Delivering cable television over a network agnostic platform
First Claim
1. A method of transmitting multimedia data, comprising:
- receiving a plurality of signals that carry the multimedia data;
encoding the plurality of signals into respective streams;
identifying each of the respective streams with an identifier that identifies a virtual broadcast domain;
associating a set of the respective streams into at least one additional stream; and
transmitting the at least one additional stream.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and systems consistent with the present invention deliver digital TV service over multiple types of networks. A head end facility receives TV signals and encodes each signal into a respective channel stream. The head end facility then assigns each of the channel streams to a virtual broadcast domain. The head end facility selects a plurality of the channel streams and combines them into an associated stream. The head end facility then transmits the associated stream to one or more local hubs. The local hub receives the associated stream and parses the channel streams from the associated stream. When the subscriber selects a digital TV channel or program for viewing, the local hub then extends the virtual broadcast domain to the subscriber'"'"'s facility. The subscriber'"'"'s facility receives the channel stream and then decodes it into a signal that can be displayed by a device.
22 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method of transmitting multimedia data, comprising:
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receiving a plurality of signals that carry the multimedia data;
encoding the plurality of signals into respective streams;
identifying each of the respective streams with an identifier that identifies a virtual broadcast domain;
associating a set of the respective streams into at least one additional stream; and
transmitting the at least one additional stream. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of delivering multimedia data, comprising:
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receiving a first stream that includes a plurality of second streams each having a corresponding tag that identifies a virtual broadcast domain;
identifying each of the second plurality of streams based on their corresponding tags;
selecting at least one of the second plurality of streams that has been requested by a subscriber; and
transmitting the selected one of the second plurality of streams based on extending the virtual broadcast domain to the subscriber based on the subscriber request. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An apparatus for transmitting multimedia data, comprising:
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means for receiving a plurality of signals that carry the multimedia data;
means for encoding the plurality of signals into respective streams;
means for identifying each of the respective streams with an identifier that identifies a virtual broadcast domain;
means for associating a set of the respective streams into at least one additional stream; and
means for transmitting the at least one additional stream.
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16. An apparatus for delivering multimedia data, comprising:
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means for receiving a first stream that includes a plurality of second streams each having a corresponding tag that identifies a virtual broadcast domain;
means for identifying each of the second plurality of streams based on their corresponding tags;
means for selecting at least one of the second plurality of streams that has been requested by a subscriber; and
means for transmitting the selected one of the second plurality of streams based on extending the virtual broadcast domain to the subscriber.
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17. A system for providing multimedia data, comprising:
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at least one encoder for encoding signals into respective streams each having a unique virtual broadcast domain;
a first switch for combining a set of the streams into at least one additional stream and transmitting the at least one additional stream through a network; and
a second switch for receiving the at least one additional stream from the network and extending the virtual broadcast domain of one of the respective streams to subscribers requesting the respective stream. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification