Dynamic Bandwidth Allocation For Addressable Content

Abstract

Systems and methods for push-based dynamic bandwidth allocation deliver addressable, advertising content in a digital network. Bandwidth is allocated on a push basis in response to receiving a trigger from a content distribution stream. The trigger contains data indicating an addressable break. A portion of bandwidth is then allocated to an addressable content stream based on the data of the trigger. The addressable content stream is then streamed to a receiver during the addressable break and the receiver is tuned from the broadcast stream to the addressable content stream for the duration of the addressable break. The additional bandwidth is de-allocated at the end of the addressable break.

1 . A method comprising:
 determining a start time of targeted content in a content transmission;   allocating, prior to the start time of the targeted content, a portion of available bandwidth to the content transmission; and   de-allocating, after the targeted content has been output, the portion of available bandwidth.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising causing output, starting at the start time, of the targeted content. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising transmitting, starting at the start time, the targeted content. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the targeted content is transmitted to a receiver. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining the start time of the targeted content comprises receiving data indicating at least the start time of the targeted content. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the data comprises at least one of a trigger and a cue tone. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the data further indicates an end time of the targeted content. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising switching from the content transmission to targeted content starting at the start time. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the targeted content comprises a targeted advertisement. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the content transmission comprises non-directed content. 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus comprising:
 a processor; and   a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to:
 determine a start time of targeted content in a content transmission; 
 allocate, prior to the start time of the targeted content, a portion of available bandwidth to the content transmission; and 
 de-allocate, after the targeted content has been output, the portion of available bandwidth. 
   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the apparatus to cause output, starting at the start time, of the targeted content. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the apparatus to transmit, starting at the start time, the targeted content. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the apparatus to determine the start time of the targeted content by receiving data indicating at least the start time of the targeted content. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the apparatus to switch from the content transmission to targeted content starting at the start time. 
     
     
         16 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by an apparatus, cause the apparatus to:
 determine a start time of targeted content in a content transmission;   allocate, prior to the start time of the targeted content, a portion of available bandwidth to the content transmission; and   de-allocate, after the targeted content has been output, the portion of available bandwidth.   
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the apparatus to cause output, starting at the start time, of the targeted content. 
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the apparatus to transmit, starting at the start time, the targeted content. 
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the apparatus to determine the start time of the targeted content by receiving data indicating at least the start time of the targeted content. 
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the apparatus to switch from the content transmission to targeted content starting at the start time.