Method and apparatus for boundary-based network operation

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for enforcing physical or logical boundaries, and targeting specific subscribers or groups of subscribers with particular content, within a network. In an exemplary embodiment, the network comprises a cable network operating according to a broadcast switched architecture (BSA), with a BSA server and a plurality of subscriber premises devices. Individual ones of these devices are identified to the server (such as via a unique identifier), and this information is correlated with one or more other parameters in order to selectively identify physical or logical groups of subscribers within the broader subscriber base. These other parameters may comprise, e.g., the postal zip code or telephone area code/exchange where the premises device is located, or alternatively relate to anecdotal or statistical viewing habits of the subscriber(s). Anonymity of the subscriber's identity, and autonomy from other data bases or sources of subscriber information, is maintained using this approach as well.

1 . In a selectively switched content-based broadcast network comprising at least one server disposed at a hub of said network, and a plurality of consumer premises equipment (CPE) in direct or indirect signal communication with said server, a method of selectively delivering targeted content to individual ones or subsets of said plurality of CPE, the method comprising: 
 determining an identification parameter for at least a portion of said plurality of CPE;    generating a correlation between said identification parameter and a second parameter associated with said each CPE or its subscriber;    disposing said correlation at said server;    receiving at said server a request from one of said plurality of CPE for content;    determining, based at least in part on said correlation, one of a plurality of content to be delivered to said requesting one of said CPE; and    delivering at least said one content to said requesting one of said CPE;    wherein said act of delivering comprises selectively switching a subset of all content available at said hub to at least said requesting one of said CPE in order to conserve bandwidth within said network.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said act of generating comprises generating a correlation table comprising, for each of said plurality of CPE, said identification parameter and a postal zip code where said CPE is located.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said act of generating comprises generating a correlation data structure comprising, for each of said plurality of CPE, said identification parameter and at least one of a telephone area code and telephone exchange relating to where said CPE is located.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said switched network comprises a switched digital broadcast (SDB) network.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said server comprises a central switching server.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said act or receiving a request comprises receiving a request for a particular program channel which is not at the time of said request being delivered to said requesting one of said CPE.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said act of delivering said at least one content comprises selectively switching said content to said requesting CPE using a local switching node of said network.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein method further comprises: 
 receiving a network address value for said CPE;    generating said identification parameter based on said network address value; and    generating a variable that is correlated to said identification parameter.    
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said act of determining an identification parameter comprises: 
 receiving a network address value for said CPE; and    algorithmically converting said address value to another value, said another value substantially frustrating determination of said address value therefrom;    wherein said algorithmic conversion further produces identical ones of said another value when provided the same network address value as an input thereto.    
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein act of determining comprises evaluating the membership of at least said requesting one of said CPE in a geographic, demographic or psychographic zone which varies as a function of time.  
   
   
       11 . A method of operating a switched broadcast content-based network comprising at least one server and a plurality of consumer premises equipment (CPE) in direct or indirect signal communication therewith, comprising: 
 providing each of said CPE with a parameter;    correlating said first parameter with a second parameter; and    selectively delivering content to individual ones of said CPE based at least in part on said act of correlating.    
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said first parameter comprises an identification value unique to said CPE, and said second parameter comprises a postal zip code, and said act of selectively delivering comprises selectively delivering first content to said CPE disposed within a first zip code.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said first parameter comprises an identification value unique to said CPE, and said second parameter comprises a parameter selected from the group consisting of: (i) telephone area code, and (ii) telephone exchange, and said act of selectively delivering comprises selectively delivering first content to said CPE disposed within said area code or exchange.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said at least one server comprises a server disposed at a hub node of said switched broadcast network.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said first parameter comprises an identification value unique to said CPE, and said second parameter comprises a parameter relating to the viewership habits of the subscriber associated with said CPE, and said selectively delivered content comprises a content stream containing advertising substantially targeted to said subscriber based at least in part on said second parameter.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein act of selectively delivering comprises: 
 at least periodically evaluating the membership of at least one of said CPE in a at least one of a geographic, demographic or psychographic group, said group varying as a function of time; and    based at least in part on said act of evaluating, selectively delivering said content when said at least one CPE is a member of said varying group.    
   
   
       17 . CPE adapted for use within a cable network, comprising: 
 an interface configured to receive encoded content signals from said network;    processing apparatus operatively coupled to said interface and adapted to decode said encoded signals received via said interface; and    at least one computer program running on said CPE, said at least one program being adapted to generate an upstream request for at least one program channel for transmission to a server entity of said network, said upstream request being configured to cause said server entity to selectively switch certain broadcast content to said CPE;    wherein said CPE further comprises a unique identification parameter, said parameter being directly or indirectly at least part of the basis for said selective broadcast switching by said server entity.    
   
   
       18 . The CPE of  claim 17 , wherein said interface comprises an RF tuner adapted to tune to one or more of a plurality of RF carriers present on said network.  
   
   
       19 . The CPE of  claim 18 , wherein said RF tuner comprises a wideband tuner apparatus adapted to receive said encoded content signals over a plurality of said carriers in substantially simultaneous fashion.  
   
   
       20 . The CPE of  claim 17 , wherein said computer program is downloaded to said CPE at runtime.  
   
   
       21 . The CPE of  claim 17 , wherein said upstream request is generated only if the requested program channel is not currently being delivered to said CPE.  
   
