Patent ID: 8850506
Filing Date: 2014-09-30
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method of supporting switched broadcast television (SBT) on a unidirectional cable product (UCP), the UCP lacking reverse transmission capabilities sufficient to support SBT communications with a SBT provider, the method comprising: determining a request from the UCP for tuning to at least one of a number of channels transported within a signal provided by the SBT provider, wherein a location of at least one or more of the channels within the signal varies over time such that a current location for the requested channel within the signal is required to locate and tune to the requested channel for a time period corresponding with the request; processing the request with a tuning resolver (TR) removably connected to the UCP; reverse transmitting a location query from the TR to the SBT provider for requesting the current location of the requested channel; receiving a location response to the location query with the TR, the TR determining the current location of the requested channel based on information included within the location response; providing tuning instructions from the TR to the UCP for tuning to the current location of the requested channel; and splitting the signal provided from the SBT provider with the TR to both of a first signal path and a second signal path, the first signal path delivering the signal directly to the UCP and the second signal path not delivering the signal to the UCP, including processing the second signal path to receive and determine the location response.