Bandwidth allocation for a television program delivery system

A method of transmitting a plurality of programs to a cable headend, each of said plurality of programs corresponding to one of a plurality of categories, said method comprising the steps of:

• prioritizing each of said programs by assigning to each of said programs one of a plurality of priority levels, said plurality of priority levels including a high priority level and progressively lower priority levels;
• forming a plurality of signals, each of said signals comprising programs corresponding to a single priority level;
• appending a header to each of said signals, wherein said header identifies said priority level for a corresponding signal, thereby enabling recognition by said cable headend;
• dividing bandwidth so that each program category receives a segment of said bandwidth;
• allocating a portion of said segments of bandwidth to signals comprising high priority level programs in each category;
• continuing said allocating step with signals comprising progressively lower priority level programs until at least one of the following conditions occurs:
• all of the signals are allocated;
• and
• all of said bandwidth is allocated;
• and
• transmitting each of said headers and said corresponding signals to said cable headend,
• wherein each priority level includes a different set of programs from a variety of categories, and wherein the first priority level includes a first finite number of programs from each of the plurality of categories and the second priority level includes a second finite number of remaining programs from each of the plurality of categories.

A method of transmitting programs to a plurality of transponders, said method comprising the steps of:

• prioritizing each of said programs by assigning to each of said programs one of a plurality of priority levels, said plurality of priority levels including a high priority level and progressively lower priority levels;
• forming a plurality of signals, each of said signals comprising programs corresponding to a single priority level;
• allocating a portion of bandwidth to signals comprising high priority level programs;
• continuing said allocating step with signals comprising progressively lower priority level programs until at least one of the following conditions occurs:
• all of the signals are allocated;
• and
• all of said bandwidth is allocated;
• and
• transmitting said plurality of signals to said plurality of transponders so that none of said transponders receives more than one of said signals.

A computer assisted packaging system for allocating bandwidth to a plurality of programs, each of the programs corresponding to one of a plurality of categories, comprising:

• a central processing unit for selecting the programs and also for dividing the bandwidth so that each of the program categories receives a segment of the bandwidth;
• a delivery control processor unit connected to said central processing unit;
• and
• a multiplexer connected to said delivery control processor unit for allocating a portion of said segments of bandwidth to the selected programs in at least one of the categories,
• wherein said central processing unit dynamically changes the bandwidth by varying a number of the selected programs within at least one of the selected categories.

A system for allocating bandwidth to a plurality of programs, each of said programs corresponding to one of a plurality of categories, comprising:

• an operations center comprising a computer assisted packaging system;
• said computer assisted packaging system comprising:
• a central processing unit for selecting programs received from television programming sources and also for dividing said bandwidth so that each of the program categories receives a segment of the bandwidth;
• a delivery control processor unit connected to said central processing unit;
• and
• a multiplexer connected to said delivery control processor unit for allocating a portion of said segments of bandwidth to the selected programs,
• wherein said central processing unit dynamically changes bandwidth by varying a number of selected programs within at least one of the selected categories.

A method of transmitting programs to a plurality of transponders, said method comprising the steps of:

• prioritizing each of said programs by assigning to each of said programs one of a plurality of priority levels, said plurality of priority levels including a high priority level and progressively lower priority levels;
• forming a plurality of signals, each of said signals comprising programs corresponding to a single priority level;
• allocating a portion of bandwidth to signals comprising high priority level programs;
• dynamically changing bandwidth allocation for at least one of said signals;
• continuing said allocating step with signals comprising progressively lower priority level programs until at least one of the following conditions occurs:
• all of the signals are allocated;
• and
• all of said bandwidth is allocated;
• and
• transmitting said plurality of signals to said plurality of transponders so that none of said transponders receives more than one of said signals.