Patent ID: 8539091
Filing Date: 2013-09-17
Classification: G06Q,H04L

Abstract:
1. A method comprising: enabling a primary service provider for multicast streaming primary content; forwarding, by the primary service provider, the primary content to multicast receivers via a secondary service provider; sending, by the primary service provider, an Ad-insert control packet for giving control of multicast streaming from the primary service provider to the secondary service provider during one or more time periods when the primary service provider is not multicast streaming primary content, the one or more time periods indicated in the Ad-insert control packet, wherein giving control of multicast streaming comprises enabling the secondary service provider to stream secondary information during the one or more time periods; after sending the Ad-insert control packet, sending, by the primary service provider, an Ad-insert preempt message to the secondary service provider, wherein the Ad-insert preempt message includes a field indicating that the Ad-insert preempt message is an Ad-Insert Preempt type of Internet Group Multicast Protocol (IGMP) message and indicates a time period during which the primary service provider intends to take control of the multicast streaming from the secondary service provider, the time period being associated with at least one time period indicated in the Ad-insert control packet; and based on sending the Ad-insert preempt message, multicast streaming, by the primary service provider, a message that is different from the Ad-insert preempt message during the time period indicated in the Ad-insert preempt message, wherein the secondary service provider discontinues multicast streaming the secondary information during the time period indicated in the Ad-insert preempt message.