Abstract: Techniques are provide herein to determine the amount of allocated and unutilized bandwidth for services already provided on each of a plurality of quadrature amplitude modulator (QAM) channels. One of the plurality of QAM channels is selected as a selected QAM channel to maximize capacity for future service requests based on a determination that the selected QAM channel can have bandwidth deallocated to support a service at a second bandwidth greater than a first bandwidth. A sufficient amount of the allocated and unutilized bandwidth is deallocated for services provided at the first bandwidth on the selected QAM channel such that the service at the second bandwidth is thereafter supportable on the selected QAM.

Abstract: Embodiments may be disclosed herein that provide systems, devices, and methods of creating and using virtual service groups on HFC networks. One such embodiment is a system comprising: a headend in communication with a plurality of consumer premises devices; contiguous or non-contiguous bands of QAM carriers; the plurality of consumer premises devices organized into virtual service groups and tuned to designated bands of data corresponding to the virtual service group to which each consumer premises device is assigned.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is described for transmitting, receiving and communicating program data signals which are combined with digital data signals. Preferably, the present invention compresses 30 digital audio signals, multiplexes them with title, track, artist, record label, year, etc., program information, and transmits the combined signals via satellite to a receiving station. The receiving station demultiplexes the signals and sends them via a cable distribution system to a subscriber's digital music tuner. This tuner further demultiplexes and decodes the signals so that the digital audio signals may be converted to analog and output for listening, while the corresponding data signals are communicated to the subscriber. In an alternative preferred embodiment, the program data signals are transmitted to a remote control receiver where they are displayed. The system described in the present invention may be used for transmitting video, software or games with program data to subscribers.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is described for transmitting, receiving and communicating program data signals which are combined with digital data signals. Preferably, the present invention compresses 30 digital audio signals, multiplexes them with title, track, artist, record label, year, etc., program information, and transmits the combined signals via satellite to a receiving station. The receiving station demultiplexes the signals and sends them via a cable distribution system to a subscriber's digital music tuner. This tuner further demultiplexes and decodes the signals so that the digital audio signals may be converted to analog and output for listening, while the corresponding data signals are communicated to the subscriber. In an alternative preferred embodiment, the program data signals are transmitted to a remote control receiver where they are displayed. The system described in the present invention may be used for transmitting video, software or games with program data to subscribers.