Optimizing Quality Of Service In A Content Distribution Network Using Software Defined Networking

Apparatus for optimizing quality-of-service (QoS) in a converged content distribution network including a wireless network segment and an IP network segment, the wireless network segment operably connected to one or more user platforms, and the IP network segment operably connected to one or more content servers, wherein the converged content distribution network is adapted to deliver content end-to-end from at least one of the one or more content servers to at least one of the one or more user platforms, the apparatus comprising:

• a wireless network segment interface;
• an IP wide area network segment interface;
• a memory;
• and
• at least one processor configured to:
• identify at least one traffic flow associated with a content item allocated for delivery via the content distribution network;
• obtain end-to-end intelligence data associated with the traffic flow, the end-to-end intelligence data including quality-of-service (QoS) parameters associated with the traffic flow in the wireless network segment and the IP wide area network segment;
• and
• dynamically control the traffic flow in one or both of the wireless network segment and the IP wide area network segment based on the end-to-end intelligence data.

In a content distribution network including a wireless network segment and an IP wide area network segment, the wireless network segment operably connected to one or more user platforms, and the IP wide area network segment operably connected to one or more content servers, wherein the content distribution network is adapted to deliver content end-to-end from at least one of the one or more content servers to at least one of the one or more user platforms, a system comprising:

• a virtualized Software Defined Networking (SDN) appliance;
• one or more of a packet gateway and Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) associated with the wireless network segment;
• and
• one or more SDN controllers associated with the IP wide area network segment,
• the SDN appliance configured to:
• identify at least one traffic flow associated with a content item allocated for delivery via the content distribution network;
• obtain end-to-end intelligence data associated with the traffic flow, the end-to-end intelligence data including quality-of-service (QoS) parameters associated with the traffic flow in the wireless network segment and the IP wide area network segment;
• and
• dynamically control the traffic flow in one or both of the wireless network segment and the IP wide area network segment based on the end-to-end intelligence data.