Patent ID: 8949914
Filing Date: 2015-02-03
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. A method comprising: sending, by a set-top box device comprising a processor, a channel change request to a video head-end of a video distribution network, the channel change request identifying a requested channel; receiving, by the set-top box device, responsive to the channel change request, first video content associated with a multicast of a program provided from the video head-end in response to the sending of channel change request, the video content beginning from a first point in the multicast of the program, the first point being a time at which the set-top box device began receiving the multicast of the program; retrieving, by the set-top box device, responsive to the channel change request, backfill video content from a digital video recorder associated with a second point in the multicast of the program, the second point being a time occurring prior to the first point and being only during the multicast of the program without directly retrieving the backfill video content from the video head-end, wherein the second point extends back to a point at which the digital video recorder has the backfill video content for the multicast of the program; retrieving, by the set-top box, responsive to sending the channel change request, a unicast over a connection from a buffer server at the video head-end to a port of the digital video recorder, wherein the unicast comprises additional video content associated with the multicast of the program occurring prior to the second point of the backfill video content to a beginning time of the multicast of the program, wherein the set-top box device is provided in proximity to the digital video recorder and is connected with the digital video recorder via a hardwire interface, wherein the backfill video content comprises second video content associated with the multicast of the program extending from a start time of the multicast of the program to the first point; monitoring for receipt of a subsequent channel change command at the set-top box device; and providing a subsequent channel change signal from the set-top box device to the digital video recorder based on detecting the receipt of the subsequent channel change command at the set-top box device, wherein the backfill content is deleted from the digital video recorder in response to one of the subsequent channel change signal, data indicating that the multicast of the program has ended, or a command to delete the backfill content.