Patent ID: 8863201
Filing Date: 2014-10-14
Classification: H04J,H04L,H04N

Abstract:
1. A method of providing content to a plurality of client devices in a content delivery network via a gateway apparatus, said gateway apparatus being configured to modulate content onto one or more of a plurality of available quadrature amplitude modulated (QAM) radio frequency (RF) channels, said method comprising: receiving a plurality of content at said gateway apparatus located at a user premises; assigning a first one of said plurality of available QAM channels to provide to said plurality of client devices a list of said plurality of content, said plurality of client devices also located at said user premises; receiving a signal from a network entity, said signal indicating receipt at said network entity of a request for first content from a first one of said plurality of client devices; in response to receiving said signal, determining whether said first content is allocated to at least one of said plurality of available QAM channels; when said first content is allocated to at least one of said plurality of available QAM channels, notifying said network entity of said at least one QAM on which said first content is allocated; and when said first content is not allocated to at least one of said plurality of available QAM channels, allocating said first content thereto and notifying said network entity of said allocated one of said plurality of available QAM; wherein said network entity notifies said first one of said plurality of client devices of said at least one QAM on which said first content is allocated based at least in part on said notifications received from said gateway apparatus.