# US 12,003,389 B2 · Resource measurement and management > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,003,389 B2 - Document ID: US12003389B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/346,393 - Filed: 2023-07-03 - Published: 2023-11-02 - Granted: 2024-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2011-09-27 - Assignees: Comcast Cable Communications, LLC - Applicants: Comcast Cable Communications, LLC - Inventors: Michael J. Cook - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12003389B2 ## CPC - H04L 41/5025: by proactively reacting to service quality change, e.g. by reconfiguration after service quality degradation or upgrade - G06Q 30/02: Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising - H04L 43/0882: Utilisation of link capacity - H04L 47/26: using explicit feedback to the source, e.g. choke packets - H04N 21/2408: {Monitoring of the upstream path of the transmission network, e.g. client requests (monitoring data switching networks utilization H04L43/0876; scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60)} - H04N 21/2543: Billing {, e.g. for subscription services (payment schemes, architectures or protocols G06Q20/00; e-commerce G06Q30/00; arrangements for billing for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/21)} - H04N 21/64723: {Monitoring of network processes or resources, e.g. monitoring of network load (traffic related reporting in data switching networks H04L43/062)} - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract Aspects of the disclosure relate to measuring and managing data traffic in one or more networks. In some embodiments, a monitor may measure the traffic at one or more locations within the network(s) or devices associated therewith to determine whether the traffic exceeds a threshold. When the traffic exceeds the threshold, one or more actions may be taken, such as issuing or transmitting a command or directive. The command or directive may advise a device or an application to throttle or reduce an input or stimulus responsible for generating the traffic. In some embodiments, a throttling may be effectuated to reduce the data traffic. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: receiving a plurality of messages, each of the plurality of messages indicating actions an action performed by one or more first computing devices responsive to a first advertisement sent by one or more second computing devices; and sending, to the one or more second computing devices and based on determining that a rate at which the messages were received satisfies a threshold, a command that causes the one or more second computing devices to change a rate at which the one or more second computing devices sends a plurality of second advertisements. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the each of the messages indicates one or more of: an enrollment action, a purchase action, or a request for webpage content. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of messages comprises indications of user selections associated with the first advertisement, and wherein the command causes the one or more second computing devices to stop sending the plurality of second advertisements for a period of time. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises: after sending the command, receiving, from the one or more first computing devices, an additional plurality of messages indicating actions performed by one or more first computing devices responsive to the plurality of second advertisements; and based on determining that an additional rate at which the additional plurality of messages was received satisfies an additional threshold, sending, to the one or more second computing devices, another command that causes an increase in the rate of sending of the plurality of second advertisements. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more first computing devices comprises a plurality of first computing devices, and wherein the command causes: reducing, by the one or more second computing devices, the rate at which the one or more second computing devices send the plurality of second advertisements to the plurality of first computing devices by at least: sending the plurality of second advertisements only to a first subset of the plurality of first computing devices during a first time period, and sending the plurality of second advertisements only to a second subset of the plurality of first computing devices during a second time period. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: based on determining that the rate at which the plurality of messages was received satisfies the threshold, presenting a selectable option to remove interactive features from the plurality of second advertisements prior to sending the plurality of second advertisements. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the command further causes the one or more second computing devices to adjust a frequency of interactive features in the plurality of second advertisements. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining a classification for the plurality of messages, and wherein determining that the rate at which the plurality of messages was received satisfies the threshold is based on the classification. ### Claim 9 A method comprising: receiving a plurality of messages, each of the plurality of messages indicating an action performed by one or more first computing devices responsive to a first advertisement sent by one or more second computing devices; and sending, to the one or more second computing devices and based on determining that a rate at which the messages were received satisfies a threshold, a command that causes the one or more second computing devices to disable selection of the first advertisement. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein each of the messages indicates one or more of: an enrollment action, a purchase action, or a request for webpage content. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising: determining a classification for the plurality of messages, and wherein determining that the rate at which the plurality of messages was received satisfies the threshold is based on the classification. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising: after sending the command, receiving an additional plurality of messages indicating actions performed by one or more first computing devices responsive to a plurality of second advertisements sent by the one or more second computing devices; and based on determining that an additional rate at which the additional plurality of messages was received satisfies an additional threshold, sending, to the one or more second computing devices, another command that causes an increase in the rate of sending of the plurality of second advertisements. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the one or more first computing devices comprises a plurality of first computing devices, and wherein the command further causes: sending a plurality of second advertisements only to a first subset of the plurality of first computing devices during a first time period, and sending the plurality of second advertisements only to a second subset of the plurality of first computing devices during a second time period. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the command further causes the one or more second computing devices to disable selection of the first advertisement for a predetermined length of time. ### Claim 15 A method comprising: receiving a plurality of messages, each of the plurality of messages indicating an action performed by one or more first computing devices responsive to a first advertisement sent by one or more second computing devices; and sending, to the one or more second computing devices and based on determining that a rate at which the messages were received satisfies a threshold, a command that causes the one or more second computing devices to remove interactive features from a second advertisement prior to sending the second advertisement. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein each of the messages indicates one or more of: an enrollment action, a purchase action, or a request for webpage content. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising: determining a classification for the plurality of messages, and wherein determining that the rate at which the plurality of messages was received satisfies the threshold is based on the classification. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising: after sending the command, receiving an additional plurality of messages indicating actions performed by one or more first computing devices responsive to a plurality of second advertisements sent by the one or more second computing devices; and based on determining that an additional rate at which the additional plurality of messages was received satisfies an additional threshold, sending, to the one or more second computing devices, another command that causes an increase in the rate of sending of the plurality of second advertisements. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the one or more first computing devices comprises a plurality of first computing devices, and wherein the command further causes: sending the second advertisement only to a first subset of the plurality of first computing devices during a first time period, and sending the second advertisement only to a second subset of the plurality of first computing devices during a second time period. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the command further causes the one or more second computing devices to remove interactive features from the second advertisement for a predetermined length of time.