Patent ID: 7278152

Claim:
A digital information distribution system comprising: a digital information stream server comprising: means for storing a digital information stream of predetermined duration; network adaptation means for transmitting digital information onto a first communication network on a predetermined channel; request receiving means for receiving requests for said digital information stream from said first communication network; scheduling means for directing said digital information stream to said network adaptation means for transmission over said first communication network on said predetermined channel at a predetermined time, if a request for said digital information stream is received by said request receiving means; opportunistic programming means for directing digital information to said network adaptation means for transmission over said first communication network only if said digital information stream is not being transmitted; a network interface coupled to said first communication network for connecting said first communication network to a plurality of subscriber units via a second communication network, said network interface comprising: request receiving means for receiving requests originating from said subscriber units, said subscriber units including privileged subscriber units and non-privileged subscriber units; request relay means for relaying only requests from privileged subscriber units for said digital information stream to said digital information stream server; and means for relaying said digital information stream from said first communication network to said requesting ones of said privileged subscriber units via said second communication network.