# US 11,902,631 B2 · Methods, systems, and apparatuses for improved content scoring and delivery > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,902,631 B2 - Document ID: US11902631B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/083,869 - Filed: 2022-12-19 - Published: 2023-06-22 - Granted: 2024-02-13 - Earliest claimed: 2019-11-20 - Assignees: Comcast Cable Communications, LLC - Applicants: Comcast Cable Communications, LLC - Inventors: Srinath V. Ramaswamy - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11902631B2 ## CPC - H04N 21/64738: {Monitoring network characteristics, e.g. bandwidth, congestion level (data switched network analysis H04L41/14; monitoring functioning in data switched networks H04L43/0817; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10)} - H04L 47/196: {Integration of transport layer protocols, e.g. TCP and UDP} - H04L 47/52: by attributing bandwidth to queues - H04L 65/612: for unicast - H04L 65/80: Responding to QoS - H04L 67/141: Setup of application sessions (admission control or resource allocation in data switching networks H04L47/70) - H04L 67/568: Storing data temporarily at an intermediate stage, e.g. caching - H04N 21/2383: Channel coding {or modulation} of digital bit-stream, e.g. QPSK modulation (arrangements for detecting or preventing errors in the information received by adapting the channel coding H04L1/0009; analogue front ends or means for connecting modulators, demodulators or transceivers to a transmission line H04L27/0002) - H04N 21/2402: {Monitoring of the downstream path of the transmission network, e.g. bandwidth available (traffic monitoring in data switching networks H04L43/00; monitoring data switching networks utilization H04L43/0876)} - H04N 21/25825: {involving client display capabilities, e.g. screen resolution of a mobile phone (optimising the visualisation of content during browsing in the Internet G06F16/9577; processing of terminal status or physical abilities in wireless networks H04W8/22; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06)} - H04N 21/44209: {Monitoring of downstream path of the transmission network originating from a server, e.g. bandwidth variations of a wireless network (arrangements for maintenance or administration in data switching networks involving bandwidth and capacity management H04L41/0896)} - H04N 21/8455: {involving pointers to the content, e.g. pointers to the I-frames of the video stream} - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract Methods, systems, and apparatuses for improved content scoring and delivery are described. A quality score for delivered content may be determined based on one or more output metrics. A first quality score may be provided to a content distribution network. The content distribution network may instruct the user device, or the user device may determine without receiving such an instruction, of methods/processes by which it may improve the one or more output metrics associated with output of the delivered content by adjusting one or more output parameters. The first quality score may also be used by the content distribution network to determine methods/processes by which network-related parameters and constraints may be managed in order to improve the quality of delivered content. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus comprising: one or more processors; and a memory storing processor-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to: send, to a user device, a first content segment; receive a first quality score associated with one or more output metrics, wherein the one or more output metrics are associated with an output of the first content segment at the user device; determine, based on the received first quality score, a second content segment, wherein the second content segment is associated with a second quality level that differs from a first quality level associated with the first content segment; and send, to the user device, the second content segment. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor-executable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the apparatus to: cause, based on the first quality score, a change to a bandwidth setting of a gateway device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor-executable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the apparatus to: determine a source of interference associated with the output of the first content segment; and cause a message identifying the source of interference to be displayed at the user device. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first quality score is based on at least one impact coefficient and at least one of the one or more output metrics, wherein the at least one impact coefficient is a weight for the at least one of the one or more output metrics, and wherein the at least one impact coefficient comprises one or more constant values. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor-executable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the apparatus to: adjust, based on the first quality score, a deployment scheme associated with packaging the second content segment; generate, based on an amount of available bandwidth indicated by the user device, a third content segment associated with a third quality level that differs from one or more of the first quality level associated with the first content segment or the second quality level associated with the second content segment; or cause an auxiliary cache to provide further content segments requested by the user device. ### Claim 6 One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing processor-executable instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to: send, to a user device, a first content segment; receive a first quality score associated with one or more output metrics, wherein the one or more output metrics are associated with an output of the first content segment at the user device; determine, based on the received first quality score, a second content segment, wherein the second content segment is associated with a second quality level that differs from a first quality level associated with the first content segment; and send, to the user device, the second content segment. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 6, wherein the processor-executable instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the at least one processor to: cause, based on the first quality score, a change to a bandwidth setting of a gateway device. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 6, wherein the processor-executable instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the at least one processor to: determine a source of interference associated with the output of the first content segment; and cause a message identifying the source of interference to be displayed at the user device. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 6, wherein the first quality score is based on at least one impact coefficient and at least one of the one or more output metrics, wherein the at least one impact coefficient is a weight for the at least one of the one or more output metrics, and wherein the at least one impact coefficient comprises one or more constant values. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 6, wherein the processor-executable instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the at least one processor to: adjust, based on the first quality score, a deployment scheme associated with packaging the second content segment; generate, based on an amount of available bandwidth indicated by the user device, a third content segment associated with a third quality level that differs from one or more of the first quality level associated with the first content segment or the second quality level associated with the second content segment; or cause an auxiliary cache to provide further content segments requested by the user device. ### Claim 11 A system comprising: a computing device configured to: send, to a user device, a first content segment; receive a first quality score associated with one or more output metrics, wherein the one or more output metrics are associated with an output of the first content segment at the user device; determine, based on the received first quality score, a second content segment, wherein the second content segment is associated with a second quality level that differs from a first quality level associated with the first content segment; and send, to the user device, the second content segment; and the user device configured to: receive the first content segment and the second content segment. