Methods and apparatus for enhancing network reliability and/or enabling phased deployment of video services
First Claim
1. A method of operating an apparatus, the method comprising:
- receiving first information indicating a first content source;
receiving second information indicating a second content source, said first and second content sources being different content sources from which content included in a first program can be obtained;
receiving a message from a network control device specifying which one of said first content source and said second content source is to be used as a primary content source for content included in the first program; and
storing information obtained from the received message in memory indicating which one of said first content source and said second content source is the primary content source for content corresponding to said first program.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for automatically transitioning program delivery/reception between alternative sources, e.g., from a non-IP channel to an IP video source or between two alternative IP sources are described. The transition maybe triggered by a detected problem with the delivery via the non-IP channel or because of scheduled service. The transition may be in response to a command sent to a device or because the receiving device detects a problem with one of the content sources triggering an automatic switch to the alternative content source. In at least some embodiments the different content sources corresponding to different coding methods, e.g., with MPEG-2 encoded and packetized content being delivered by a non-IP content delivery channel and MPEG-4 being delivered using unicast IP content delivery techniques. The methods facilitate deployment of new services with IP content delivery being deployed initially on a regional basis with non-IP content delivery gradually being rolled out.
2 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A method of operating an apparatus, the method comprising:
-
receiving first information indicating a first content source; receiving second information indicating a second content source, said first and second content sources being different content sources from which content included in a first program can be obtained; receiving a message from a network control device specifying which one of said first content source and said second content source is to be used as a primary content source for content included in the first program; and storing information obtained from the received message in memory indicating which one of said first content source and said second content source is the primary content source for content corresponding to said first program. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. An apparatus for receiving and processing encoded content, the apparatus comprising:
-
an interface configured to receive first information indicating a first content source corresponding to a first program and second information indicating a second content source corresponding to said first program and to receive a message from a network control device specifying which one of said first content source and said second content source is to be used as a primary content source for content included in the first program; and memory storing information obtained from the received message indicating which one of said first content source and second content source is the primary content source for content corresponding to said first program. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification