Statistical remultiplexer performance for video on demand applications by use of metadata

A cable system for delivering video on demand (VOD) programs, the cable system comprising:

• a statistical remultiplexer having a look ahead buffer for receiving a plurality of program streams and a buffer for receiving at least one VOD program stream from a VOD program stream source, wherein the buffer stores one frame of the VOD program stream, the VOD program stream including metadata that originated from the VOD program stream source, wherein the metadata is different than subscriber metadata in the stream of VOD program content and the metadata is removed from the stream of VOD program content at a video edge distribution hub, the metadata describing the bandwidth requirements of the at least one VOD program stream, the statistical remultiplexer being configured to:
• multiplex a plurality of variable bit rate channels into a single transport stream having a maximum bandwidth;
• vary a portion of the maximum bandwidth allocated to a particular one of the channels based on information provided by the metadata associated with the particular channel, wherein the metadata provides a summary of future performance parameters for specific channels such that the statistical remultiplexer allocates future bandwidth in response to a video on demand function request;
• and
• re-encode a particular stream to meet a future bandwidth limitation;
• a VOD server, coupled to the statistical remultiplexer, for providing the at least one VOD program stream and the metadata to the statistical remultiplexer;
• and
• a cable distribution system for distributing the plurality of program streams and the at least one VOD program stream from the VOD server to the statistical remultiplexer and for distributing the remultiplexed streams to the subscriber.

A cable system for delivering video on demand (VOD) program content to a subscriber, the cable system comprising:

• a source of VOD program content;
• a set top box at a subscriber's location that receives VOD program content from the source and that sends a VOD function request that controls presentation of the VOD program content to the source;
• a statistical remultiplexer, coupled to the source, the statistical remultiplexer being configured to:
• allocate bandwidth to a first portion of the VOD program content;
• receive metadata from the source of the VOD program content, the metadata associated with the VOD program content, wherein the metadata is linked to at least one time code in the VOD program content, wherein the metadata is different than subscriber metadata in the stream of VOD program content and the metadata is removed from the stream of VOD program content at a video edge distribution hub, wherein the statistical remultiplexer is configured to receive the VOD program content in a nonlinear viewing sequence, the statistical remultiplexer being adapted to utilize the metadata to determine bandwidth allocation for the non-linear viewing sequence such that system latency is less than about one second in response to the VOD function request;
• multiplex a plurality of variable bit rate channels into a single transport stream having a maximum bandwidth;
• vary a portion of the maximum bandwidth allocated to a particular one of the channels based on information provided by the metadata associated with the particular channel, wherein the metadata provides a summary of future performance parameters for specific channels such that the statistical remultiplexer allocates future bandwidth in response to the VOD function request;
• store ten or less frames of the VOD program content in a buffer;
• and
• re-encode a particular stream to meet a future bandwidth limitation.

A method for minimizing latency in a video on demand (VOD) cable system, the method comprising:

• receiving, at a statistical remultiplexer, metadata for VOD program content before receiving the VOD program content, wherein the metadata is linked to at least one time code in the stream of VOD program content, wherein the metadata for the VOD program content was determined at the source of the VOD program content, and wherein the metadata is different than subscriber metadata in the stream of VOD program content and the metadata is removed from the stream of VOD program content at a video edge distribution hub, wherein the statistical remultiplexer is configured to receive the VOD program content in a nonlinear viewing sequence, the statistical remultiplexer being adapted to utilize the metadata to determine bandwidth allocation for the non-linear viewing sequence;
• storing ten or less frames of the VOD content in a buffer;
• determining bandwidth requirements for a first portion of the VOD program content for a future period of time in response to the metadata;
• multiplexing a plurality of variable bit rate channels into a single transport stream having a maximum bandwidth;
• and
• varying a portion of the maximum bandwidth allocated to a particular one of the channels based on information provided by the metadata associated with the particular channel, wherein the metadata provides a summary of future performance parameters for specific channels such that the statistical remultiplexer allocates future bandwidth in response to a video on demand function request, and wherein the statistical remultiplexer is configured to re-encode a particular stream to meet a future bandwidth limitation.

A method, comprising:

• storing ten or less frames of a first portion of one of a plurality of streams of program content, the first portion linked to a first portion of metadata, wherein the metadata originated from a source of the program content, wherein the metadata is different than subscriber metadata in the stream of VOD program content and the metadata is removed from the stream of VOD program content at a video edge distribution hub;
• multiplexing a plurality of variable bit rate channels into a single transport stream having a maximum bandwidth;
• varying a portion of the maximum bandwidth allocated to a particular one of the channels based on information provided by the metadata associated with the particular channel, wherein the metadata provides a summary of future performance parameters for specific channels such that a statistical remultiplexer allocates future bandwidth in response to a video on demand function request, wherein the statistical remultiplexer is configured to receive the VOD program content in a nonlinear viewing sequence, the statistical remultiplexer being adapted to utilize the metadata to determine bandwidth allocation for the non-linear viewing sequence such that system latency is less than about one second in response to the VOD function request, and wherein the statistical remultiplexer is configured to re-encode a particular stream to meet a future bandwidth limitation.

An apparatus, comprising:

• one or more computer processors;
• and
• logic encoded in one or more tangible storage media for execution by the one or more computer processors, and when executed operable to:
• store ten or less frames of a first portion of one of a plurality of streams of program content, wherein the first portion is linked to a first portion of metadata, wherein the metadata originated from a source of the program content, and wherein the metadata is different than subscriber metadata in the stream of VOD program content and the metadata is removed from the stream of VOD program content at a video edge distribution hub;
• multiplex a plurality of variable bit rate channels into a single transport stream having a maximum bandwidth;
• vary a portion of the maximum bandwidth allocated to a particular one of the channels based on information provided by the metadata associated with the particular channel, wherein the metadata provides a summary of future performance parameters for specific channels such that a statistical remultiplexer allocates future bandwidth in response to a video on demand function request, wherein the statistical remultiplexer is configured to receive the VOD program content in a nonlinear viewing sequence, the statistical remultiplexer being adapted to utilize the metadata to determine bandwidth allocation for the non-linear viewing sequence such that system latency is less than about one second in response to the VOD function request, and wherein the statistical remultiplexer is configured to re-encode a particular stream to meet a future bandwidth limitation.