Patent ID: 6018522
Filing Date: 2000-01-25
Classification: H04W

Abstract:
In a communication system having provider equipment and a subscriber unit, a method comprising the steps of:at the provider equipment:receiving, from the subscriber unit over a communication channel, a request for streamed data from a source on an information network;determining whether streamed data corresponding to the request is currently being provided on a communication channel accessible to the subscriber unit;when streamed data corresponding to the request is currently being provided on a particular communication channel accessible to the subscriber unit, satisfying the request by communicating a designator for the particular communication channel to the subscriber unit;when streamed data corresponding to the request is not currently being provided on a particular communication channel accessible to the subscriber unit:accessing the information network to obtain the streamed data;designating a communication channel for transmitting the streamed data to the subscriber unit;communicating the designated communication channel to the subscriber unit; andtransmitting streamed data from the requested service using the designated communication channel.