the bandwidth allocation schedule.

1 . A bandwidth allocation manager for allocating available bandwidth, the manager stored in a computer-readable medium, the manager comprising: 
 logic configured to transmit a video program via a first digital transmission channel;    logic configured to determine whether random access functionality for the video program on an auxiliary digital transmission channel is available;    logic configured to received information from a subscriber; and    logic configured to allocate bandwidth to the auxiliary digital transmission channel based on at least information received from the subscriber responsive to determining that the random access functionality on the auxiliary digital transmission channel is available,    wherein the auxiliary digital transmission channel enables random access functionality for the video program.    
     
     
         2 . The manager of  claim 1 , wherein the information received from the subscriber identifies a level of random access functionality selected by the user for a program that is to be provided to the user at a future time.  
     
     
         3 . The manager of  claim 1 , wherein the video program is transmitted via a plurality of digital transmission channels with different start times; and 
 the manager further comprising: 
 logic configured to compare time shifts between the plurality of digital transmission channels;  
 logic configured to locate one of the plurality of digital transmission channels with a later start time that has reached a point in the video program approximately equal to the point where the subscriber resumed normal play of the video program; and  
 logic configured to connect the video program to the one of the plurality of digital transmission channels with approximately equal point in the video program.  
   
     
     
         4 . The manager of  claim 1 , the video program operates in a first delivery mode and the random access functionality operates in a second delivery mode.  
     
     
         5 . The manager of  claim 4 , wherein the video program is provided to a set-top terminal (STT) in the first delivery mode.  
     
     
         6 . The manager of  claim 5 , further comprising: 
 logic configured to receive a first input from the STT, the first input being configured to request delivery of the video program with the random access functionality, where the random access functionality is configured to operate in the second delivery mode;    responsive to receiving the first input, providing the video program to the STT via the first delivery mode;    receiving a second input from the STT, the second input being configured to select a different playback mode of the first video program; and    responsive to receiving the second input, establishing a dedicated network session between at least one server and the first STT and providing the different playback mode of at least a portion of the video program to the STT via the second delivery mode.    
     
     
         7 . The manager of  claim 6 , wherein responsive to receiving a third input from the STT for normal playback of the video program, terminating the dedicated network session between the at least one server and the first STT.  
     
     
         8 . The manager of  claim 6 , wherein responsive to receiving a third input from the STT, providing a normal playback mode of the video program to the STT in the second delivery mode.  
     
     
         9 . The manager of  claim 6 , wherein responsive to receiving a third input from the STT for normal playback of the first video program, providing the video program to the STT in the first delivery mode.  
     
     
         10 . A system for allocating available bandwidth, the system comprising: 
 a bandwidth allocation manager configured to: 
 transmit a video program via a first digital transmission channel;  
 determine whether random access functionality for the video program on an auxiliary digital transmission channel is available;  
 receive information from a subscriber; and  
 allocate bandwidth to the auxiliary digital transmission channel based on at least information received from the subscriber responsive to determining that the random access functionality on the auxiliary digital transmission channel is available, wherein the auxiliary digital transmission channel enables random access functionality for the video program; and  
   a network manager in communication with the bandwidth allocation manager, wherein the network manager allocates the predetermined bandwidth determined by the bandwidth allocation manager based on the received information from the subscriber.    
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the information received from the subscriber identifies a level of random access functionality selected by the user for a program that is to be provided to the user at a future time.  
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the video program is transmitted via a plurality of digital transmission channels with different start times; and 
 wherein the bandwidth allocation manager is further configured to: 
 compare time shifts between the plurality of digital transmission channels;  
 locate one of the plurality of digital transmission channels with a later start time that has reached a point in the video program approximately equal to the point where the subscriber resumed normal play of the video program; and  
 connect the video program to the one of the plurality of digital transmission channels with approximately equal point in the video program.  
   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , the video program operates in a first delivery mode and the random access functionality operates in a second delivery mode.  
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the video program is provided to a set-top terminal (STT) in the first delivery mode.  
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the bandwidth allocation manager is further configured to: 
 receive a first input from the STT, the first input being configured to request delivery of the video program with the random access functionality, where the random access functionality is configured to operate in the second delivery mode;    responsive to receiving the first input, provide the video program to the STT via the first delivery mode;    receive a second input from the STT, the second input being configured to select a different playback mode of the first video program; and    responsive to receiving the second input, establish a dedicated network session between at least one server and the first STT and provide the different playback mode of at least a portion of the video program to the STT via the second delivery mode.    
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein responsive to receiving a third input from the STT for normal playback of the video program, terminate the dedicated network session between the at least one server and the first STT.  
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein responsive to receiving a third input from the STT, provide a normal playback mode of the video program to the STT in the second delivery mode.  
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein responsive to receiving a third input from the STT for normal playback of the first video program, provide the video program to the STT in the first delivery mode.  
     
     
         19 . A digital home communication terminal (DHCT) comprising: 
 memory configured to store program code; and    a processor that is programmed by the program code to: 
 provide the user with a first selectable option and a second selectable option responsive to the DHCT receiving a request from a user for implementing a random access function, wherein selecting the first selectable option results in the random access function being implemented after a first time period and selecting the second selectable option results in the random access function being implemented after a second time period that is substantially shorter than the first time period.  
   
     
     
         20 . The DHCT of  claim 19 , wherein selecting the second option results in additional expense for the user.  
     
     
         21 . A digital home communication terminal (DHCT) comprising: 
 memory configured to store program code; and    a processor that is programmed by the program code to communicate to the user an amount of bandwidth that has been consumed as a result of random access functionality that has been provided to the user.    
     
     
         22 . The DHCT of  claim 21 , wherein the amount of bandwidth consumed is communicated via a graphical representation.  
     
     
         23 . The DHCT of  claim 21 , wherein the amount of bandwidth consumed is communicated by providing a user with information about fees related to the random access functionality provided to the user.