Patent ID: 6240553
Filing Date: 2001-05-29
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
In an interactive information distribution system comprising information provider equipment coupled to information consumer equipment via a communications network supporting an in-band communications channel and an out-of-band communications channel, a method for adapting said provider equipment in response to changes in the appropriate size of out-of-band channel bandwidth requirements, said method comprising the steps of:defining a relationship between an incremental increase in in-band channel bandwidth capability and an incremental increase in out-of-band channel bandwidth capability, wherein increases in bandwidth requirements for either channel above respective threshold levels results in the addition of an access controller to the system, said access controller providing predefined amounts of in-band channel bandwidth and out-of-band channel bandwidth, said predefined amounts of in-band and out-of-band channel bandwidth of said access controller conforming to said defined relationship.