Controlling digital video bandwidth utilization with a virtualized communication hub

Abstract

Example methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture (e.g., physical storage media) to control digital video bandwidth utilization with a virtualized communication hub are disclosed. Example methods disclosed herein include monitoring, with a virtual access function of the virtualized communication hub, an aggregate load on a broadband access medium to detect bandwidth utilization events. Disclosed example methods also include sending, from the virtual access function, a first notification message to a virtual set-top box of the virtualized communication hub in response to detecting a first bandwidth utilization event. Disclosed example methods further include adjusting, at the virtual set-top box and based on the first notification message, an output bandwidth for streaming digital media from the virtual set-top box to a physical set-top box via a broadband access medium.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A virtualized communication hub implemented by a server cluster, the virtualized communication hub comprising:
 a virtual set-top box to stream digital media to a physical set-top box via a broadband access medium; and   a virtual access function to:
 monitor an aggregate load on the broadband access medium to detect bandwidth utilization events; and 
 send a first notification message to the virtual set-top box in response to detecting a first bandwidth utilization event, the virtual set-top box to adjust an output bandwidth for streaming the digital media based on the first notification message.