TECHNIQUE FOR PROVIDING UNINTERRUPTED SWITCHED DIGITAL VIDEO SERVICE
First Claim
1. A method of a set-top terminal for use in a video content network offering a switched digital video service, said method comprising the steps of:
- receiving, from a head end of said video content network, a ping message requiring a response to exclude a session of said set-top terminal from a teardown; and
responding, automatically, to said ping message based on a preferred status of associated with said set-top terminal.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A request is received from a subscriber of a video content network offering a switched digital video service, to establish a new switched digital video session within a service group of the video content network, which group includes both preferred and standard subscribers and has a plurality of existing sessions. It is determined whether adequate bandwidth is available to establish the new switched digital video session without tearing down any of the existing sessions. Responsive to the determination indicating that adequate bandwidth is not available without tearing down any of the existing sessions, at least one of the existing sessions is torn down. In this step, those of the existing sessions corresponding to the preferred subscribers are exempted from teardown. The new switched digital video session is established in accordance with the request. A switched digital video control apparatus, a set-top terminal, and a system are also disclosed.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method of a set-top terminal for use in a video content network offering a switched digital video service, said method comprising the steps of:
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receiving, from a head end of said video content network, a ping message requiring a response to exclude a session of said set-top terminal from a teardown; and responding, automatically, to said ping message based on a preferred status of associated with said set-top terminal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method comprising the steps of:
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receiving, from a subscriber of a video content network, a request to establish a new switched digital video session within a service group of said video content network, said service group comprising a plurality of subscribers and having a plurality of existing sessions; responsive to said request, sending a ping signal to selected ones of said subscribers within said service group who have not changed channels for a predetermined time and who are not preferred subscribers, wherein said preferred subscribers are not sent said ping signal, requiring a manual response to said ping signal from said selected ones of said subscribers, and tearing down at least one of said existing sessions corresponding to at least one of said selected ones of said subscribers from which no manual response to said ping signal is received, wherein said existing sessions corresponding to said preferred subscribers are exempted from teardown; and establishing said new switched digital video session in accordance with said request. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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10. A method comprising the steps of:
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receiving, from a subscriber of a video content network, a request to establish a new switched digital video session within a service group of said video content network, said service group comprising a plurality of subscribers and having a plurality of existing sessions; responsive to said request, sending a ping signal to selected ones of said subscribers within said service group associated with set top terminals inactive for at least a predetermined time, receiving an automatic response to said ping signal from a first set top terminal of said selected ones of said subscribers within said service group, said first set top terminal associated with a preferred status, requiring a manual response to said ping signal from a second set top terminal of said selected ones of said subscribers within said service group, said second set top terminal associated with a standard subscriber, and tearing down at least one of said existing sessions associated with a third set top terminal of said selected ones of said subscribers within said service group from which no response to said ping signal is received; and establishing said new switched digital video session in accordance with said request. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification