Patent ID: 9002005
Filing Date: 2015-04-07
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. A method of conserving bandwidth within a switched digital video (SDV) system, comprising: determining, via a SDV processing module, a number of encryption system types utilized by subscriber terminal devices currently requesting tuning to a particular SDV content selection in response to each change in a number of the subscriber terminal devices requesting tuning to the particular SDV content selection, where: encrypting SDV content associated with the particular SDV content selection as one of fully encrypted SDV content and singular partially encrypted SDV content in response to the first change in the number of the subscriber terminal devices requesting tuning to the particular SDV content selection and as multiply partially encrypted SDV content in response to the second change in the number of the subscriber terminal devices requesting tuning to the particular SDV content selection based upon the determined number of encryption system types beginning from a current play location indicated for the SDV content selection within an electronic program guide (EPG); where encrypting the SDV content via the one encryption system type as singular partially encrypted SDV content beginning from the current play location indicated for the SDV content selection within the EPG is in response to determining that a encryption hysteresis interval has not expired; transitioning the distributed multiply partially encrypted SDV content encrypted via each of the two encryption system types to singular partially encrypted SDV content encrypted via the one encryption system type; and distributing the one of the fully encrypted SDV content and the singular partially encrypted SDV content in response to the first change in the number of the subscriber terminal devices requesting tuning to the particular SDV content selection and the multiply partially encrypted SDV content in response to the second change in the number of the subscriber terminal devices requesting tuning to the particular SDV content selection as part of an outgoing SDV content stream to the subscriber terminal devices currently requesting tuning to the particular SDV content selection.