Central controller to manage network resources across a group of playback devices to control streaming video quality across the group of playback devices

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses to manage network resources across a group of playback devices that share the same resources to control video quality across the group of playback devices are provided. A central controller collects information about a plurality of playback devices wherein the playback devices share a network resource. The central controller also collects information regarding the network resource. The central controller allocates the network resource to deliver one or more requested video segments to one or more playback devices based on the information collected from the plurality of playback devices and the information collected regarding the network resource. By providing a central controller that is aware of the available network resources and the needs of the playback devices, the network resource can be managed in a way that improves the quality of experience for end users across all the playback devices while maximizing the efficiency of the network resources.

1 . A method for managing network resources across a group of playback devices, comprising:
 collecting information about a plurality of playback devices wherein the plurality of playback devices share a network resource;   collecting information regarding the network resource;   receiving one or more video segment request messages from one or more of the playback devices, respectively; and   allocating the network resource to respond to the one or more requested video segments based on the information collected about the plurality of playback devices and the information collected regarding the network resource.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the network resource is downstream bandwidth. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein collecting information about a plurality of playback devices comprises collecting information regarding the play state of each of the plurality of playback devices. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein collecting information about a plurality of playback devices comprises collecting information from the plurality of playback devices. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the play state is one of the following states: a play state, a pause state, a fast forward state, a rewind state, a seek state, and a start-up state. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein collecting information regarding the network resource comprises collecting information regarding the amount of downstream bandwidth available. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein allocating the network resource to respond to the one or more requested video segments based on the information collected about the plurality of playback devices and the information collected regarding the network resource comprises allocating the network resource based on the play states of the requesting playback devices. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein playback devices in a play state are allocated more of the network resource than playback devices in a trick mode state. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the network resource is allocated to maintain the video quality of one or more playback devices in a play state. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the network resource is downstream bandwidth. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the network resource is allocated to prevent one or more playback devices from disproportionately using network resources. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising communicating the resource allocation decision to a network element. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the network element is a CMTS. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the network element is a server. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising delivering the one or more requested video segments to the one or more playback devices based on the resource allocation determination. 
     
     
         16 . A central controller for managing network resources across a group of playback devices, comprising:
 one or more storage devices for storing information collected about a plurality of playback devices wherein the plurality of playback devices share a network resource and storing information regarding the network resource;   a processor configured to determine network resource allocations to respond to one or more video segment request messages from one or more of the playback devices, respectively, based on the information collected about the playback devices and the information collected regarding the network resource.   
     
     
         17 . The central controller of  claim 16  wherein the information collected about the plurality of playback devices comprises information regarding the play state of each of the plurality of playback devices. 
     
     
         18 . The central controller of  claim 16  wherein the information collected regarding the network resource comprises information regarding the amount of downstream bandwidth available. 
     
     
         19 . A system for managing network resources across a group of playback devices, comprising:
 means for collecting information about a plurality of playback devices wherein the plurality of playback devices share a network resource;   means for collecting information regarding the network resource;   means for receiving one or more video segment request messages from one or more of the playback devices, respectively; and   means for allocating the network resource to respond to the one or more requested video segments based on the information collected about the plurality of playback devices and the information collected regarding the network resource.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19  further comprising means for delivering the one or more requested video segments to the one or more playback devices based on the resource allocation determination.