DIFFERENTIATED SERVICE LEVELS IN IP TELEVISION NETWORK

摘要

A framework is described that may provide service level differentiation in IPTV delivery systems based on program content for any given television channel/programming. For example, for the same TV channel, different service levels are offered to individual subscribers. In one embodiment service levels are provided by varying the number and duration of commercials or the amount of display space afforded to commercials, value-added content and/or entertainment content in a particular channel. Accordingly, the embodiments allow service providers flexibility to provide IPTV advertisement and value-added content services. This service differentiation may attract different levels of subscribers, increasing the penetration ratio of IPTV services, facilitate the delivery of effective advertisements to target subscribers, and/or increase revenue. For example, some subscribers will pay more money to watch TV with fewer ads and more value-added content, while others may be agreeable to watching more ads if they can receive TV for less money.