Dynamically Balancing User Experiences in a Multi-User Computing System

Abstract

A media experience policy engine includes three components: an information manager, a policy evaluator, and an enforcement module. The information manager collects information regarding the current state of a media delivery system, such as, for example, usage of a CPU, memory, hard disk, (I/O) interface, and a network. This collected data is then verified by the policy evaluator to see if resource contention is, or is close to, occurring. If so, existing or potential conflicts are dealt with by the enforcement module, which applies corrections, such as, for example, limiting the access of later chronologic users, or degrading the user experience of all users, in accordance with a desired policy in order to vitiate the resource contention and maintain a user experience consistent with the desired policy.

1 . A method, comprising:
 receiving data collected by a media experience policy engine regarding usage of resources of an entertainment server, a network, and one or more network devices by one or more current users, the entertainment server further delivering media content to the one or more network devices over the network; and   reacting to a potential of resource contention of the resources without user input by altering a mode of delivery of the media content to at least one of the one or more network devices in accordance with a desired policy in order to prevent disruptions of a user experience of at least one of the one or more current users.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the desired policy recites maintaining a highest quality user experience for a high priority user and degrading a user experience for a lower priority user. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the desired policy recites refusing service to a last user whose use might lead to resource contention. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the desired policy recites an equal degradation of user experience for all of the one or more current users of the entertainment server. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the desired policy recites maintaining a highest quality user experience for the highest quality display and degrading user experience for lower quality displays. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the reacting includes altering a mode of delivery of the media content without prompting the one or more current users and without providing a warning of impending changes that will be implemented. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising displaying an explanation or description of ensuing changes to the one or more current users prior to altering a mode of delivery of the media content. 
   
   
       8 . An entertainment server, comprising:
 a media experience policy engine configured to receive requests for media content from one or more devices over a network and to monitor resource utilization of the entertainment server, the media experience policy engine including:
 an information manager configured to actively monitor resource utilization by collecting usage data relating to resource consumption of the one or more devices; 
 a policy evaluator configured to examine the collected usage data and to compare the usage data to available resources to determine a current state of the entertainment server; and 
 an enforcement module configured to implement changes to the network in accordance with a desired policy and without receiving input from one or more users when the current state of the entertainment server is not in compliance with the desired policy. 
   
   
   
       9 . The entertainment server of  claim 8 , wherein the desired policy is either pre-entered by the one or more users, preset by a manufacturer or seller, or set and reset during resource consumption. 
   
   
       10 . The entertainment server of  claim 8 , wherein the enforcement module is further configured to:
 detect a current user who is consuming a disproportionate percentage of resources; and   issue instructions to deliver media content to the current user who is using a disproportionate percentage of the resources in accordance with the desired policy to reduce resource usage and to avoid resource contention.   
   
   
       11 . The entertainment server of  claim 10 , wherein the instructions cause the entertainment server to preclude the user using a disproportionate percentage of the resources from further use of the resources. 
   
   
       12 . The entertainment server of  claim 10 , wherein the instructions cause the entertainment server to degrade a user experience of the user using a disproportionate percentage of the resources. 
   
   
       13 . The entertainment server of  claim 8 , wherein the enforcement module is configured to either:
 alter a mode of delivery of the media content without prompting the one or more users and without providing warning of impending changes that will be implemented; or   display an explanation of description of ensuing changes to the one or more users prior to altering a mode of delivery of the media content.   
   
   
       14 . The entertainment server of  claim 8 , wherein the usage data includes total usage of the network or usage of one or more of the one or more devices. 
   
   
       15 . One or more computer readable media comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the instructions to:
 collect usage data of one or more devices in a network in order to monitor resource utilization of the one or more devices of the network;   compare the usage data to total available resources of the network or to a particular one of the one or more devices;   determine that resource contention in the network exists when the collected usage data exceeds usage levels set forth in a desired policy; and   implement changes to the network in accordance with the desired policy without receiving input from one or more users of the one or more devices.   
   
   
       16 . The computer readable media of  claim 15 , wherein the desired policy recites degrading user experience by downloading and caching streamed media content for delayed delivery. 
   
   
       17 . The computer readable media of  claim 15 , wherein the desired policy recites degrading user experience by switching from an HD channel to an SD channel. 
   
   
       18 . The computer readable media of  claim 15 , wherein the desired policy recites maintaining a highest quality user experience to a first chronological user and degrading user experience of later chronological users. 
   
   
       19 . The computer readable media of  claim 15 , further comprising issuing a report to the one or more devices that confirms completion of the changes implemented to the network. 
   
   
       20 . The computer readable media of  claim 15 , wherein the desired policy recites degrading user experience by rendering non DRM media content in the place of DRM protected media content.