Method and apparatus for distributing content

Abstract

Embodiments are related to supporting delivery of content to one or more content destination nodes. Content utility feedback information associated with a set of content items is received. The content utility feedback information may include an indication of past content consumed, an indication of signaling regarding a content item of interest, one or more characteristics of one or more of the content items, or any combination thereof. A content item predicted to be of interest to a content destination node is determined from the set of content items based on at least a portion of the content utility feedback information. A content distribution time for delivery of the content item to the content destination node is determined. A process for providing the content item to the content destination node is initiated based on the content distribution time.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus, comprising:
 at least one processor; and   at least one memory including computer program code;   the at least one memory and the computer program code being configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to at least:
 receive content utility feedback information associated with a set of content items, wherein the content utility feedback information comprises an indication of past content consumed, an indication of signaling regarding a content item of interest, one or more characteristics of one or more of the content items, or any combination thereof; 
 determine, from the set of content items based on at least a portion of the content utility feedback information, a content item predicted to be of interest to a content destination node; 
 determine a content distribution time for delivery of the content item to the content destination node; and 
 initiate, based on the content distribution time, a process for providing the content item to the content destination node. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the content utility feedback information comprises information identifying one or more content items available at the content destination node. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the content utility feedback information comprises an indication of signaling regarding a content type of interest. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the content utility feedback information comprises an indication of signaling related to a list of content items proposed to an end user. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the content utility feedback information comprises an indication of an observed pattern of content consumption from one or more end users. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the content utility feedback information comprises an indication of one or more characteristics of an end user terminal. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the content item is determined based on content utility prediction information, wherein the content utility prediction information is determined based on at least a portion of the content utility feedback information. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the content utility prediction information is determined based on a probability that the content item will be used at the content destination node at a time, a storage factor representing a probability that the content item will not be available at the content destination node at a time, a value of delivering the content item to the content destination node at a time, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the content distribution time is determined based on network status information associated with at least one communication network configured to support transport of content to the content destination node. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the content destination node comprises an end user terminal, a caching node, a content distribution node, or a network node. 
     
     
         11 . A method, comprising:
 receiving content utility feedback information associated with a set of content items, wherein the content utility feedback information comprises an indication of past content consumed, an indication of signaling regarding a content item of interest, one or more characteristics of one or more of the content items, or any combination thereof;   determining, from the set of content items based on at least a portion of the content utility feedback information, a content item predicted to be of interest to a content destination node;   determining a content distribution time for delivery of the content item to the content destination node; and   initiating, based on the content distribution time, a process for providing the content item to the content destination node.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the content utility feedback information comprises information identifying one or more content items available at the content destination node. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the content utility feedback information comprises an indication of signaling regarding a content type of interest. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the content utility feedback information comprises an indication of signaling related to a list of content items proposed to an end user. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the content utility feedback information comprises an indication of an observed pattern of content consumption from one or more end users. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the content utility feedback information comprises an indication of one or more characteristics of an end user terminal. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the content item is determined based on content utility prediction information, wherein the content utility prediction information is determined based on at least a portion of the content utility feedback information. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the content utility prediction information is determined based on a probability that the content item will be used at the content destination node at a time, a storage factor representing a probability that the content item will not be available at the content destination node at a time, a value of delivering the content item to the content destination node at a time, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the content distribution time is determined based on network status information associated with at least one communication network configured to support transport of content to the content destination node. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the content destination node comprises an end user terminal, a caching node, a content distribution node, or a network node.