Patent ID: 7296091
Filing Date: 2007-11-13
Classification: H04H,H04L,H04N,H04Q

Abstract:
1. A method for providing a broadcast of content to one or more receivers via a communication network, comprising the steps of: a) receiving the broadcast on at least one global multicast channel; b) associating at least one local multicast channel with the at least one global multicast channel; c) receiving a request signal from the receiver to receive the broadcast; d) connecting the receiver to the at least one local multicast channel; e) routing the broadcast from the at least one global multicast channel to the at least one local multicast channel to provide the broadcast to the receiver; f) inserting the broadcast into the at least one global multicast channel; g) transmitting the broadcast at the at least one global multicast channel from a global server to a local server; h) at the global server, inserting a further broadcast of content into a second global channel of the global multicast channels; i) receiving a request from the receiver to receive the further broadcast from the local server; j) if the second global channel is not available to the local server, obtaining access for the local server to the second global channel; k) after step (i), associating the second global channel with a second local channel of the local multicast channels; and l) providing the further broadcast to the receiver by connecting the receiver to the second local channel and routing the further broadcast from the second global channel to the second local channel.