Patent ID: 8607283

Claim:
A method for preparing a plurality of audio-visual signals for distribution in an IPTV system to at least one receiver and distributing said audio-visual signals over two or more electronic communications network channels, comprising: (a) processing one or more control messages from one or more receivers, said control message comprising at least one of: (i) a request to avoid propagation delay at a receiver; (ii) a request to change from displaying a first audio-visual signal to displaying a second audio-visual signal at said receiver; (iii) duration of time data to display said second audio-visual signal; and (iv) bandwidth data for said receiver; (b) receiving one or more encoded format audio-visual signals from at least one video source, said encoded format comprising a base layer and enhancement layer format, said video source comprising a video database that stores a plurality of audio-visual signals encoded in base layer and enhancement layer format; (c) extracting, in an extractor, in response to said one or more control messages, one or more audio-visual signals from said received encoded format audio-visual signals, said extracting further comprising: (i) extracting a base layer of a third audio-visual signal that said receiver is anticipated to display in subsequent display changes; and (ii) extracting a plurality of additional base layers of audio-visual signals that said receiver is anticipated to display in subsequent display changes until said bandwidth of said receiver is met; and said extracting further comprising, in response to a condition wherein said duration of time exceeds a pre-determined threshold: (i) extracting said base layer and enhancement layers of said second audio-visual signal; and (ii) extracting a plurality of additional base layers of audio-visual signals that said receiver is anticipated to display in subsequent display changes until said maximum bandwidth of said receiver is met.