Patent ID: 8161515
Filing Date: 2012-04-17
Classification: H04L,H04N

Abstract:
1. A method of processing a fast channel change (FCC) transaction comprising the steps of: sending a FCC request to a FCC server in response to a channel change request at a user interface device; transmitting a unicast stream from the FCC server to the user interface device in response to the FCC request; reducing the rate at which the unicast stream is transmitted to the user interface device; sending a multicast join request from the user interface device to join a multicast of the requested channel; determining a maximum multicast join time for ensuring a seamless handover to the multicast; sending a restart message to the FCC server if the maximum multicast join time elapses before the user interface device joins the multicast; and restarting transmitting the unicast stream from the FCC server to the user interface device in response to the restart message.