Abstract: Method and system for providing data, video and voice to a group of end user devices includes receiving end user device group quality of service rules and access network node bandwidth constraints; assigning multicast addresses and unicast addresses to end user devices of the group in response to the access node bandwidth constraints; and providing, in response to the end user device group quality of service rules and requests to receive services from the residential gateways, data, video and voice utilizing the assigned multicast addresses and unicast addresses. Further methods include receiving location information representative of distances between multiple end user devices and access nodes; defining end user bandwidth constraints in response to the location information and in response to access node bandwidth constraints; and providing, in response to the end user bandwidth constraints and to requests to receive services from the end user devices, data, compressed video and voice.

Abstract: A method for bypassing a Cable Modem Termination System (CMTS), the method includes: receiving, by a session manager, an encrypted Security Association Identifier (SAID) and an encrypted Traffic Encryption Key (TEK) that are associated with unicast transmission from the CMTS to a cable modem. The encrypted SAID and the encrypted TEK are upstream transmitted from the cable modem. Providing to an edge device, over a secured link a representation of the SAID and a representation of the TEK. Receiving by the edge device information that is associated with the SAID and should be downstream transmitted to the cable modem. Encrypting, by the edge device, the information by the TEK to provide encrypted information. Transmitting, by the edge device, the encrypted information to the cable modem while bypassing the CMTS.

Abstract: The invention provides a system and a method for synchronizing cable modems, the method includes the stages of: (i) generating, at a media access control entity, synchronization messages; and (ii) updating the synchronization messages to provide updated synchronization messages, whereas the updating is responsive to delays introduced at least during a stage of multiplexing the updated synchronization messages and additional content. The invention provides a system and a method of encrypting a data stream, the method includes the stages of: (i) receiving, at a multiplexing entity, at least one data stream destined to at least one cable modem; (ii) receiving, at the multiplexing entity, at least one encryption key generated by a cable modem termination system, whereas each encryption key is associated with at least one cable modem; and (iii) encrypting at least one data stream with at least one encryption key associated with the at least one cable modem.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for generating a multiplex of media streams, the method includes the steps of: (i) receiving a set of media streams that comprises first type media stream components and second type media stream components; (ii) applying a modification process that is not adapted to modify second type media stream components, such as to provide at least one modified first type media stream component; and (iii) multiplexing at least the second type media stream components and the modified first type media stream components.

Abstract: A system and method for providing an encrypted media stream to clients includes a plurality of remote multiple media stream manager and provider (RMP) units to receive a plurality of source media streams. The RMP units modulate the source media streams to provide a plurality of modulated media streams; encrypt the modulated media streams to provide a plurality of encrypted and modulated media streams; de-modulate the encrypted and modulated media streams to provide a plurality of encrypted and demodulated media streams; and transmit the encrypted and demodulated media streams over a high speed network.

Abstract: A customer-premises equipment (CPE) gateway and methods for operation thereof, and a multimedia server and methods for operation thereof are disclosed, the method for the CPE gateway, the method including: (a) receiving, by the CPE gateway, a first IGMP compliant command; (b) generating by the CPE gateway, in response to the first IGMP compliant command, a unicast command that instructs a multimedia server to generate a unicast media stream; wherein the generating includes concealing multicast information from at least one IGMP compliant entity that follows the CPE gateway; and (c) transmitting, by the CPE gateway, the unicast command to the at least one IGMP compliant entity; wherein the unicast command passes through the at least one IGMP compliant entity and reaches the multimedia server.

Abstract: A method, system and computer readable medium for managing media streams, the computer readable medium has computer-readable code embodied therein for sharing media content, the computer-readable code comprising instructions for: associating different program map tables with devices of different users that are scheduled to filter, at a certain point of time, streams that form a same program; wherein the different program map tables reflect streams that should be filtered by devices of the different users.

Abstract: A method and system for calibrating a quadrature modulator. The method includes: determining a set of sideband calibration frequencies; for each sideband calibration frequency out of the set of sideband calibration frequencies: inputting an input signal having the sideband calibration frequency to the quadrature modulator; measuring a sideband signal power level; determining at least one calibration parameter in response to phase and gain imbalances expected at the measured sideband signal power level.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program product. The method includes: receiving multiple variable bit rate version of a program; wherein different variable bit rate versions of the program differ from each other by their bit rate; converting each variable bit version of the program to a constant bit version of the program by adding null packets so that once an edge device removes the null packets a valid single program transport stream is generated; and transmitting multiple constant bit versions of the program to a server.

Abstract: A device and a method for providing programs to multiple end user devices. The method includes: providing to multiple end user devices, via an edge device, at least one type of media stream out of unicast media stream and a multicast media stream; wherein the at least one type of media stream convey a group of programs; receiving a request from a first end user device to view a first program that belongs to the group of programs; and selectively switching, in response to bandwidth constraints imposed on a communication path coupled to the edge device, a type of a media stream that conveys the first program to a second end user device.

