Method and system for transmitting multicast data signals
First Claim
1. A method of transmitting customised program data from a number of program sources to a receiver, the method comprising the steps of multicasting a first data signal from a first one of the number of program sources via a first transmission channel of a communications network, the first data signal comprising a first sequence of program sections;
- multicasting a second data signal from a second one of the number of program sources via a second transmission channel of the communications network, the second data signal comprising a second sequence of program sections;
transmitting a first control signal from a control means to a selecting means associated with the receiver, the first control signal being indicative of a customised sequence of program sections;
in response to the first control signal causing the receiver by the selecting means to selectively receive program sections from selected ones of the first and second transmission channels in a predetermined order corresponding to the customised sequence of program sections.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed is a method of transmitting customised program data from a program source (301) to a receiver (304). The method comprises the steps of multicasting data signals from one or more program sources via different transmission channels (305a-d) of a communications network, where the data signals comprise respective sequences of program sections; transmitting a first control signal from a control means (312) to a selecting means (302), the first control signal being indicative of a customised sequence of program sections; in response to the first control signal causing the receiver by the selecting means to receive program sections from selected ones of the first and second transmission channels in a predetermined order corresponding to the customised sequence of program sections.
140 Citations
27 Claims
-
1. A method of transmitting customised program data from a number of program sources to a receiver, the method comprising the steps of
multicasting a first data signal from a first one of the number of program sources via a first transmission channel of a communications network, the first data signal comprising a first sequence of program sections; -
multicasting a second data signal from a second one of the number of program sources via a second transmission channel of the communications network, the second data signal comprising a second sequence of program sections;
transmitting a first control signal from a control means to a selecting means associated with the receiver, the first control signal being indicative of a customised sequence of program sections;
in response to the first control signal causing the receiver by the selecting means to selectively receive program sections from selected ones of the first and second transmission channels in a predetermined order corresponding to the customised sequence of program sections. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27)
-
-
14. A method of receiving customised program data by a receiver from a number of program sources, wherein a first one of the number of program sources multicasts a first data signal via a first transmission channel of a communications network, the first data signal comprising a first sequence of program sections, and a second one of the number of program sources multicasts a second data signal via a second transmission channel of the communications network, the second data signal comprising a second sequence of program sections;
- the method comprising the steps of
receiving a first control signal from a control means by a selecting means associated with the receiver, the first control signal being indicative of a customised sequence of program sections;
in response to the first control signal causing the receiver by the selecting means to selectively receive program sections from selected ones of the first and second transmission channels in a predetermined order corresponding to the customised sequence of program sections.
- the method comprising the steps of
-
21. A system for transmitting customised program data from a number of program sources to a receiver, the system comprising
a first program source adapted to multicast a first data signal via a first transmission channel of a communications network, the first data signal comprising a first sequence of program sections; -
a second program source adapted to multicast a second data signal via a second transmission channel of the communications network, the second data signal comprising a second sequence of program sections;
control means adapted to transmit a first control signal, the first control signal being indicative of a customised sequence of program sections;
a receiver adapted to receive program sections from selected ones of the first and second transmission channels; and
selecting means associated with the receiver and adapted to cause the receiver, in response to the first control signal, to selectively receive program sections from selected ones of the first and second transmission channels in a predetermined order corresponding to the customised sequence of program sections.
-
-
22. A receiver for receiving customised program data, the receiver comprising
receiving means for receiving a first data signal comprising a predetermined sequence of program sections; - and
selecting means adapted to generate a control signal causing a routing means to select the predetermined sequence of program sections from a plurality of data signals and to route the predetermined sequence of program sections to the receiver, each one of the plurality of data signals comprising a respective sequence of program sections.
- and
-
23. A system for communicating customised program data, the system comprising
a number of program servers adapted to transmit sections of program data via a communications network, each of the sections of program data carrying a corresponding multicast group address; -
a client system adapted to receive program data via the communications network;
a control server adapted to send a target multicast address indicative of at least a first one of the sections of program data to the client system;
a selection circuit comprised in the client system and adapted to generate and send a first control signal comprising control commands adapted to cause a router of the communications network to receive and route to the client system sections of program data carrying the target multicast address.
-
-
24. A client system comprising
a communications circuit adapted to receive sections of program data via a communications network, each of the sections of program data having associated a corresponding multicast group address, and receive control data from a control server, the control data being indicative of a target multicast address identifying at least a first section of program data; -
a processing unit adapted to generate a first control signal comprising control commands adapted to cause a router of the communications network to receive and route to the client system the at least first section of program data associated with said target multicast address; and
the communications circuit is further adapted to send the first control signal to a router of the communications network.
-
Specification