Abstract: A computer-implemented method and a transport manager system operate to reduce network congestion by detecting one or more data flows in a network, determining, using a candidate flow detection threshold, whether a data flow of the one or more data flows is a candidate flow, the candidate flow detection threshold being based on one or more characteristics of the one or more data flows, and in response to determining that the data flow is the candidate flow, managing the data flow. A consumption rate, a duration, a number of bytes communicated, a throughput, or aggregated characteristics of the one or more data flows may be used to determine the candidate flow detection threshold.

Abstract: A method includes determining a delivery performance of a data flow being transmitted from a first network equipment to a second network equipment over a network; determining whether the network is congested based on the determined delivery performance of the data flow being transmitted to the second network equipment; and pacing delivery of the data flow to the second network equipment by reducing a rate at which the data flow is delivered to the second network equipment when the network is determined to be congested.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method and a transport manager system operate to reduce network congestion by detecting one or more data flows in a network, determining, using a candidate flow detection threshold, whether a data flow of the one or more data flows is a candidate flow, the candidate flow detection threshold being based on one or more characteristics of the one or more data flows, and in response to determining that the data flow is the candidate flow, managing the data flow. A consumption rate, a duration, a number of bytes communicated, a throughput, or aggregated characteristics of the one or more data flows may be used to determine the candidate flow detection threshold.

Abstract: A method includes determining a delivery performance of a data flow being transmitted from a first network equipment to a second network equipment over a network; determining whether the network is congested based on the determined delivery performance of the data flow being transmitted to the second network equipment; and pacing delivery of the data flow to the second network equipment by reducing a rate at which the data flow is delivered to the second network equipment when the network is determined to be congested.

Abstract: A method includes determining a delivery performance of a data flow being transmitted from a first network equipment to a second network equipment over a network; determining whether the network is congested based on the determined delivery performance of the data flow being transmitted to the second network equipment; and pacing delivery of the data flow to the second network equipment by reducing a rate at which the data flow is delivered to the second network equipment when the network is determined to be congested.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method and a transport manager system operate to reduce network congestion by detecting one or more data flows in a network, determining, using a candidate flow detection threshold, whether a data flow of the one or more data flows is a candidate flow, the candidate flow detection threshold being based on one or more characteristics of the one or more data flows, and in response to determining that the data flow is the candidate flow, managing the data flow. A consumption rate, a duration, a number of bytes communicated, a throughput, or aggregated characteristics of the one or more data flows may be used to determine the candidate flow detection threshold.

Abstract: A method includes determining a delivery performance of a data flow being transmitted from a first network equipment to a second network equipment over a network; determining whether the network is congested based on the determined delivery performance of the data flow being transmitted to the second network equipment; and pacing delivery of the data flow to the second network equipment by reducing a rate at which the data flow is delivered to the second network equipment when the network is determined to be congested.

Abstract: An adaptive file delivery system and method transmits a data file, such as an audio-video file, over a network or collection of networks in segments, each segment transmitted during a different time period. Each time period has a transmission portion to transmit its associated file segment and a wait portion in which no further interaction with the network occurs regarding the transmitted segment. In some implementations, the duration of the transmission portion of each time period is sufficient to reach a steady-state throughput condition, which allows the traffic load status of the network or networks to be determined from rate measurements of file segment transmissions. A peak flow determination is made to assure that the delivery of file segments does not cause network congestion. The system has spurious peak rejection to avoid the false detection of network congestion.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method and a transport manager system operate to reduce network congestion by detecting one or more data flows in a network, determining, using a candidate flow detection threshold, whether a data flow of the one or more data flows is a candidate flow, the candidate flow detection threshold being based on one or more characteristics of the one or more data flows, and in response to determining that the data flow is the candidate flow, managing the data flow. A consumption rate, a duration, a number of bytes communicated, a throughput, or aggregated characteristics of the one or more data flows may be used to determine the candidate flow detection threshold.

Abstract: An adaptive file delivery system and method transmits a data file, such as an audio-video file, over a network or collection of networks in segments, each segment transmitted during a different time period. Each time period has a transmission portion to transmit its associated file segment and a wait portion in which no further interaction with the network occurs regarding the transmitted segment. In some implementations, the duration of the transmission portion of each time period is sufficient to reach a steady-state throughput condition, which allows the traffic load status of the network or networks to be determined from rate measurements of file segment transmissions. A peak flow determination is made to assure that the delivery of file segments does not cause network congestion. The system has spurious peak rejection to avoid the false detection of network congestion.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining or “predicting” which media content files are popular or will be popular, and based on that determination, pre-delivering or “pre-positioning” media content files to user devices automatically and without intervention from users so that the media content will be already stored on users' devices when they later select the media content for viewing. The determination of a media content file's popularity may be based on one or more combinations of content statistics (e.g., view count, viewing rate, etc.). The decision to pre-position a media content file may also be based on user profile information (e.g., viewing history). The pre-positioning may be accomplished using transport technology that avoids further burdening the network, such as delivering in real-time using available surplus network capacity.

