Method and apparatus providing scalability for channel change requests in a switched digital video system

• US 20080229379A1
• Filed: 03/12/2007
• Published: 09/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Synamedia Limited
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Akhter, Aamer
• Granted Patent: US 7,849,490 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/139
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2393 involving handling client requests scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4383 Accessing a communication channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6118 involving cable transmission, e.g. using a cable modem
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6581 Reference data, e.g. a movie identifier for ordering a movie or a product identifier in a home shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6587 Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17354 in an intermediate station common to a plurality of user terminals

Abstract

A method, apparatus and computer program product for providing scalability for channel change requests in a Switched Digital Video system is presented. A request for a channel change is received. A determination is made regarding whether a channel requested by the request for a channel change is currently being provided to the settop box. When the channel requested by the request for a channel change is being provided to the settop box then the request for a channel change is buffered for transmission at a later time. When the channel requested by the request for a channel change is not being provided to the settop box then the request for a channel change is immediately sent to an SDV server in communication with the settop box.

Claims

1. A method of providing channel change requests in a Switched Digital Video (SDV) system, the method comprising:

receiving a request for a channel change;

determining if a channel requested by said request for a channel change is being provided to said settop box;

when said channel requested by said request for a channel change is currently being provided to said settop box then buffering said request for a channel change for transmission of said request for a channel change at a later time; and

when said channel requested by said request for a channel change is not being provided to said settop box then immediately sending said request for a channel change to an SDV server in communication with said settop box.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising transmitting said request for a channel change at a later time.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said buffering said request for a channel change for transmission of said request for a channel change at a later time further comprises grouping together multiple requests for a channel change and transmitting said multiple requests for channel change together.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein said transmitting said request for a channel change at a later time comprises sending said request for a channel change after a predetermined period of time has elapsed.

5. The method of claim 3 further comprising reducing channel change request jitter by transmitting said multiple requests for a channel change together.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said receiving a request for a channel change comprises receiving an anticipated request for a channel change.

7. A settop box comprising:

a memory;

a processor;

a communications interface;

an interconnection mechanism coupling the memory, the processor and the communications interface; and

wherein the memory is encoded with an application providing channel change requests in a Switched Digital Video (SDV) system, that when performed on the processor, provides a process for processing information, the process causing the settop box to perform the operations of;

receiving a request for a channel change;

determining if a channel requested by said request for a channel change is currently being provided to said settop box;

when said channel requested by said request for a channel change is being provided to said settop box then buffering said request for a channel change for transmission of said request for a channel change at a later time; and

when said channel requested by said request for a channel change is not being provided to said settop box then immediately sending said request for a channel change to an SDV server in communication with said settop box.

8. The settop box of claim 7 further comprising said settop box performing the operation of transmitting said request for a channel change at a later time.

9. The settop box of claim 8 wherein said buffering said request for a channel change for transmission of said request for a channel change at a later time further comprises grouping together multiple requests for a channel change and transmitting said multiple requests for a channel change together.

10. The settop box of claim 7 wherein said transmitting said request for a channel change at a later time comprises sending said request for a channel change after a predetermined period of time has elapsed.

11. The settop box of claim 9 further comprising the operation of reducing request jitter by transmitting said multiple requests for a channel change together.

12. The settop box of claim 7 wherein said receiving a request for a channel change comprises receiving an anticipated request for a channel change.

13. A computer readable medium having computer readable code thereon for providing channel change requests in a Switched Digital Video (SDV) system, the medium comprising:

instructions for receiving a request for a channel change;

instructions for determining if a channel requested by said request for a channel change is currently being provided to said settop box;

instructions for when said channel requested by said request for a channel change is being provided to said settop box then buffering said request for a channel change for transmission of said request for a channel change at a later time; and

instructions for when said channel requested by said request for a channel change is not being provided to said settop box then immediately sending said request for a channel change to an SDV server in communication with said settop box.

14. The computer readable medium of claim 13 further comprising instructions for transmitting said request for a channel change at a later time.

15. The computer readable medium of claim 13 wherein said instructions for buffering said request for a channel change for transmission of said request for a channel change at a later time further comprises instructions for grouping together multiple requests for a channel change and instructions for transmitting said multiple requests for a channel change together.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 14 wherein said instructions for transmitting said request for a channel change at a later time comprises instructions for sending said request for a channel change after a predetermined period of time has elapsed.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 15 further comprising instructions for reducing request jitter by transmitting said multiple requests together.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 13 wherein said instructions for receiving a request for a channel change comprises instructions for receiving an anticipated request for a channel change.

19. A Switched Digital Video (SDV) system comprising:

an SDV server;

at least one settop box, each of said at least one settop box in communication with said SDV server; and

wherein at least one of said settop box is capable of receiving a request for a channel change from a user, determining if a channel requested by said request for a channel change is currently being provided to said settop box, when said channel requested by said request for a channel change is being provided to said settop box then buffering said request for a channel change for transmission of said request for a channel change at a later time to said SDV server and transmitting said request for a channel change at a later time, and when said channel requested by said request for a channel change is not being provided to said settop box then immediately sending said request for a channel change to said SDV server.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein at least one of said settop box groups together multiple requests for a channel change and transmits said multiple requests for a channel change together to said SDV server.