Patent ID: 8014393

Claim:
A method comprising: receiving a channel change request from a user terminal in an internet protocol television network, wherein the channel change request indicates a request for packets for a new channel of programming; computing a latest time when the user terminal could join a multicast stream based on time of reception of the channel change request; and in response to the channel change request, transmitting a unicast stream of packets for the new channel to the user terminal at a full rate of an access link on a path to the user terminal and continuing to transmit the unicast stream of packets at the full rate of the access link beyond an earliest time when the user terminal could join the multicast stream of packets for the new channel and until insufficient packets are available for transmission at the full rate at which time packets are transmitted at a rate which is equal to a rate at which new packets are received from a source until the latest time or until reception of a message from the user terminal indicating that the user terminal has joined the multicast stream of packets for the new channel.