METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR IDENTIFYING A SIGNAL ROUTE FOR DELIVERY OF VIDEO-ON-DEMAND TO A SUBSCRIBER TERMINAL
First Claim
1. A set top box, comprising:
- a narrowcast video receiver interface to a narrowcast video system, the narrowcast video receiver interface adapted to receive communications from a modulator group of the narrowcast video system;
a decoder configured to extract a modulator group identifier periodically inserted into communications directed to the set top box from one or more modulators of the modulator group, the modulator group identifier unique to a physical transmission path from a headend of the narrowcast video system to the one or more modulators of the modulator group; and
a narrowcast video request interface to the narrowcast video system, the narrowcast video request interface configured to output a request for narrowcast video data including the modulator group identifier.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A set top box includes an interface to a narrowcast video system, the interface adapted to receive communications from one or more modulators of a modulator group of the narrowcast video system. The set top further includes a decoder configured to extract a modulator group identifier periodically inserted into communications directed the set top box from the one or more modulators, the modulator group identifier unique to a physical transmission path from a headend of the narrowcast video to the one or more modulators. The set top includes a narrowcast video request interface to the narrowcast video system, the narrowcast video request interface configured to output a request for narrowcast video data including the modulator group identifier.
11 Citations
7 Claims
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1. A set top box, comprising:
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a narrowcast video receiver interface to a narrowcast video system, the narrowcast video receiver interface adapted to receive communications from a modulator group of the narrowcast video system; a decoder configured to extract a modulator group identifier periodically inserted into communications directed to the set top box from one or more modulators of the modulator group, the modulator group identifier unique to a physical transmission path from a headend of the narrowcast video system to the one or more modulators of the modulator group; and a narrowcast video request interface to the narrowcast video system, the narrowcast video request interface configured to output a request for narrowcast video data including the modulator group identifier. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A computer implemented method to request narrowcast video, comprising:
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extracting, from a data stream received from a video distribution network, a periodically recurring modulator group identifier for one or more modulators forming a modulator group that services a plurality of subscriber terminals, the modulator group identifier unique to a physical transmission path from a headend to the one or more modulators; transmitting to the video distribution network a request for narrowcast video data, the request for the narrowcast video data including the modulator group identifier; and receiving the narrowcast video data from an assigned modulator of the physical transmission path associated with the modulator group. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
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Specification