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, further comprising a network device configured to change, based on the first quality score, a bandwidth setting of the network device. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the computing device is further configured to: determine a source of interference associated with the output of the first content segment; and cause a message identifying the source of interference to be displayed at the user device. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the first quality score is based on at least one impact coefficient and at least one of the one or more output metrics, wherein the at least one impact coefficient is a weight for the at least one of the one or more output metrics, and wherein the at least one impact coefficient comprises one or more constant values. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the computing device is further configured to: adjust, based on the first quality score, a deployment scheme associated with packaging the second content segment; generate, based on an amount of available bandwidth indicated by the user device, a third content segment associated with a third quality level that differs from one or more of the first quality level associated with the first content segment or the second quality level associated with the second content segment; or cause an auxiliary cache to provide further content segments requested by the user device. ### Claim 16 An apparatus comprising: one or more processors; and a memory storing processor-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to: receive a first content segment; determine, based on an output of the first content segment at the apparatus, and based on classification metadata, one or more output metrics; determine, based on the classification metadata and the one or more output metrics, a first quality score associated with the output of the first content segment; send, to an upstream device, the first quality score; and receive, based on the first quality score, an instruction to adjust one or more output parameters for a second content segment. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the processor-executable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the apparatus to: adjust, based on the instruction, a bandwidth setting of a gateway device. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the processor-executable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the apparatus to: determine a source of interference associated with the output of the first content segment; and cause a message identifying the source of interference to be displayed at the apparatus. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the first quality score is based on at least one impact coefficient and at least one of the one or more output metrics, wherein the at least one impact coefficient is a weight for the at least one of the one or more output metrics, and wherein the at least one impact coefficient comprises one or more constant values. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the processor-executable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the apparatus to: receive, based on the one or more output parameters, the second content segment, wherein the second content segment is associated with a second quality level that differs from a first quality level associated with the first content segment; and determine, based on one or more further output metrics associated with an output of the second content segment, a second quality score, wherein the second quality score is indicative of a higher quality of experience as compared to a quality of experience indicated by the first quality score. ### Claim 21 One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing processor-executable instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to: receive a first content segment; determine, based on an output of the first content segment, and based on classification metadata, one or more output metrics; determine, based on the classification metadata and the one or more output metrics, a first quality score associated with the output of the first content segment; send, to an upstream device, the first quality score; and receive, based on the first quality score, an instruction to adjust one or more output parameters for a second content segment. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 21, wherein the processor-executable instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the at least one processor to: adjust, based on the instruction, a bandwidth setting of a gateway device. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 21, wherein the processor-executable instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the at least one processor to: determine a source of interference associated with the output of the first content segment; and cause a message identifying the source of interference to be displayed. ### Claim 24 (depends on 21) The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 21, wherein the first quality score is based on at least one impact coefficient and at least one of the one or more output metrics, wherein the at least one impact coefficient is a weight for the at least one of the one or more output metrics, and wherein the at least one impact coefficient comprises one or more constant values. ### Claim 25 (depends on 21) The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 21, wherein the processor-executable instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to: receive, based on the one or more output parameters, the second content segment, wherein the second content segment is associated with a second quality level that differs from a first quality level associated with the first content segment; and determine, based on one or more further output metrics associated with an output of the second content segment, a second quality score, wherein the second quality score is indicative of a higher quality of experience as compared to a quality of experience indicated by the first quality score. ### Claim 26 A system comprising: a user device configured to: receive a first content segment; determine, based on an output of the first content segment at the user device, and based on classification metadata, one or more output metrics; determine, based on the classification metadata and the one or more output metrics, a first quality score associated with the output of the first content segment; send, to an upstream device, the first quality score; and receive, based on the first quality score, an instruction to adjust one or more output parameters for a second content segment; and the upstream device configured to: receive the first quality score. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The system of claim 26, wherein the user device is further configured to: adjust, based on the instruction, a bandwidth setting of a gateway device. ### Claim 28 (depends on 26) The system of claim 26, wherein the user device is further configured to: determine a source of interference associated with the output of the first content segment; and cause a message identifying the source of interference to be displayed at the user device. ### Claim 29 (depends on 26) The system of claim 26, wherein the first quality score is based on at least one impact coefficient and at least one of the one or more output metrics, wherein the at least one impact coefficient is a weight for the at least one of the one or more output metrics, and wherein the at least one impact coefficient comprises one or more constant values. ### Claim 30 (depends on 26) The system of claim 26, wherein the user device is further configured to: receive, based on the one or more output parameters, the second content segment, wherein the second content segment is associated with a second quality level that differs from a first quality level associated with the first content segment; and determine, based on one or more further output metrics associated with an output of the second content segment, a second quality score, wherein the second quality score is indicative of a higher quality of experience as compared to a quality of experience indicated by the first quality score.