System and method for controlling a network

A system and method for controlling network bandwidth that uses a timer to monitor the length of time that a set top box is set to a channel and, in response to the timer reaching a time limit, requesting a response from a user to verify that the channel is still being watched. If a response is not received with a specified time duration, the signal for the IPTV channel may be disconnected. The system may be configured to include “thin client” middleware on a network server or “thick client” middleware on a set top box, for example, to operate in conjunction with a network server.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

Internet protocol Television (IPTV) describes a system where a digital television service is delivered using Internet protocol (IP) over a network. The network used for IPTV may include the public Internet or a private IP network controlled by an IPTV service provider via a broadband connection known as digital subscriber lines (DSL), where a digital subscriber line typically includes conventional telephone lines with copper wire into households. Alternatively, the digital subscriber may be fiber to the premises (FTTP). Telecommunication service provider companies that have begun offering DSL have limited bandwidth resources when delivering video over existing copper wire infrastructures.

Cable companies have developed and begun deploying voice over IP (VoIP) services within telephone company markets. By doing so, their offerings have grown from high-speed data and video services to include voice communication services (i.e., telephone services). By offering bundled services, cable companies can now offer customers the ability to have a common service provider for all three services (i.e., data, video, and telephone) and receive only one bill from the cable provider. In order for the telephone service providers to compete, they must provide customers with an alternative bundling of services, including video services. Today, most telephone access networks provide broadband Internet access by using DSL technology. Because the technology involves connecting copper wire from the central office to the customers, bandwidth is limited based on the distance, interference, and physical bandwidth limitations of copper wire. In order for telephone service providers to offer video over their existing copper wire infrastructures, they must deliver entertainment services, such as IPTV over using existing DSL technology to provide video services. However, even with the use of IPTV technology, bandwidth limitations over copper wire infrastructure still impacts the overall service capability of the telecommunications service provider.

FIG. 1is an illustration of an exemplary communication system100between a service provider102and subscribers104a-104n(collectively104). Communication from the service provider102may be performed over a network106, such as the Internet or public/private switched telephone network (PSTN), for example. It should be understood that the network106may be any network or telecommunications transport network that is capable of communicating data packets. Communication of content, such as video content, is performed using data packets108a-108n(collectively108) from the service provider102to the subscribers104. In the case of delivering IPTV, channels are setup by the service provider102to allow subscribers to access a particular channel delivering particular content. For example, an IPTV channel may deliver sports content (e.g., ESPN), movie content (e.g. HBO), or other video content. As telecommunication service providers continue to deliver IPTV services, IPTV channels will expand in a similar manner as cable and satellite systems.

In receiving IPTV, each subscriber uses a set top box in conjunction with a television. The set top box operates to receive the data packets108being communicated from the service provider102and organizes the data packets to display video content on a television. The IPTV set top boxes are configured in a similar manner as those from the early days of conventional cable television that were separate devices from the televisions. As occurred with set top boxes in cable systems, a person watching IPTV may turn off the television when finished watching a television channel or movie, but may leave the set top box turned on. While this was not a significant problem in the cable industry due to having significantly higher bandwidth, it is a problem with DSL delivery systems over copper wire infrastructure for the reasons described above. Specifically, the problem of leaving the IPTV set top box turned on causes the IPTV channel to remain turned on until the user physically turns off the set top box. This continued communication of the IPTV channel causes the video bandwidth to remain active over the DSL access line and could also impact the telecommunications transport network. Because all facets of communication systems, especially those associated with copper lines, have limited bandwidth, continuing to deliver IPTV channels to a subscriber who is no longer watching the channel wastes bandwidth that could otherwise be utilized for the same or other subscribers using IPTV, Internet, or telephone services. Accordingly, there is a need for controlling bandwidth for IPTV systems over DSL lines and other communication systems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To improve the problem of set top boxes being left turned on and impacting bandwidth of DSL systems, the principles of the present invention provide for using a timer to monitor the length of time that a set top box is set to a channel and, in response to the timer reaching a time limit, requesting a response from a user to verify that the channel is still being watched. If a response is not received within a specified time duration, the signal for the IPTV channel may be disconnected.

