Patent ID: 7286473

Claim:
A system for null packet replacement in a broadcast data stream comprising: a global scheduler for receiving data containing null packets from a broadcast source; a plurality of self-managed queues in communication with said global scheduler; means for implementing a data management policy for each self-managed queue in each of said plurality of self-managed queues wherein said policy has predefined rules for handling data to be communicated to said global scheduler, a predetermined self-managed queue identifies itself to said global scheduler as being available for service at said global scheduler when said predefined rules of said data management policy have been met; means for implementing an order of service policy in said global scheduler for determining the order each self-managed queue that has presented itself to the global scheduler as being serviceable will be serviced by the global scheduler, said order of service policy for said global scheduler being separate and distinct from each of said data management policies for said self-managed queues, data from said predetermined queue will replace the null packets in the broadcast data stream with background data thereby defining a modified broadcast data stream upon service of said self-managed queues by said global scheduler; a receiver serving at least one client and receiving said modified broadcast stream through said global scheduler from said predetermined self-managed queue.