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Network Managed Channel Change In Digital Networks

Inactive Publication Date: 2008-04-24
THOMSON LICENSING SA
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0002] The present invention relates generally to digital networks and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for enabling a channel change in a digital network.

Problems solved by technology

When a receiver initially begins receiving a program on a particular channel, following a channel change or upon the initial turning on of the receiver, the receiver must wait until an I-picture is received to begin decoding properly, which causes a delay.

Method used

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  • Network Managed Channel Change In Digital Networks
  • Network Managed Channel Change In Digital Networks
  • Network Managed Channel Change In Digital Networks

Examples

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Embodiment Construction

[0018] The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for enabling a channel change in a digital network.

[0019] Advantageously, the present invention improves upon the first and second prior art systems described herein above, overcoming the above-described deficiencies associated therewith. For example, the present invention reduces bandwidth consumption for a Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) initiated, low-delay channel-change mechanism over a Digital Subscriber Loop (DSL) system. In accordance with the principles of the present invention, the request for channel change is made by the CPE. The digital subscriber line access multiplexer (DSLAM) (or some other equipment upstream), in response to this request, switches in a lower-resolution channel-change stream and at an appropriate time later, switches in the full-resolution stream.

[0020] It is to be appreciated that the phrases “customer service equipment” (CPE) and “set top box” (STB) are used interchangeably here...

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Abstract

There are provided a circuit and corresponding method for enabling a channel change in a digital network. The circuit has inputs for receiving a channel change stream and a normal stream. The circuit further includes a multiplexer, a memory device, and a picture element detector. The multiplexer is for transmitting the channel change stream to a customer premises equipment (CPE) device in response to a channel change request from the CPE device. The memory device is for storing a flag that is set in response to the channel change request from the CPE device. The flag is set to request detection of a picture element in the normal stream. The picture element detector is for detecting the picture element in the normal stream subsequent to transmitting the channel change stream. The multiplexer transmits the normal stream to the CPE device in place of the channel change stream once the picture element is detected in the normal stream.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60 / 633,475, filed Dec. 6, 2004, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates generally to digital networks and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for enabling a channel change in a digital network. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] In a Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) multicast / broadcast video system, Internet Protocol (IP) multicast can be used to transmit compressed video to a set-top box (STB). The Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP) is a mechanism to select which channel to watch, by sending a join request for the desired channel to a Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer (DSLAM). When that channel is no longer desired, a leave request can be sent to the DSLAM. [0004] In a commercial video over DSL broadcast system, it is desirable to allow end users to be able to ...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Applications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): H04N5/445H04N7/16H04N21/435H04N21/81
CPCH04L12/2801H04N21/4305H04N21/431H04N21/64784H04N21/4856H04N21/4884H04N21/6371H04N21/4316H04N21/426H04L12/12
Inventor RAMASWAMY, KUMAR
Owner THOMSON LICENSING SA