One embodiment includes a system for controlling network bandwidth. The system may include a server, such as (i) a “thin client” network middleware server or (ii) a software “thick client” middleware server, adapted to manage video signals being communicated over a network via channels to a network addressed device. Two exemplary configurations may be utilized to produce this behavior, including middleware operating on a network server and software executed by a software client residing within the set top box, which may be downloaded from the server within the network when the customer becomes activated for IPTV service for the first time. In either case, the software/middleware may be configured to manage video signals being communicated to the network addressed device, may be configured to (i) operate a timer to monitor a length of time a channel is being communicated to a network addressed device, (ii) initiate a request to a user of the network addressed device in response to the timer reaching a time limit, and (iii) disconnect the channel from communicating to the network addressed device if a response to the request is not received within a specified time period.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Two exemplary embodiments of the present invention are provided, a “thin client” middleware server and a “thick client” middleware set top box configuration. The “thin client” middleware server configuration is described with respect toFIGS. 2A and 2Band the “thick client” middleware server configuration is described with respect toFIGS. 2C and 2D.

FIG. 2Ais an illustration of a communications system200afor communicating IGMP signals to subscribers and an associated IGMP call flow for controlling communications of IGMP messages (i.e., IPTV signals) for a “thin client” middleware server design. The communications system200aincludes a network202from which separate IPTV channel signals208a-208n(collectively208) are received. The IPTV channel signals208are communicated from a video content source over the network202to a router210. Although only two channels are shown, it should be understood that hundreds or even thousands of channels may be provided by using additional video equipment and communicating the channel signals through the router210.

A middleware server212may be in communication with the router210to control IPTV signals being communicated to subscribers. The middleware server212may be located at a central office of a telecommunications service provider or elsewhere. The middleware server212may be in communication with a number of components on the communications system200aand execute software213for supporting set top boxes at subscriber locations. The middleware server212may also support a video on demand server (not shown) and programming selection by a subscriber or user as offered by the telecommunications service provider.

The router210provides a multicasting IP address for each video channel, where each video channel is assigned a specific multicasting IP address within the middleware server212. The router210may output each of the channel signals208via a gigabit Ethernet (GigE) output line215to a fiber optic terminal214a. The fiber optic terminal214acommunicates with another fiber optic terminal214bvia a communications path or trunking circuit216. The communications path216may be wired, optical, or wireless, and supports the communication of the channel signals208. The channel signals208may be IGMP streams operating at 2 megabits per second, for example. In one embodiment, 200 IGMP streams are communicated via the communications path216, as represented by channels5-200having network addresses 224.10.XXX5-224.10.X200 shown in the channel list209. The fiber optic terminal214bmay be connected to another gigabit Ethernet line217that connects to a digital subscriber line access multiplexer (DSLAM)220, which is a multiplexer generally located at a central location that links many digital subscriber line connections to a high speed line, such as gigabit Ethernet line217. The DSLAM218is connected to many customer or subscriber locations, such as customer residences, as shown. In one embodiment, the DSLAM218is in communication with a DSL modem220.

A customer having a television221or other viewing device, such as a monitor, may also have an associated set top box222. The set top box222may be in communication with the DSL modem220receiving an IGMP command signal223, which may include video content of a particular channel selected by a user using a remote control224that interacts with the set top box222.

The set top box222enables a user to select channels through a programming guide, as understood in the art. The programming guide, which may be an enhanced programming guide (EPG), enables a user to select programming channels and video on demand offerings, such as movies. The set top box222communicates with the software213within the middleware server212through the DSL modem220and DSLAM218or, if the middleware used supports a “thick client” approach (SeeFIGS. 2C and 2D), the functionality would reside in “thick client” middleware software225in the set top box222. This communication within or between the set top box222and middleware server212enables the service provider to monitor television usage, including channel selections, video on demand purchases, and other aspects of subscribers' television usage as understood in the art.

A call flow227for the communications system200ain providing IPTV services is shown below the communications system200a. Vertically oriented dashed lines are representative of the equipment initiating or receiving an IGMP call. At step228, a user of the set top box222who is watching the television221may use the remote control224to select a channel. For example, the user may use the remote control224to select channel5, which may be designated multicast IP address 224.10.XXX5, from the set top box222having IP address 103.120.XX.X. At step230, the set top box222may respond by sending an IGMPv2 “join” request either to the set top box222if “thick client” supported or from the set top box222to the DSLAM218that supports IGMPv2 protocol snooping or proxy functionality to receive the multicast IP address of channel5(i.e., multicast IP address 224.10.XXX5). At step232, the DSLAM may in turn, send the join request to the router210, which is upstream from the DSLAM218.

