Patent ID: 8797872

Claim:
A distribution node among a network of distribution nodes for packet based distribution of voice, video and data packets including multicast packet based distribution of video channels from at least one video server distribution node to a plurality of client distribution nodes selectively consuming the video channels; and the distribution node among the network of distribution nodes comprising: an input buffer for storing packets of video content associated with the video channels, the video content comprising a plurality of successive frames, wherein each of the frames is encoded with a single one of a plurality of different frame compression types; and a video sub-channel manager responsive to selection of a new video channel to identify a sub-set of packets within a set of packets of the new video channel within the input buffer for expedited delivery and to expedite delivery of the identified sub-set of packets from the input buffer, wherein the identified sub-set of packets include those belonging to a frame encoded with a particular one of the plurality of different frame compression types, and wherein remaining packets of the new video channel within the input buffer other than the identified sub-set of packets are allowed to remain in the input buffer until after the expedited delivery of the identified sub-set of packets; thereby reducing switchover latency of the distribution node in response to a selection of the new video channel.