System and method for content transmission network selection
AssigneeBellSouth Intellectual Property Corporation
InventorsJames Gray, Robert Koch
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A content transmission selection system is disclosed. The content transmission selection system receives requests from viewers for specific video content items. Using characteristics of the designated content item, the content transmission selection system determines whether to transmit the content item over a broadcast network or a broadband network.
Claims20
A computer readable medium having stored thereon computer readable instructions for performing the following steps:
- identifying content to be transmitted based on a transmission request that specifies a receiving device to which the content is to be transmitted;
- determining whether the receiving device is connected to at least one of a broadcast network and a broadband network;
- if the receiving device is connected to the broadcast network and not the broadband network, then transmitting the content on the broadcast network;
- and
- if the receiving device is connected to only the broadband network and not the broadcast network, then transmitting the content on the broadband network.
A computer readable medium having stored thereon computer readable instructions for performing the following steps:
- identifying content to be transmitted based on a transmission request;
- determining whether to transmit the content using a broadcast network or a broadband network based, at least in part, upon at least one of the following:
- available bandwidth on the broadcast network, available bandwidth on the broadband network, geographic boundaries of the broadcast network, geographic boundaries of the broadband network, a cost of transmission at a given time of day on the broadcast network, and a cost of transmission at a given time of day on the broadband network;
- and
- transmitting the content on one of the broadcast network and the broadband network.
A computer readable medium having stored thereon computer readable instructions for performing the following steps:
- identifying content to be transmitted based on a transmission request;
- determining whether to transmit the content using a broadcast network or a broadband network based, at least in part, upon at least one of the following:
- size of the content, duration of the content, the total number of requests for the content, the minimum transmission rate on a given network for the content, and features to be present with the content;
- and
- transmitting the content on one of the broadcast network and the broadband network.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.