At step234, the router210receives the IGMPv2 join request and sends a request for channel5to the middle ware server212. The middleware server212points the router210to the multicast IP address 224.10.XXX5 for channel5at step236. At step238, the router210communicates the channel5multicast IP address to the DSLAM218, which, in turn, communicates the multicast IP address via the DSL modem220to the set top box222at step240. At step242, the set top box222may access the channel5video stream signal208afrom the router210for display on the television221. Whether the path taken in requesting the multicast IP address is the same as that shown and described or otherwise, the middleware server212is used to manage the channel selection process via the set top box222by a subscriber.

The principles of the present invention may utilize a timer feature provided by the IGMPv2 standard, which is defined by the Internet Group Management Protocol version 2 RFC 2236 by the Internet Engineering Task Force. The standard may be found at http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc2236.txt?number=2236, which is incorporated herein in its entirety. The timer feature provides for a timer to monitor channel usage by a user of the set top box222. It should be understood that if other IPTV standards or protocols are utilized to provide IPTV, features providing the same or similar functionality may be utilized in accordance with the principles of the present invention. In utilizing the timer feature, the middleware server212and/or IPTV set top box222may include the IGMPv2 timer feature. Communications may occur between the middleware server212and IPTV set top box222for monitoring channel usage and controlling bandwidth usage in conjunction with the timer feature.

FIG. 2Bis an illustration of the communications system200aat a later time from that ofFIG. 2Awhen the selection of channel5is made. The timer feature of the IGMPv2 standard may be used to monitor the amount of time that a user is watching a particular channel. As understood in the art, and as previously described, there is a bi-directional communication between the IPTV set top box222and a “thick client” set top box222or “thin client” middleware server212to enable the IPTV service provider to monitor a subscriber's usage of the IPTV system set top box222, including monitoring the channels that the subscriber watches. In monitoring the channels that the subscriber watches, IGMP messages are communicated from the set top box222in response to the user selecting a channel using the remote control224.

In one embodiment, in response to receiving a notice that a channel has been selected at the set top box222, the “thick client set top box or “thin client” middleware server212initiates or starts a timer. The timer is reset each time the user selects a different channel (i.e., changes the channel). The timer may have its duration set by a service provider that operates the middleware server212. For example, the service provider may set the timer to 6 hours. Alternatively, the timer may be set to 8 hours. It should be understood that the service provider may set the timer to any time duration. In one embodiment, the timer may be set to different durations for different customers. For example, the timer may be set to 6 hours for a household customer and 24 hours for a commercial customer. In one embodiment, the timer feature may be turned off for commercial customers as these customers, such as sports bars, may continuously leave a television tuned to a single channel, such as ESPN.

If the timer feature is used, then the timer, being initiated when the user selects a channel, operates to count up or down. When the timer has reached a certain time duration, which may be set by the service provider, the set top box222may be instructed to display a message, such as a banner message or pop-up window, on the television221. For example, the message may state,“We have noticed that you have been watching the same channel for the past 6 hours. To help us conserve resources, we request that you press the ‘Enter’ button on your remote control within the next 5 minutes. Otherwise, we will assume that you are no longer watching the television and we will disconnect the current channel you are watching.”

In one embodiment, the message may also display a countdown timer to notify the user how much time remains for him or her to cause a human-initiated response by pressing the ‘Enter’ button on the remote control. The message may be displayed in a similar manner as an Emergency Alert System (EAS), as understood in the art. If the customer does not respond within the specified timeframe, the video stream may be disconnected. It should be understood that if the user has turned off the television, the set top box222can attempt to display the message and, since the user will not see the message due to the television being turned off, that there will be no response and the channel is disconnected. Such a disconnection is understood in the art to be a “prune” or “Leave” function as provided by the IGMPv2 standard definition.

In the case of the user turning on the power to his or her IPTV set top box222, the set top box222may be configured to force a channel change so that the timer is initiated. It should be understood that the timer function may operate in either the middleware server212or the set top box222, but that the results of whether a user responds to the message displayed or attempted to be displayed on the television221within the specified timeframe (e.g., 5 minutes) is to be communicated to the software being executed by the “thick client” set top box software225of the middleware server212. If it is determined that the user did not respond to the message in the specified timeframe, then the “thick client” set top box software225or the “thin client” network middleware server212disconnects the video stream signal (e.g., channel5video stream signal208a) from being communicated to the set top box222of the consumer. Disconnecting the video stream signal at the router210saves bandwidth (e.g., 2 Mb/s) along the communication path216, in the DSLAM218, at the DSL modem220, and set top box222. This recovered bandwidth enables other high-speed communications (e.g., VoIP and Internet access) at the customer's location to be utilized and allows the bandwidth resources in the communications system200bto be re-allocated.

