Patent ID: 7159235

Claim:
A method of streaming content via a distribution network to any of a plurality of heterogeneous access networks, comprising: encapsulating content according to the steps of: preprocessing said content into at least one packet having a format and size optimized for storage and retrieval at a local streaming server, wherein said preprocessing step further comprises transcoding said content into at least one packet format, wherein said transcoding occurs prior to storage on said local streaming server: encapsulating said at least one packet of content in a payload portion of a real time transport protocol (RTP) packet: and encapsulating said RTP packet in a payload portion of an Internet Protocol (IP) packet structure: retrieving from said local streaming server, said content encapsulated according to said IP packet structure; processing, at said local streaming server, said retrieved content into a format native to an access network from which a user request originated; streaming processed content to said access network via said distribution network, said distribution network format being different than said access network formats; and extracting said content from said IP packet downstream of said distribution network.