# US 9,521,466 B2 · Method and device for receiving and providing programs > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,521,466 B2 - Document ID: US9521466B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/507,329 - Filed: 2014-10-06 - Published: 2015-01-22 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2004-08-10 - Assignees: ARRIS Enterprises LLC - Applicants: Swaminatha Vasudevan; Pritesh Mukeshbhai Dave; Kumaraguru Dhandapani; Ran Oz; Nery Strasman - Inventors: Swaminatha Vasudevan; Pritesh Mukeshbhai Dave; Kumaraguru Dhandapani; Ran Oz; Nery Strasman - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9521466B2 ## CPC - H04N 21/64792: {Controlling the complexity of the content stream, e.g. by dropping packets (intermediate media network packet handling H04L65/765; proxy provisioning conversion or adaptation for reducing the amount or size of exchanged application data H04L67/5651; negotiation of resources in wireless networks H04W28/16)} - H04N 7/17318: {Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests} - H04N 21/2221: {being a cable television head-end (CATV in broadcast systems H04H20/78)} - H04N 21/23424: {involving splicing one content stream with another content stream, e.g. for inserting or substituting an advertisement} - H04N 21/235: Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors - H04N 21/23608: {Remultiplexing multiplex streams, e.g. involving modifying time stamps or remapping the packet identifiers} - H04N 21/26275: {for distributing content or additional data in a staggered manner, e.g. repeating movies on different channels in a time-staggered manner in a near video on demand system} - H04N 21/435: Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream - H04N 21/44222: {Analytics of user selections, e.g. selection of programmes or purchase activity (monitoring of user selections in data processing systems G06F11/34; arrangements for monitoring the user's behaviour or opinions in broadcast systems H04H60/33)} - H04N 21/47202: {for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand} - H04N 21/4758: {for providing answers, e.g. voting} - H04N 21/6371: directed to network - H04N 21/6377: directed to server {(one-way streaming services wherein the source is controlled by the destination H04L65/613)} - H04N 21/64738: {Monitoring network characteristics, e.g. bandwidth, congestion level (data switched network analysis H04L41/14; monitoring functioning in data switched networks H04L43/0817; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10)} - H04N 21/654: Transmission by server directed to the client - H04N 21/6581: {Reference data, e.g. a movie identifier for ordering a movie or a product identifier in a home shopping application} - H04N 21/6582: {Data stored in the client, e.g. viewing habits, hardware capabilities, credit card number (arrangements where receivers interact with the broadcast H04H20/38)} - H04N 21/6587: Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract A method for providing programs, the method includes: (i) providing a program multiplex to multiple users device; (ii) considering a removal of at least one program from the multiplex in response to program viewing parameters; (iii) allowing at least one user to respond to a possible removal of the program; and (iv) determining whether to remove the al least one program in response to received user removal responses. A user device that includes a transceiver unit that is connected to a controller, wherein the device is adapted to receive a program multiplex, to receive an indication that at least one program is to be removed from the multiplex, and to selectively transmit a program removal response. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for conserving resources associated with packet television services comprising: receiving television content from a content provider over a packet network; providing the television content to a television monitor for display to a viewer; determining if a resource conserving process should be activated, wherein the resource conserving process determines if an action to conserve resources associated with transporting the television content over the packet network should be performed; if the resource conserving process should be activated: determining whether the viewer is watching the television monitor; and initiating the action to conserve resources associated with transporting the television content over the packet network upon determining that the viewer is not watching the television monitor, wherein initiating the action to conserve resources comprises sending instructions to the content provider to halt delivery of a video portion of the television content, wherein the television content delivered after sending the instructions does not comprise the video portion; if the resource conserving process should not be activated: continue providing the television content. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising monitoring viewing indicia bearing on the television monitor being watched and applying the viewing indicia to resource saving criteria to determine whether the viewer is watching the television monitor. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2 further comprising receiving viewer input and wherein the viewing indicia comprise viewer input. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3 further comprising: monitoring the viewer input over time; determining viewer behavior based on the viewer input over time; and generating the resource saving criteria based on the viewer behavior, wherein the viewer input over time is used to learn the viewer behavior from which the resource saving criteria is generated. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2 wherein the resource saving criteria is based at least in part on preferences defined by the viewer. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2 wherein the viewing indicia bears on a status of a user device. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein determining whether the viewer is watching the television monitor comprises determining a status of a user device, and initiating the action to conserve resources after detecting that the status of the user device is idle. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising providing an alert for display on the television monitor in association with initiating the action to conserve resources. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein initiating the action to conserve resources comprises sending instructions to the content provider to stop delivery of the television content, wherein delivery of the television content is stopped. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein initiating the action to conserve resources further comprises providing local content to the television monitor for display to the viewer. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein determining if the resource conserving process should be activated is based on a programming type for a program delivered via the television content. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein determining if the resource conserving process should be activated is based on viewer preferences. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein determining if the resource conserving process should be activated is based on at least one of a time, date, and length of a program delivered via the television content. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein determining if the resource conserving process should be activated is based on a program being delivered via the television content. ### Claim 15 An apparatus for conserving resources associated with packet television services comprising: a first interface adapted to receive television content from a content provider over a packet network; a second interface adapted to provide the television content to a television monitor for display to a viewer; and a control system associated with the first and second interfaces and adapted to: determine if a resource conserving process should be activated, wherein the resource conserving process determines if an action to conserve resources associated with transporting the television content over the packet network should be performed; if the resource conserving process should be activated: determine whether the viewer is watching the television monitor; and initiate the action to conserve resources associated with transporting the television content over the packet network upon determining that the viewer is not watching the television monitor, wherein initiating the action to conserve resources comprises sending instructions to the content provider to halt delivery of a video portion of the television content, wherein the television content delivered after sending the instructions does not comprise the video portion; if the resource conserving process should not be activated: allow for continued providing of the television content. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising a user interface associated with the control system, which is adapted to determine whether the viewer is watching the television monitor based on viewer activity detected at the user interface. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15 wherein to determine whether the viewer is watching the television monitor, the control system is further adapted to determine a status of user devices, and initiate the action to conserve resources after detecting the status of the user devices.