Continuing withFIG. 2B, at step244, a customer watching television connected to IP address 103.120.XX.X may go to bed and leaves the set top box222turned on. At step246, the “thick client” set top box software225or the “thin client” middleware timer expires after reaching a certain time duration. The “thick client” set top box software225or the “thin client” middleware server212communicates a signal or otherwise causes a message to be displayed by the set top box222(e.g., “Please press ‘Enter’ on remote control if you wish to continue watching the video service.”) at step248. At step250, if the user does not respond within a specified time duration, the “thick client” set top box software225or the “thin client” middleware server212prunes the joined set top box and forces a “Leave” to the set top box. In response, the “thick client” set top box software225or “thin client” middleware server212disconnects the channel signal at the router210. Network bandwidth between the service provider router210and the DSLAM218is recovered.

FIG. 2Cis an illustration of an exemplary communications system200bfor communicating signals, such as IGMP signals, to subscribers and an associated IGMP call flow227for controlling communications of IGMP messages (e.g., IPTV signals) for a “thick client” middleware server design. This design also supports the telco DSLAM218that supports IGMPv2 protocol snooping or proxy functionality. The “thick client” middleware design is based on the middleware software vendor and the set top box vendor working together to provide a more efficient type of communications package for the customer. When the customer is brought up for the first time, the set top box222requests the middleware client software from the network middleware server218. The middleware server218checks the customer against a database to validate his authorization to access the middleware server218. When authorized, the middleware server218pushes a customer profile image to the customer's set top box “thick client” image. The set top box222communicates within the “thick client” middleware software222through the DSL modem220and DSLAM218. This communication between the set top box222and “thick client” middleware software213enables the service provider to monitor television usage, including channel selections, video on demand purchases, and other aspects of subscribers' television usage as understood in the art.

A call flow253for the communications system200bin providing IPTV services is shown below the communications system200b. Vertically oriented dashed lines are representative of the equipment initiating or receiving an IGMP call. At step254, a user of the set top box222who is watching the television221may use the remote control224to select a channel. For example, the user may use the remote control224to select channel5, which may be designated IP multicast address 224.10.XXX5, from the set top box222having IP address 103.120.XX.X. At step251, the set top box222responds by sending an IGMPv2 “join” request upstream to the DSLAM218to request the IP multicast address of channel5(i.e., IP multicast address 224.10.XXX5). At step258, the DSLAM218performs a “snoop” from the IGMPv2 join request from the set top box222and locates the IP multicasting address. The DSLAM218contacts the router210for the multicasting IP address. In step260, the router210finds the IP address requested and forwards to the telco DSLAM218. In step262, the telco DSLAM218receives the requested IP address and sends the request to the appropriate customer set top box for viewing.

The principles of the present invention may utilize a timer feature provided by the IGMPv2 standard. The timer feature provides for a timer to monitor channel usage by a user of the set top box222. It should be understood that if other IPTV standards or protocols are utilized to provide IPTV, features providing the same or similar functionality may be utilized in accordance with the principles of the present invention. In utilizing the timer feature, the set top box “thick client” middleware software225includes the IGMPv2 timer feature and associated communications may occur between for monitoring channel usage and controlling bandwidth usage in conjunction with the timer feature.

FIG. 2Dis an illustration of the communications system200bat a later time from that ofFIG. 2Cwhen the selection of channel5is made. The timer feature of the IGMPv2 standard may be used to monitor the amount of time that a user is watching a particular channel. As understood in the art, and as previously described, there is a bi-directional communication between the IPTV set top box222and the set top box “thick client’ middleware software225operating in the set top box222to enable the IPTV service provider to monitor a subscriber's usage of the IPTV system set top box222, including monitoring the channels that the subscriber watches. In monitoring the channels that the subscriber watches, IGMPv2 messages are communicated from the set top box222in response to the user selecting a channel using the remote control224.

In one embodiment, in response to receiving a notice that a channel has been selected at the set top box222, the “thick client” set top box222initiates or starts a timer as optionally operating in the “thick client” middleware software225. The timer is reset each time the user selects a different the channel (i.e., changes the channel). The timer may have its duration set by a service provider that configures the timer within the middleware. For example, the service provider may set the timer to 6 hours. Alternatively, the timer may be set to 8 hours. It should be understood that the service provider may set the timer to any time duration. In one embodiment, the timer may be set to different durations for different customers. For example, the timer may be set to 6 hours for a household customer and 24 hours for a commercial customer. In one embodiment, the timer feature may be turned off for commercial customers as these customers, such as sports bars, may continuously leave a television tuned to a single channel, such as ESPN.

