Congestion Aware Hybrid File Transfer

Abstract

A method of delivering audiovisual content to a viewer includes monitoring a viewer activity, prompting viewer to determine intent upon the occurence of a pre-specified event, identifying content for delivery based on a response from the viewer and selectively delivering the content to the viewer, wherein the delivery is via a broadband connection during a non-peak data traffic time.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of delivering audiovisual content to a viewer, the method comprising:
 monitoring a viewer activity;   prompting viewer to indicate an intent upon the occurence of a pre-specified event;   identifying content for delivery based on the indication from the viewer; and   selectively delivering the content to the viewer, wherein the delivery is via a broadband connection during a non-peak time.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 identifying content for delivery to a plurality of viewers based on responses received from the plurality of viewers.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 delivering the identified content to at least two viewers via a multicast delivery if identical content has been designated for delivery to at least two viewers.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 delivering the identified content to a viewer via unicast delivery if identical content has not been designated for delivery to multiple viewers.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the occurence of a pre-specified event comprises:
 determining if a number of episodes of a particular program viewed is greater than a pre-set number.   
     
     
         6 . A method of delivering audiovisual content to a viewer, the method comprising:
 monitoring a viewer activity;   training a machine to learn viewer tendencies based on the monitored activity;   identifying content for delivery based on the learned viewer tendencies; and   selectively delivering the content to the viewer, wherein the delivery is via a broadband connection during a non-peak time.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 identifying content for delivery to a plurality of viewers based on monitoring activity of a plurality of viewers.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 delivering the identified content to at least two viewers via a multicast delivery if identical content has been designated for delivery to at least two viewers.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 delivering the identified content to a viewer via unicast delivery if identical content has not been designated for delivery to multiple viewers.   
     
     
         10 . A system for delivering audiovisual content to a viewer, the system comprising:
 a media source containing audiovisual content;   a receiver located within a viewer premises;   a communication network connecting the media source to the receiver; and   a system controller for facilitating delivery of audio visual content to the receiver, wherein the communication network provides content to the receiver during a non-peak time.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the delivery is via a unicast connection to a receiver. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the delivery is via a multicast connection to a plurality of receivers. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the audiovisual content includes at least one of images, streaming video, text and sound. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein viewer interaction with the system controller is via the network.