Abstract: Sustainable average data throughput rates for data transfer between a sender and a receiver are determined for a network in a steady-state condition. Delivery performance for data transferred in non-steady-state conditions is disregarded in determining sustainable average data throughput rates. The rates may be used to adapt file delivery to network conditions.

Abstract: Congestion information is determined based on a file segment transferred to one of user terminals. The congestion information is available to a server or controller communicatively linked with a plurality of user terminals. The congestion information is shared with other user terminals that share a bottleneck link.

Abstract: A computing system including a media content provider (MCP), a host device, a portable media content storage device (PMCSD), and a data communications network. In response to data communications being initiated between the PMCSD the host device, a data transfer application resident on the PMCSD is automatically executed to determine if any media content transfer instructions exist on the PMCSD or a MCP. The data transfer application resident on the PMCSD may be a portable application not requiring the installation of any configuration or support files to the host device or it may be an application having a boot process that installs configuration or support files to the host device prior to application execution. When one or more media content transfer instructions exists on the PMCSD or a MCP, the media content transfer instruction(s) is processed by the host device, to facilitate media content transfer between the PMCSD and the MCP.

Abstract: An adaptive file delivery system and method transmits a data file, such as an audio-video file, over a network or collection of networks in segments, each segment transmitted during a different time period. Each time period has a transmission portion to transmit its associated file segment and a wait portion in which no further interaction with the network occurs regarding the transmitted segment. In some implementations, the duration of the transmission portion of each time period is sufficient to reach a steady-state throughput condition, which allows the traffic load status of the network or networks to be determined from rate measurements of file segment transmissions. A peak flow determination is made to assure that the delivery of file segments does not cause network congestion. The system has spurious peak rejection to avoid the false detection of network congestion.

Abstract: Sustainable average data throughput rates for data transfer between a sender and a receiver are determined for a network in a steady-state condition. Delivery performance for data transferred in non-steady-state conditions is disregarded in determining sustainable average data throughput rates. The rates may be used to adapt file delivery to network conditions.

Abstract: A networked computing system for coordinating the distribution of burdensome media content using historical usage patterns. The networked computing system includes multiple network resources (e.g., wireless and wireline network access points) that provide communications service, user equipment, and data communications network facilitating data communications. Within the networked computing system, a current reference to a communications location of a user equipment can be evaluated to determine if a schedule for a media content transfer session should be modified based on a comparison of the current reference with historical references to one or more prior communications locations of the same user equipment. When it is determined that the schedule for the media content transfer session should be modified, a preferred network resource or a preferred device state, facilitating a less burdensome media content delivery, is determined for subsequent communications.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed to dynamically alter service offerings to a user based on the available network resources. As network resources are diminished, the end user will see less available services so as to avoid diminished network performance. If network performance improvements, the system detects the improved network recourse availability and provides more offerings to the end user.

Abstract: A networked computing system for coordinating the distribution of burdensome media content using historical usage patterns. The networked computing system includes multiple network resources (e.g., wireless and wireline network access points) that provide communications service, user equipment, and data communications network facilitating data communications. Within the networked computing system, a current reference to a communications location of a user equipment can be evaluated to determine if a schedule for a media content transfer session should be modified based on a comparison of the current reference with historical references to one or more prior communications locations of the same user equipment. When it is determined that the schedule for the media content transfer session should be modified, a preferred network resource or a preferred device state, facilitating a less burdensome media content delivery, is determined for subsequent communications.

Abstract: A networked computing system capable of distributing commercial digital media content utilizing existing interpersonal resources of a social network service (SNS). The networked computing system includes a media content provider (MCP), multiple personal computing devices (PCDs), a SNS and a data communications network that facilitates data communications amongst the MCP, the PCDs, and the SNS. A registered user of the SNS at a first PCD is able to access media content emanating from a MCP based on a media content referral from a registered user of the same SNS at a second PCD. The SNS may operate as an agent for the MCP so that the MCP can use the SNS as a viral media content marketing utility.