Time-Aware Learning Framework for Over-The-Top Consumer Classification Based on Machine- and Deep-Learning Capabilities

With the widespread use of over-the-top (OTT) media, such as YouTube and Netflix, network markets are changing and innovating rapidly, making it essential for network providers to quickly and efficiently analyze OTT traffic with respect to pricing plans and infrastructure investments. This study proposes a time-aware deep-learning method of analyzing OTT traffic to classify users for this purpose. With traditional deep learning, classification accuracy can be improved over conventional methods, but it takes a considerable amount of time. Therefore, we propose a novel framework to better exploit accuracy, which is the strength of deep learning, while dramatically reducing classification time. This framework uses a two-step classification process. Because only ambiguous data need to be subjected to deep-learning classification, vast numbers of unambiguous data can be filtered out. This reduces the workload and ensures higher accuracy. The resultant method provides a simple method for customizing pricing plans and load balancing by classifying OTT users more accurately.