System and method for providing VOD content in a switched digital video network using unicast ABR streaming

摘要

A system and method for providing VOD/NPVR content in a switched digital video network using unicast adaptive bitrate (ABR) streaming. In one implementation, upon receiving a notification from a back office pursuant to the VOD session request from a subscriber station (e.g., a set-top box or STB), a bandwidth pipe modeling process is operative to model a bandwidth pipe corresponding to each edge QAM device configured to support VOD sessions for selecting a particular edge QAM device that can best accommodate the requested VOD session. Bitrates of UABR streams of existing VOD sessions of the selected edge QAM device may be adjusted in order to accommodate a particular UABR stream at a chosen bitrate for the requested VOD session. UABR allocations of the selected edge QAM's bandwidth pipe may be effectuated for the existing VOD sessions and the requested VOD session as needed. A response message including one or more session frequencies, if the session request is accommodated, may be transmitted to the requesting subscriber station.