Simultaneous access to media in a media delivery system
First Claim
1. A home communication terminal (HCT) comprising:
- a processor configured to retrieve and execute instructions from a memory device, the instructions comprising;
logic configured to generate a request designating a plurality of desired media content to be simultaneously transmitted to the HCT from a remote media server, the request comprising an identifier for each of the plurality desired media content, a priority associated with each of the plurality of desired media content, and a number of tuners associated with the HCT;
logic configured to receive an indication of an allocation of the plurality of desired media content among a plurality of physical channels on respective logical channels, wherein the plurality of desired media content are allocated among the plurality of physical channels based on the priority associated with each of the plurality of desired media content; and
logic configured, based on the allocation of the plurality of desired media content, to cause the HCT to tune to at least one of the plurality of physical channels and filter a plurality of the logical channels carrying the plurality of desired media content from the tuned physical channel, wherein if a number of the plurality of physical channels is more than the number of tuners associated with the HCT, logic configured for the HCT to tune to the physical channels having media content with higher priority.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An embodiment of a cable television system includes a media content source configured to transmit media content to a plurality of home communication terminals (HCTs) over a plurality of physical channels over a shared communication medium. Each physical channel carries the media content on a plurality of logical channels. The system further includes a media allocation server configured to receive requests from the plurality of HCTs, each of the requests from a respective HCT designating desired media content to be simultaneously received at the respective HCT and allocating at least a portion of the desired media content among a plurality of physical channels on respective logical channels.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A home communication terminal (HCT) comprising:
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a processor configured to retrieve and execute instructions from a memory device, the instructions comprising; logic configured to generate a request designating a plurality of desired media content to be simultaneously transmitted to the HCT from a remote media server, the request comprising an identifier for each of the plurality desired media content, a priority associated with each of the plurality of desired media content, and a number of tuners associated with the HCT; logic configured to receive an indication of an allocation of the plurality of desired media content among a plurality of physical channels on respective logical channels, wherein the plurality of desired media content are allocated among the plurality of physical channels based on the priority associated with each of the plurality of desired media content; and logic configured, based on the allocation of the plurality of desired media content, to cause the HCT to tune to at least one of the plurality of physical channels and filter a plurality of the logical channels carrying the plurality of desired media content from the tuned physical channel, wherein if a number of the plurality of physical channels is more than the number of tuners associated with the HCT, logic configured for the HCT to tune to the physical channels having media content with higher priority. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for providing a home communication terminal (HCT) with simultaneous access to media comprising:
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generating a request designating a plurality of desired media content to be simultaneously transmitted to the HCT from a remote media server, the request comprising a program identifier for each of the plurality desired media content, a priority associated with each of the plurality of desired media content, and a number of tuners associated with the HCT; receiving an indication of an allocation of the plurality of desired media content among a plurality of physical channels on respective logical channels, wherein the plurality of desired media content are allocated among the plurality of physical channels based on the priority associated with each of the plurality of desired media content; tuning, based on the allocation of the desired media content, the HCT to at least one of the plurality of physical channels, wherein if a number of the plurality of physical channels is more than the number of tuners associated with the HCT, tuning to the at least one physical channels having media content with higher priority; and filtering a plurality of the logical channels carrying the desired media content from the tuned physical channel. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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11. A cable television system comprising:
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a media content source configured to transmit media content to a plurality of home communication terminals (HCTs) on a plurality of physical channels over a shared communication medium, each physical channel carrying a portion of the media content on respective logical channels; a media allocation server configured to; receive requests from the plurality of HCTs, each of the requests from a respective HCT of the plurality of HCTs designating a plurality of desired media content to be simultaneously received at the respective HCT, each request comprising a program identifier for each of the plurality desired media content, a priority associated with each of the plurality of desired media content, and a number of tuners associated with the respective HCT, and allocate at least a portion of the plurality of desired media content among the plurality of physical channels on the plurality of logical channels, wherein at least the portion of the plurality of desired media content is allocated among the plurality of physical channels based on the priority associated with each of the plurality of desired media content; and wherein the plurality of HCTs are configured to tune, based on the allocation of at least the portion of the desired media content, to at least one of the plurality of physical channels, wherein if a number of the plurality of physical channels is more than the number of tuners associated with the respective HCT, the respective HCT further configured to tune to the at least one physical channel having media content with higher priority. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification