Patent ID: 7203953

Claim:
In a digital video television communication system having a headend coupled to a two-way communication medium and at least one digital video settop box coupled to said two-way communication medium, said headend transmitting on a plurality of communication channels including first and second in-band video channels and an out-of-band region having at least one out-of-band communication channel, said first in-band video channel having a first plurality of multiplexed digital video channels, said second in-band video channel having a second plurality of multiplexed digital video channels, one of said multiplexed digital video channels in said first in-band video channel associated with an IP connection, a method of operation comprising: sending a channel resource request from said settop box to said headend, said channel resource request representing a channel change at said settop box from said one of the multiplexed digital video channels in said first in-band video channel to one of the multiplexed digital video channels in said second in-band video channel, said channel resource request for changing the IP connection association from said one of the multiplexed digital video channels in said first in-band video channel to said one of the multiplexed digital video channels in said second in-band video channel; determining whether said second in-band video channel has available capacity for transporting IP data of the IP connection in said second in-band video channel using IP over MPEG data packets, wherein available capacity is determined based on a number of other IP connections supported by said second in-band video channel; selecting a communication channel at said headend by selecting one of: an available communication channel in said second in-band video channel if said second in-band video channel has the available capacity for transporting the IP data of the IP connection in said second in-band video channel; and one of the at least one out-of-band communication channel if said second in-band video channel does not have the available capacity for transporting the IP data of the IP connection in said second in-band video channel; sending a channel resource confirmation message from said headend to said settop box, said channel resource confirmation message identifying said selected communication channel; and selecting said selected communication channel at said settop box for receiving the IP data of the IP connection from said headend.