   
       22 . The CPE of  claim 17 , wherein said basis for switching further comprises a second parameter which places said CPE within a first subset of all CPE on said network.  
   
   
       23 . The CPE of  claim 22 , wherein said basis for switching further comprises a third parameter which places the CPE within a second subset of all CPE on said network.  
   
   
       24 . The CPE of  claim 22 , wherein said second parameter comprises a parameter related to the geographic location of said CPE.  
   
   
       25 . The CPE of  claim 17 , wherein said unique identification parameter is formatted by said CPE and passed upstream thereby to said server entity to be used in a cryptographic hashing process.  
   
   
       26 . Network server apparatus for use in a switched broadcast cable network having a plurality of CPE, comprising: 
 a processor adapted to run at least one computer program thereon;    a storage device in data communication with said processor, said storage device being adapted to store a plurality of data relating to individual ones of said CPE; and    a computer program adapted to selectively switch one of a plurality of broadcast content streams to groups of ones of said plurality of CPE based at least in part on said plurality of data relating to individual ones of said CPE.    
   
   
       27 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein said selective switching is based on a correlation between an identifier (ID) associated with each of said CPE and its geographic location.  
   
   
       28 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein said selective switching is based on a correlation between an identifier (ID) associated with each of said CPE and at least one demographic associated with the subscriber operating said CPE.  
   
   
       29 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein said selective switching is based on a correlation between an identifier (ID) associated with each of said CPE and at least one demographic associated with the subscriber operating said CPE.  
   
   
       30 . A method of anonymously and selectively providing content to a plurality of subscribers of a content-based network comprising at least one server and a plurality of consumer premises equipment (CPE) in direct or indirect signal communication therewith, comprising: 
 providing each of said CPE with an identifying parameter;    correlating said identifying parameter with a second parameter; and    selectively delivering content to individual ones of said CPE based at least in part on said act of correlating;    wherein the identity of said subscribers is not utilized as part of said acts of correlating or delivering.    
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising algorithmically processing said identifying parameter to form a secure identifying parameter, said secure identifying parameter substantially frustrating the identification of said CPE or a subscriber associated therewith.  
   
   
       32 . A method of enforcing a geographic or logical boundary within a broadcast switched allocation (BSA) network comprising at least one server and a plurality of consumer premises equipment (CPE) in communication therewith, said plurality of CPE each having an identification parameter associated therewith, the method comprising: 
 correlating said identification parameter for at least a portion of said plurality of CPE with a second parameter relating to a first geographic location of, or a logical relationship between a given CPE and others of said at least portion; and    selectively delivering content to individual ones of said CPE having said geographic location or said logical relationship.    
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising: 
 receiving a request from at least one of said plurality of CPE to switch to a given program channel; and    wherein said act of selectively delivering comprises selectively choosing and delivering one of a plurality of possible broadcast content options available at a switching entity within said network over said requested program channel based at least in part on said request and said act of correlating.    
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein said act of correlating said identification parameter is accomplished without access to any external source of subscriber information other than that derived from said CPE.  
   
   
       35 . A method of doing business within a content-based network comprising at least one server and a plurality of consumer premises equipment (CPE) in direct or indirect signal communication therewith, the method comprising: 
 providing services to a plurality of subscribers associated with respective ones of said plurality of CPE;    providing each of said CPE with an identifying parameter;    gathering data relating to said subscribers or said CPE;    correlating said identifying parameter with said data;    selectively choosing content for delivery to individual ones of said CPE based at least in part on said data and said identifying parameter; and    delivering said chosen content to said individual ones of said CPE;    wherein the identity of said subscribers is not utilized as part of said acts of correlating, choosing, or delivering.    
   
   
       36 . A method of anonymously and selectively operating a cable network having a switched broadcast architecture comprising at least one switching node and a plurality of consumer premises equipment (CPE), the method comprising: 
 providing a first identifying value associated with a first CPE;    converting said first identifying value to a second identifying value, said second identifying value substantially preventing determination of said first identifying value therefrom;    accessing a correlation between said second identifying value and at least one data element, said at least one data element being selected from the group consisting of: (i) demographic data; (ii) geographic data; and (iii) psychographic data; and    based at least in part on said act of accessing, switching at least one broadcast content option to said first CPE using at least said switching node.    
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein said first identifying value comprises a TUNER ID, and said act of converting comprises generating a cryptographic hash value based at least in part on said TUNER ID.  
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein said first identifying value comprises a TUNER USE, and said act of converting comprises generating a cryptographic hash value based at least in part on said TUNER USE.  
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein said first identifying value comprises a MAC address, and said act of converting comprises generating a cryptographic hash value based at least in part on said MAC address.  
   
   
       40 . A method of providing network services to one or more users of a content-based network. comprising: 
 generating data at a first location;    transmitting said data in a first direction within said network to a network node;    replicating at least portions of said data via said node; and    transmitting at least portions of said replicated data to at least one user of said network.    
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein said network comprises a broadcast switched architecture (BSA) network having a plurality of hubs, said hubs being utilized to selectively switch a subset of all content available on said network to said users.  
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein said act of generating data comprises generating video signals at said first location.  
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein said act of transmitting comprises transmitting said data in the upstream direction toward a hub of said network.  
   
   
       44 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein said act of replicating comprises replicating said data using at least one of said hubs.  
   
   
       45 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein said act of transmitting comprises selectively switching said at least portions of said replicated data to CPE of said users in a downstream direction.