Controlling digital video bandwidth utilization with a virtualized communication hub

A method to control digital video bandwidth utilization with a virtualized communication hub implemented by a server cluster, the method comprising:

• monitoring, with a virtual access function of the virtualized communication hub, an aggregate load on a broadband access medium to detect bandwidth utilization events, a first bandwidth utilization event associated with (i) an event type from among at least two possible event types and (ii) a severity from among at least two possible severity levels;
• sending, from the virtual access function, a first notification message to a virtual set-top box of the virtualized communication hub in response to detecting the first bandwidth utilization event, the first notification message including (i) the event type and (ii) the severity associated with the first bandwidth utilization event;
• reserving, with the virtual access function, bandwidth of the broadband access medium for use by the virtual set-top box to stream digital media, the reserving in response to a reservation request from the virtual set-top box after the first notification message is sent;
• streaming, with the virtual set-top box, the digital media with a first codec associated with a first output bandwidth;
• processing, with the virtual set-top box, the first notification message to determine the event type and the severity associated with the first bandwidth utilization event;
• and
• in response to determining that the event type corresponds to a bandwidth reduction event, switching from the first codec to one of a second codec or a third codec based on the severity associated with the first bandwidth utilization event, the second codec associated with a second output bandwidth lower than the first output bandwidth, the third codec associated with a third output bandwidth lower than the second output bandwidth, the switching including:
• switching, at the virtual set-top box, from the first codec to the second codec to stream the digital media from the virtual set-top box to a physical set-top box via the broadband access medium in response to the severity corresponding to a first severity level;
• and
• switching, at the virtual set-top box, from the first codec to the third codec to stream the digital media in response to the severity corresponding to a second severity level.

A tangible computer readable storage medium comprising computer readable instructions which, when executed, cause one or more processors of a server cluster to at least:

• monitor, with a virtual access function of a virtualized communication hub implemented by the server cluster, an aggregate load on a broadband access medium to detect bandwidth utilization events, a first bandwidth utilization event associated with (i) an event type from among at least two possible event types and (ii) a severity from among at least two possible severity levels;
• send, from the virtual access function, a first notification message to a virtual set-top box of the virtualized communication hub in response to detecting the first bandwidth utilization event, the first notification message including (i) the event type and (ii) the severity associated with the first bandwidth utilization event;
• reserve, with the virtual access function, bandwidth of the broadband access medium for use by the virtual set-top box to stream digital media, the virtual access function to reserve the bandwidth of the broadband access medium in response to a reservation request from the virtual set-top box after the first notification message is sent;
• process the first notification message to determine the event type and the severity associated with the first bandwidth utilization event;
• stream, from the virtual set-top box, the digital media with a first codec associated with a first output bandwidth;
• and
• in response to determining that the event type corresponds to a bandwidth reduction event, switch from the first codec to one of a second codec or a third codec based on the severity associated with the first bandwidth utilization event, the second codec associated with a second output bandwidth lower than the first output bandwidth, the third codec associated with a third output bandwidth lower than the second output bandwidth, the instructions to cause the one or more processors to:
• switch, at the virtual set-top box, from the first codec to the second codec to stream the digital media from the virtual set-top box to a physical set-top box via the broadband access medium in response to the severity corresponding to a first severity level;
• and
• switch, at the virtual set-top box, from the first codec to the third codec to stream the digital media in response to the severity corresponding to a second severity level.

A digital video communication system comprising:

• a physical set-top box associated with a subscriber location;
• and
• a virtualized communication hub implemented by a server cluster, the virtualized communication hub including:
• a virtual set-top box to stream digital media to the physical set-top box via a broadband access medium, the virtual set-top box including a first codec associated with a first output bandwidth, a second codec associated with a second output bandwidth lower than the first output bandwidth, and a third codec associated with a third output bandwidth lower than the second output bandwidth;
• means for monitoring an aggregate load on the broadband access medium to detect bandwidth utilization events, a first bandwidth utilization event associated with an event type from among at least two possible event types and a severity from among at least two possible severity levels;
• means for sending a first notification message to the virtual set-top box in response to detecting the first bandwidth utilization event, the first notification message including the event type and the severity associated with the first bandwidth utilization event;
• and
• means for reserving bandwidth of the broadband access medium for use by the virtual set-top box to stream the digital media in response to a reservation request from the virtual set-top box after the first notification message is sent,
• the virtual set-top box structured to:
• stream the digital media with the first codec associated with the first output bandwidth;
• process the first notification message to determine the event type and the severity associated with the first bandwidth utilization event;
• and
• in response to a determination that the event type corresponds to a bandwidth reduction event, switch from the first codec to one of the second codec or the third codec based on the severity associated with the first bandwidth utilization event, the virtual set-top box structured to switch from the first codec to the second codec to stream the digital media with the second output bandwidth associated with the second codec in response to the severity corresponding to a first severity level, the virtual set-top box structured to switch from the first codec to the third codec to stream the digital media with the third output bandwidth in response to the severity corresponding to a second severity level.