Patent ID: 6594826
Filing Date: 2003-07-15
Classification: H04H,H04L,H04M,H04N

Abstract:
In a digital information transmission system coupled to a plurality of subscriber units via a communication network, said subscriber units including privileged and non-privileged subscriber units, a system for allocating access to a channel among said subscriber units, said system comprising:means for transmitting a content stream from a plurality of available content streams over said channel, said available content streams including general access content streams and limited access content streams; means for receiving a request specifying a desired content stream from one of said plurality of subscriber units; prioritization means, coupled to said receiving means and transmitting means, for initiating transmission of a limited access content stream over said channel only if a request for said limited access stream is received from a privileged subscriber unit, and for initiating access to a general access content stream only if no request from a privileged subscriber unit for a limited access stream is currently being fulfilled.