Patent ID: 8352979
Filing Date: 2013-01-08
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. An apparatus to broadcast Internet protocol (IP) television (IPTV) streams via an IP-based network for reception at two or more subscriber locations, the apparatus comprising: a radio frequency receiver to receive a broadcast multiple program transport stream (MPTS) that contains a plurality of program streams; a proxy server to decode program information contained in the MPTS to update a rating region table (RRT), the RRT representing parental guidance information for program content; a system manager to select a first program stream of the MPTS, to select a second program stream of the MPTS, and to exclude a third program stream of the MPTS, wherein the first and second program streams are selected and the third program stream excluded based on the RRT, independent of any user provided program stream request, and independent of any contractual commitment associated with any user; a first IPTV broadcast engine to form a first IPTV program stream from the first selected program stream of the MPTS, and to broadcast the first IPTV program stream via the IP-based network; a second IPTV broadcast engine to form a second IPTV program stream from the second selected program stream of the MPTS, and to broadcast the second IPTV program stream via the IP-based network, wherein the excluded third program stream of the MPTS is not broadcast via the IP-based network; a first de-multiplexer to de-multiplex the first program stream from the MPTS; a second de-multiplexer to de-multiplex the second program stream from the MPTS; and a cross connection switch to connect the first program stream to the first IPTV broadcast engine, and to connect the second program stream to the second IPTV broadcast engine.