Patent ID: 8316409

Claim:
A home communication terminal (HCT) comprising: a processor configured to retrieve and execute instructions from a memory device, the instructions comprising: logic configured to generate a request designating a plurality of desired media content to be simultaneously transmitted to the HCT from a remote media server, the request comprising an identifier for each of the plurality desired media content, a priority associated with each of the plurality of desired media content, and a number of tuners associated with the HCT; logic configured to receive an indication of an allocation of the plurality of desired media content among a plurality of physical channels on respective logical channels, wherein the plurality of desired media content are allocated among the plurality of physical channels based on the priority associated with each of the plurality of desired media content; and logic configured, based on the allocation of the plurality of desired media content, to cause the HCT to tune to at least one of the plurality of physical channels and filter a plurality of the logical channels carrying the plurality of desired media content from the tuned physical channel, wherein if a number of the plurality of physical channels is more than the number of tuners associated with the HCT, logic configured for the HCT to tune to the physical channels having media content with higher priority.