Patent ID: 9232264
Filing Date: 2016-01-05
CPC Classification: H04H,H04N

Claim Text:
1. An upstream transmitting device belonging to a hierarchical distribution system of transmitting devices, said hierarchical distribution system having more than one layer of transmitting devices, each transmitting device of one layer communicating with transmitting devices of another layer over a first network and sending content over a first network in bursts in a channel comprising a plurality of bursts, said upstream transmitting device comprising: a first communicator which receives content from a second network, a second communicator which sends said content over said first network to at least a downstream transmitting device having a layer located downstream from said upstream transmitting device layer in the hierarchical distribution system, said content being successively sent over at least one time slot in a plurality of bursts of a channel, each burst containing at least one unfilled time slot; a slot manager which assigns said channel, and reserves at least one of said unfilled time slots of said plurality of bursts of said channel to said downstream transmitting device; and a signaler which indicates said assigned channel and said at least one reserved unfilled time slot of said plurality of bursts of said channel to said downstream transmitting device.