Patent ID: 6546427
Filing Date: 2003-04-08
Classification: G06Q,H04L

Abstract:
A streaming multimedia communication network, comprising:an Internet Radio Source Provider (IRSP) transmitting media content in a broadcast signal; a network provider receiving and reformatting the media content for re-transmission on the network as transmitted content; a local provider coupled to the network and to an alternative content source; an end user coupled to the local provider and transmitting a request through the local provider to the network provider for retransmission of selected transmitted content to the end user; and means included in the local provider for transparently switching the end user network address from the IRSP to the alternate content provider network address to switch in the alternate content at predetermined intervals and substituting content of the alternative content source for the selected transmitted content during the predetermined interval for delivery of the alternate content to the end user, and thereafter returning to the selected transmitted content.