If the timer feature is used, then the timer, being initiated when the user selects a channel, operates to count up or down. When the timer has reached a certain time duration, which may be set by the service provider, the set top box222may operate and display or attempt to display a message, such as a banner message or pop-up window, on the television221. For example, the message may state,“We have noticed that you have been watching the same channel for the past 6 hours. To help us conserve resources, we request that you press the ‘Enter’ button on your remote control within the next 5 minutes. Otherwise, we will assume that you are no longer watching the television and we will disconnect the current channel you are watching.”

In one embodiment, the message may also display a countdown timer to notify the user how much time remains for him or her to cause a human-initiated response by pressing the ‘Enter’ button on the remote control. The message may be displayed in a similar manner as an Emergency Alert System (EAS), as understood in the art. If the customer does not respond within the specified timeframe, the video stream may be disconnected. It should be understood that if the user has turned off the television, the set top box222can attempt to display the message and, since the user will not see the message due to the television being turned off, that there is no response and the channel is disconnected. Such a disconnection is understood in the art to be a “prune” or “Leave” function as provided by the IGMPv2 standard definition.

In the case of the user turning on the power to his or her IPTV set top box222, the set top box222may be configured to force a channel change so that the timer is initiated. It should be understood that the timer function may operate in “thick client” middleware software225within the set top box222. The results of whether a user responds to the message displayed or attempted to be displayed on the television221within the specified timeframe (e.g., 5 minutes) may be determined by the software225being executed by the set top box “thick client” software225. If it is determined that the user did not respond to the message in the specified timeframe, then the set top box “thick client” software225disconnects the video stream signal (e.g., channel5video stream signal208a) from being communicated to the set top box222of the consumer. Disconnecting the video stream signal at the set top box222also disconnects the video service on the customer DSL line and over the communications path or network trunking circuit216to save bandwidth (e.g., 2 Mb/s). This recovered bandwidth enables other high-speed communications (e.g., VoIP and Internet access or another video service request) over the customer's DSL access and over the network trunking circuit216to be utilized and allows the bandwidth resources in the communications system200bto be re-allocated.

Continuing withFIG. 2D, at step264, a customer watching television connected to IP address 103.120.XX.X may go to bed and leave the set top box222turned on. At step266, a set top box “thick client” software timer expires after reaching certain time duration (e.g., 6 hours). At step268, the set top box “thick client” software communicates a signal or otherwise causes a message to be displayed from the set top box222on the television221stating (e.g., “Please press ‘Enter’ on remote control if you wish to continue watching the video service.”). At step270, if the user does not respond within specified time duration, the set top box “thick client” software225prunes the IGMPv2 joined message at the set top box222and forces a “Leave” message to the telco DSLAM218. At step272, the telco DSLAM218sends a IGMPv2 “prune” message to the router210. By doing so, the video stream signal is disconnected, which provides the service provider a bandwidth savings over the network trunk facility216and the customer DSL access line for future video or other services requests.

FIG. 3is a flow diagram of an exemplary process300for controlling communications with subscribers to control bandwidth in accordance with the principles of the present invention. The process300starts at step302where video signals are communicated over a network to a network addressed device. In one embodiment, the video signals are communicated over channels. The video signals may be live programming, recorded programming, cartoons, video on demand, or other programming including images as understood in the art. At step304, a timer used to monitor a length of time a channel is being communicated to the network device is operated. The timer may be a count up or count down timer. The timer may be one provided by the IGMPv2 standard or higher. At step306, a request to a user of the network addressed device may be initiated in response to the timer reaching a time limit may be initiated. In terms of reaching a time limit, the time limit may be reached at or after the time limit. For example, if the time limit is set for 6 hours, the time limit may be considered being reached precisely at or slightly after 6 hours.

At step308, the video signals may be disconnected from communicating to the network addressed device if a response to the request is not received within a specified time period. The specified time period may be set to 5 minutes, for example. Alternatively, other time periods may be specified. The response to the request may be a response from a user. Alternatively, a user may set an override to cause a response to automatically be generated from the network addressed device without human interaction. If a response is received, then the video signals are not disconnected as it is determined that someone is watching the video.

The previous detailed description is of a small number of embodiments for implementing the invention is not intended to be limiting in scope. Once of skill in this art will immediately envisage the methods and variations used to implement this invention in other areas than those described in detail. The following claims set forth a number of the embodiments of the invention disclosed with greater particularity.