Patent ID: 7222185

Claim:
In a system controller for a content distribution system, a method for selecting a content distribution mode comprising the steps of: receiving a content distribution request from a content source; detecting, in response to receiving the content distribution request, a content distribution characteristic for content to be distributed by the content source; and selecting a transmission mode, from one of a first transmission mode and a second transmission mode, for distributing the content within the content distribution system based upon the content distribution characteristic, the first transmission mode being a one-to-one transmission and the second transmission mode being a one-to-many transmission, detecting comprises detecting, in response to receiving the content distribution request, the content distribution characteristic for content to be distributed by the content source, the content distribution characteristic indicating a number of receivers that request the content over a period of time, in response to detecting, comparing the content distribution characteristic with a threshold limit, and selecting comprises selecting a one-to-many transmission mode for distributing the content within the content distribution system when the content distribution characteristic satisfies the threshold limit and selecting a one-to-one transmission mode for distributing the content within the content distribution system when the content distribution characteristic does not satisfy the threshold limit; and further comprising the step of transmitting a transition marker to at least one receiver associated with the content distribution system, the transition marker indicating a switching of content distribution between the first transmission mode and the second transmission mode.