Method and apparatus for distributing content

Abstract

The invention includes a method and apparatus for delivering content to one or more content destination nodes. A method includes receiving content utility prediction information for a content item, selecting a content distribution mode for the content item using the content utility prediction information, and propagating the content item toward at least one of the content destination nodes using the selected content distribution mode and, optionally, with a defined priority, sequence, or schedule. The content utility prediction information is associated with the content destination nodes, and is indicative of a level of utility of the content item to the content destination nodes. The content distribution mode may include any content distribution mode, such as broadcast, switched broadcast, multicast, unicast, and the like. The content utility prediction information is received from one or more content prediction nodes. The content is distributed to one or more content destination nodes, which may include end user terminals and/or network-based caching nodes.

1 . A method for providing content to a network segment including at least one content destination node, comprising:
 receiving content utility prediction information for a content item, wherein the content utility prediction information is associated with the at least one content destination node, wherein the content utility prediction information is indicative of a level of utility of the content item to the at least one content destination node;   selecting one of a plurality of content distribution modes for the content item using the content utility prediction information; and   propagating the content item toward the at least one content destination node using the selected content distribution mode.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein selecting one of the content distribution modes for the content item comprises:
 computing, for each of the content distribution modes, a utility value indicative of a utility of providing the content item to the at least one content destination node via the content distribution mode; and   selecting the content distribution mode based on the utility values computed for the content distribution modes.   
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 selecting the content distribution mode having the largest computed utility value.   
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein selecting one of the content distribution modes for the content item comprises:
 computing, for each content destination node of the network segment, a utility value indicative of a utility of providing the content item to the content destination node;   computing a number of content destination nodes having a utility value that satisfies a utility threshold; and   selecting the content distribution mode based on the number of content destination nodes having a utility value that satisfies a utility threshold.   
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein selecting one of the content distribution modes for the content item comprises:
 computing, for each content distribution node of the network segment, a utility value indicative of a utility of providing the content item to the content destination node;   computing a number of content destination nodes having a utility value that satisfies a utility threshold; and   selecting the content distribution mode based the at least one utility value and the number of content destination nodes having a utility value that satisfies a utility threshold.   
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein selecting one of a plurality of content distribution modes for the content item using the content utility prediction information comprises:
 computing, for the content item, a utility value indicative of a utility of providing the content item to the network segment.   
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the utility value for the content item is computed using a probability value associated with each content destination node, wherein the probability value associated with a content destination node is a probability that the content item will be used by content destination node. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the utility value for the content item is modified using a storage factor associated with each content destination node, wherein the storage factor associated with a content destination node is indicative of a probability that the content item is only available to the content destination node from a content distribution server and not available from local storage. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the utility value for the content item is modified using a marginal value factor associated with each content item and content destination node, wherein the marginal value factor associated with a content item and content destination node is indicative of the price paid by the customer and the cost of delivering the content item to the content destination node. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the content utility prediction information for the content item comprises a utility value indicative of a probability of utility of the content item, wherein the probability of utility of the content item is a function of time. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the content utility prediction information is received from at least one content prediction node. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one content prediction node comprises at least one of at least one network-based node and at least one end user terminal. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the content utility prediction information is generated from at least one of a request from an end user for the content item and a prediction that the content item will be useful generated by a program acting on behalf of an end user. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the content distribution mode is selected using the content utility prediction information and additional information. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the additional information comprises at least one of network topology information, caching capabilities of network-based caching nodes, storage capabilities of end user terminals, information indicative of content items already stored at network-based caching nodes, and information indicative of content items already stored at end user terminals. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one content destination node comprises at least one of an end user terminal and a network-based caching node. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the content distribution mode comprises one of a broadcast mode, a switched broadcast mode, a multicast mode, and a unicast mode. 
   
   
       18 . An apparatus for providing content to a network segment including at least one content destination node, comprising:
 means for receiving content utility prediction information for a content item, wherein the content utility prediction information is associated with the at least one content destination node, wherein the content utility prediction information is indicative of a level of utility of the content item to the at least one content destination node;   means for selecting one of a plurality of content distribution modes for the content item using the content utility prediction information; and   means for propagating the content item toward at least one content destination node using the selected content distribution mode.   
   
   
       19 . A method for delivering content, comprising:
 receiving, from a plurality of content prediction nodes, content utility prediction information for each of a plurality of content items, wherein the content utility prediction information for each content item is indicative of a level of utility of the content item;   selecting, for each of the content items, a content distribution mode for the content item using the content utility prediction information associated with the content item; and   propagating each of the content items toward at least one content destination node using the respective content distribution modes selected for the content items.   
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 selecting, for each of the content items, a propagation time at which the content item is propagated using the selected content distribution mode.   
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein selecting the respective propagation times for the content items comprises at least one of:
 prioritizing the content items with respect to each other;   sequencing the content items with respect to each other; and   scheduling the content items with respect to available slots.   
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the respective propagation times of the content items are selected using the respective content distribution modes selected for the content items. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the respective propagation times of the content items are selected using at least one of network status information, respective times at which the content items becomes available, respective times until which the content items remain available, end user expectations regarding delivery of the content items, respective values of the content items, and respective costs of delivering the content items. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the content items are propagated toward the content destination nodes using the respective propagation times selected for the content items. 
   
   
       25 . An apparatus for delivering content, comprising:
 means for receiving, from a plurality of content prediction nodes, content utility prediction information for each of a plurality of content items, wherein the content utility prediction information for each content item is indicative of a level of utility of the content item;   means for selecting, for each of the content items, a content distribution mode for the content item using the content utility prediction information associated with the content item; and   means for propagating each of the content items toward at least one content destination node using the respective content distribution modes selected for the content items.