Patent ID: 7602820

Claim:
A headend multiplexing apparatus adapted for the transmission of a plurality of content elements over a cable network, comprising: first multiplexing apparatus adapted to receive said plurality of content elements from one or more sources, and create at least one output multiplex based thereon; a process in communication with said first multiplexing apparatus and adapted to control at least one aspect of said first multiplexing apparatus in the creation of said output multiplex; and a data interface adapted to communicate data between said headend multiplexing apparatus and a second multiplexing apparatus within said network, said data comprising information which allows for the control of individual bitrates of said plurality of content elements by at least one of said first and second multiplexing apparatuses; wherein said control of said at least one aspect of said first multiplexing apparatus comprises utilizing said data, having been received from said second multiplexing apparatus, to anticipate bandwidth shaping in the creation of said output multiplex.