Qoe-based catv network capacity planning and upgrade system

Abstract

Systems and methods for analyzing network parameters in a data communications network so as to maintain a desired Quality of Experience (QoE) of at least one subscriber.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A computer-implemented method for determining the performance of a distribution network that delivers communication service to a plurality of customers, the method comprising:
 receiving by a processor a probability distribution function (pdf) associated with at least one group of customers, the probability distribution function measuring the relative likelihood that said at least one group of customers demands bandwidth at each of a range of bandwidth values;   receiving by the processor a magnitude specifying an amount of available bandwidth capacity associated with said at least one group of customers; where   the processor uses the value and the pdf to determine a Quality-of-Experience (QoE) metric for the at least one group of customers.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  where the processor determines the QoE metric by calculating the area of the pdf on a selected side of a bandwidth value corresponding to said magnitude. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22  where the QoE metric is the likelihood that bandwidth demand is less than available bandwidth capacity. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22  where the QoE metric is the likelihood that bandwidth demand is more than available bandwidth capacity. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21  where the QoE metric is the average time between events where bandwidth demand is more than available bandwidth capacity. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25  where the probability distribution function was derived from measurements taken over a sampling period, and the QoE metric is determined by dividing the sampling period by the area of the pdf to the right of a bandwidth value corresponding to said magnitude. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21  where the received magnitude is a measurement. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 21  where the received magnitude is a variable, and the method includes the steps of successively increasing the received magnitude until the QoE metric exceeds a predetermined threshold, and thereafter modifying the network to provide the at least one group of customers with bandwidth corresponding to the received magnitude that caused the QoE metric to exceed the threshold. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 21  where the processor uses the value and the pdf to determine a selective one of either a first QoE metric and a second QoE metric, where the second QoE metric is selected when it is determined that the first QoE metric has a property of temporal correlation. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 21  including comparing the determined QoE metric to a threshold, and based on the comparison selectively performing at least one of the steps of:
 adjusting the composition of the at least one group of customers; 
 increasing available bandwidth to the at least one group of customers; and 
 modifying service to the at least one group of customers. 
 
     
     
         31 . An apparatus that distributes content to at least one of group of customers over a distribution network, said apparatus comprising:
 at least one measurement instrument; and   a processor that uses samples received from said at least one measurement instrument to construct at least one probability distribution function associated with said at least one group of customers, the probability distribution function (pdf) measuring the relative likelihood that said at least one group of customers demands bandwidth at each of a range of bandwidth values; where   the processor receives a magnitude specifying an amount of available bandwidth capacity associated with said at least one group of customers, and uses the value and the pdf to determine a Quality-of-Experience (QoE) metric for the at least one group of customers.   
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 31  where the processor determines the QoE metric by calculating the area of the pdf on a selected side of a bandwidth value corresponding to said magnitude. 
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of  claim 32  where the QoE metric is the likelihood that bandwidth demand is less than available bandwidth capacity. 
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 32  where the QoE metric is the likelihood that bandwidth demand is more than available bandwidth capacity. 
     
     
         35 . The apparatus of  claim 31  where the QoE metric is the average time between events where bandwidth demand is more than available bandwidth capacity. 
     
     
         36 . The apparatus of  claim 35  where the probability distribution function was derived from measurements taken over a sampling period, and the QoE metric is determined by dividing the sampling period by the area of the pdf to the right of a bandwidth value corresponding to said magnitude. 
     
     
         37 . The apparatus of  claim 31  where the received magnitude is a measurement. 
     
     
         38 . The apparatus of  claim 31  where the received magnitude is a variable, and the processor successively increases the received magnitude until the QoE metric exceeds a predetermined threshold. 
     
     
         39 . The apparatus of  claim 31  where the processor uses the value and the pdf to determine a selective one of either a first QoE metric and a second QoE metric, where the second QoE metric is selected when it is determined that the first QoE metric has a property of temporal correlation. 
     
     
         40 . The apparatus of  claim 31  where the processor determined the QoE metric in real time as the samples are collected.