Patent ID: 8291107

Claim:
A method for using a Media Channel Descriptor (MCD) file to manage available media content, wherein the MCD file comprises an indication of a format in which new media streams are available, and wherein the MCD file initially indicates a first format for new media streams, the method comprising: receiving one or more requests for a media stream, wherein each request for a media stream is received from an access terminal that is operating in a sector of a wireless access network; storing a record of each request for a media stream in a traffic database, wherein the record comprises an indication that a media stream is open or is about to be opened in the sector in which the requesting access terminal is operating; and upon receipt of each request for a media stream: making a determination as to whether or not, with initiation of the requested media steam to the access terminal, traffic in the sector in which the requesting access terminal is operating has reached a threshold level, wherein making the determination as to whether or not the traffic in the sector has reached the threshold level comprises: (a) after storing each record, querying the traffic database to determine a number of open media streams in the sector in which the requesting access terminal is operating and (b) making a determination as to whether or not a number of open media streams in the sector is greater than or equal to a threshold number of media streams; if the determination is that the traffic has reached the threshold level, modifying the MCD file to indicate a second format for new media streams and to not indicate the first format for new media streams; and if the determination is that the traffic has not reached the threshold level, refraining from modifying the MCD file.