Abstract: A system and method for allowing an end-user to interact with a system in order to execute an application. Multiple digital service packets are broadcast to a plurality of end-users, such that the upstream transmission of data from end-users is greatly reduced. Each end-ser further receives media packets, whereas visual objects relating to the application can be displayed on an end-user display unit with visual objects originating from the media packets.

Abstract: A method for facilitating trick plays includes receiving a request to change a display mode of a certain media stream; fetching a media stream associated data structure associated with the certain media stream; and processing the media stream associated data structure and in response providing a media stream that complies with the requested display mode. The media stream associated data structure may include pointers to independently decodable frames of the certain media stream, and the provision of the changed mode media stream includes transmitting at least some of said independently decodable frames, optionally with duplicating frames, having their timing information adjusted.

Abstract: A system that includes: (ii) at least one input port adapted to receive multiple addressable packets that include media content that belong to multiple media streams and to at least one duplicating media stream; (ii) at least one processor adapted to process the multiple addressable packets to determine media stream layer errors to control, and to participate in a replacement of addressable packets that include media content that belong to a defective media stream by addressable packets that belong to a corresponding duplicate stream. A method for providing a video stream over a network, the method includes: (i) receiving a first multi purpose communication protocol stream that includes multiple media streams and receiving at least one duplicate media stream; (ii) detecting a error in a media stream program; and replacing the defective media stream by a duplicate media stream.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating and transmitting bit rate conversion information to be utilized during bit rate conversion decisions and a method and apparatus for performing bit rate adaptation of media signals to use an available bandwidth of a channel, the media signals being associated with bit rate conversion information, the method for utilizing the bit rate conversion information including the steps of: receiving the media signals and the bit rate conversion information; the bit rate conversion information being indicative of a change in a bit rate of the media signals resulting from bit rate conversion; and converting the multiplexed processed media signals in response to the available bandwidth and the bit rate conversion information.

Abstract: A method and system for providing video on demand, the method includes: (i) sending, by a resource manager, authorized media stream identification information to a modulation and radio frequency transmitter; (ii) receiving, by a radio frequency transmitter, at least one media stream encapsulated within addressable packets; wherein the at least one media stream is associated with corresponding received identification information; and (iii) determining, by the modulation and radio frequency transmitter, whether to modulate and transmit the received media stream in response to relationship between the authorized media stream identification information and between the receives identification information.

Abstract: The invention provides a system and method for providing timing information packets to a plurality of digital home communication terminals. The timing information can be utilized for implementing media access schemes. The system includes a timing information packet generator, for generating timing information packets and providing timing information packets to a transmitter; and a transmitter, coupled to the timing packet generator, for transmitting timing information packets to at least a plurality of digital home communication terminals, in response to the at least one frequency. The method includes the steps of: tracking the at least one frequencies; generating timing information packets; and transmitting timing information packets to the digital home communication terminals in response to the at least one frequency. Conveniently, the step of tracking including receiving information transmitted from digital home communication terminals indicative of the at least one frequency.

Abstract: The invention provides a system and a method for providing a multiplexed sequence, the multiplexed sequence including at least one sequence of basic media data units/modified basic media data units, the system and method are responsive to at least one characteristics (such as quality, quality degradation, compression level and the like, a combination of at least two of the characteristics) of at least of some of the basic media data units.

Abstract: During the several seconds of delay time that it takes for a digital set top box (“STB”) that is connected to a television or other display device to switch channels and display the next target program, other information or data can be displayed to a viewer of the television. This other data (“zap page”) can include, for example, advertising, information about the next/target program, a window showing a segment of the next/target program that is transmitted over the next/target channel, personal information associated with the viewer (e.g., notification that one or more electronic mail messages have arrived, stock prices of securities in the viewer's portfolio, etc.) and potentially based on the viewer's profile (e.g., recipes for cooking enthusiasts, news clips from preferred sources, advertisements of particular interest, etc.), and/or local and regional information (e.g., weather forecasts, etc.).

Abstract: A system for compensating for timing violations of time restricted data being transmitted over a bursty communication channel. The system includes a retriever, coupled to a buffer, for retrieving the time restricted data from the buffer, at a retrieval rate, a buffer level monitor, coupled to the buffer, for monitoring the level of time restricted data in the buffer at a monitoring rate and a controller coupled to the buffer level monitor and to the retriever, for setting the retrieval rate and the monitoring rate.

Abstract: System and method for providing media packets to users, the end users coupled to a communication network having a communication network protocol, the method includes the steps of: (a) receiving non-addressable media packets; (b) blocking media packets of non-selected media streams; (c) converting non-addressable media packets of selected media streams to addressable media packets complying with transmission parameters and with specifications of the communication network protocol; and (d) routing the addressable media packets in response to selection signals received from the users.