# US 10,291,420 B2 · Method and system for managing the delivery of over-the-top streams > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,291,420 B2 - Document ID: US10291420B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/457,652 - Filed: 2014-08-12 - Published: 2015-02-12 - Granted: 2019-05-14 - Earliest claimed: 2013-08-12 - Assignees: imVision Software Technologies Ltd. - Applicants: imVision Software Technologies Ltd. - Inventors: Sharon Mantin - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10291420B2 ## CPC - H04L 12/189: {in combination with wireless systems (selective distribution or broadcast in wireless communication networks H04W4/06)} - H04L 65/611: for multicast or broadcast (systems for broadcast or conference H04L12/18; arrangements for broadcast or distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/00; arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time H04H60/00; selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS], H04W4/06) - H04L 65/612: for unicast - H04L 65/80: Responding to QoS - H04N 21/266: Channel or content management, e.g. generation and management of keys and entitlement messages in a conditional access system, merging a VOD unicast channel into a multicast channel - H04N 21/26616: {for merging a unicast channel into a multicast channel, e.g. in a VOD application, when a client served by unicast channel catches up a multicast channel to save bandwidth (data multicast over packet-switching network H04L12/18)} - H04N 21/6405: Multicasting {(data broadcast and multicast in packet switching networks H04L12/18)} - H04N 21/6408: Unicasting - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract A method and system for managing live, linear, and repetitive video stream transmissions in limited multicast resource systems are provided. The method includes monitoring OTT content streams flow in the broadband network; determining a delivery mode for each of the monitored OTT content streams, wherein the determination is based on at least one decision parameter, wherein the deliver mode is any one of a multicast mode and a unicast mode; and switching from a current delivery mode to the determined delivery mode when the current mode and determined delivery mode are not the same. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for managing delivery of over-the-top (OTT) content streams over a broadband network, comprising: monitoring OTT content streams flow in the broadband network, wherein the OTT content streams flow includes requests for OTT content streams and responses to the requests; determining, based on the requests and responses, a type of each monitored OTT content stream; determining a delivery mode for each of the monitored OTT content streams, wherein the determination is based on at least one decision parameter, wherein the delivery mode is any one of: a multicast mode, and a unicast mode, wherein the at least one decision parameter includes multicast resources availability in the broadband network, the type of each monitored OTT content stream, and a current demand for each monitored OTT content stream, and wherein, the current demand is based on a number of current subscribers viewing the respective OTT content stream and on an adaptive viewing behavior pattern of the OTT content stream, and wherein the adaptive viewing behavior pattern is determined based in part on a content type of a program being streamed; and switching from a current delivery mode to the determined delivery mode when the current mode and the determined delivery mode are not the same. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: monitoring changes in any of the at least one decision parameter; and switching the delivery mode back based on the monitored changes. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the current delivery mode is a unicast mode and the determined mode is a multicast mode, wherein the determined mode is the multicast mode when the type of OTT stream is any one of: a live OTT stream, a linear OTT stream, and a replicated OTT stream. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein determining the delivery mode further comprising: computing an estimated number of subscribers viewing the OTT content stream; computing, based in part on the estimated number of subscribers, a total bandwidth consumption for delivering the OTT content stream in a unicast mode (BWUCST) value; computing a total bandwidth consumption for delivering the OTT content stream in a multicast mode (BWMCST) value; and determining the delivery mode to be either the multicast mode or the unicast mode based, in part, on the BWUCST and BWMCST values. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein the estimated number of subscribers is computed based on an adaptive viewing behavior pattern of the OTT multicast stream. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the adaptive viewing behavior pattern is further determined based on at least one of: prior events related to the OTT multicast stream, geography of the subscribers, and a type of content of the OTT multicast stream. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the broadband network includes any one of: a cable network, a fiber optic network, a wireless local area network, a digital subscriber line (DSL) network, a cellular network, and any other wireless network. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the multicast resources availability in the broadband network include a number of available multicast channels in the broadband network. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon instructions for causing one or more processing units to execute the method according to claim 1. ### Claim 10 A system for managing delivery of over-the-top (OTT) content streams over a broadband network, comprising: a processing unit; and a memory, the memory containing instructions that, when executed by the processing unit, configure the system to: monitor OTT content streams flow in the broadband network, wherein the OTT content streams flow includes requests for OTT content streams and responses to the requests; determine, based on the requests and responses, a type of each monitored OTT content stream; determine a delivery mode for each of the monitored OTT content streams, wherein the determination is based on at least one decision parameter, and wherein the delivery mode is any one of: a multicast mode, and a unicast mode, and wherein the at least one decision parameter includes multicast resources availability in the broadband network, the type of each monitored OTT content stream, and a current demand for each monitored OTT content stream; and switch from a current delivery mode to the determined delivery mode when the current mode and the determined delivery mode are not the same. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the system is further configured to: monitor changes in any of the at least one decision parameter; and switch the delivery mode back based on the monitored changes. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the current delivery mode is a unicast mode and the determined mode is a multicast mode, wherein the determined mode is the multicast mode when the type of OTT stream is any one of: a live OTT stream, a linear OTT stream, and a replicated OTT stream. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the system is further configured to: compute an estimated number of subscribers viewing the OTT content stream; compute, based in part on the estimated number of subscribers, a total bandwidth consumption for delivering the OTT content stream in a unicast mode (BWUCST) value; compute a total bandwidth consumption for delivering the OTT content stream in a multicast mode (BWMCST) value; and determine the delivery mode to be either the multicast mode or the unicast mode based, in part, on the BWUCST and BWMCST values. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the estimated number of subscribers is computed based on an adaptive viewing behavior pattern of the OTT multicast stream. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the adaptive viewing behavior pattern is further determined based on at least one of: prior events related to the OTT multicast stream, geography of the subscribers, and a type of content of the OTT multicast stream. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the broadband network includes any one of: a cable network, a fiber optic network, a wireless local area network, a digital subscriber line (DSL) network, a cellular network, and any other wireless network. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the multicast resources availability in the broadband network include a number of available multicast channels in the broadband network.