Abstract: A system, method and computer readable device are described herein. A plurality of packets are received at a data streaming device, from a computing device; the packets including authentication information for gaining access to a local network. The MAC address of the computing device with a MAC address of a data streaming device in the header of the packets. The authentication information including the MAC address of the data streaming device to a server. An authentication to access the local network is received from the server.

Abstract: A system, method and computer readable device are described herein. A plurality of packets are received at a data streaming device, from a computing device; the packets including authentication information for gaining access to a local network. The MAC address of the computing device with a MAC address of a data streaming device in the header of the packets. The authentication information including the MAC address of the data streaming device to a server. An authentication to access the local network is received from the server.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product for authenticating a data streaming device to a network using a browser of another computing device, such that the data streaming device is able to retrieve and/or transmit streaming content over the Internet subsequent to the authentication.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product for authenticating a data streaming device to a network using a browser of another computing device, such that the data streaming device is able to retrieve and/or transmit streaming content over the Internet subsequent to the authentication.

Abstract: An Internet Group Multicast Protocol (IGMP) proxy provides network redundancy to prevent a severed or damaged line, or a malfunctioning router interface from denying services to the IGMP proxy by outputting the multicast group addresses that are received by the IGMP proxy to a first multicast interface that is electrically connected to a first router interface of a router, and to a second multicast interface that is electrically connected to a second router interface of the router.

Abstract: A multicasting network includes a number of routers that are connected together to form a ring. The routers include a source router that identifies incoming multicasting data packets, and forwards the multicasting data packets in both directions on the ring. The routers also include forwarding routers that identify incoming multicasting data packets, and forwards the multicasting data packets in only one direction on the ring. Further, each ring has two terminating routers that receive forwarded data packets on two external nodes, and accept forwarded data packets from only a first external node and not from a second external node. When a fault condition is detected that prevents data packets from being forwarded in a first direction on the ring, the routers down stream of the fault condition reconfigure themselves to receive forwarded data packets from the second direction.

Abstract: A router stores a value that indicates the maximum number of channels that can be output to a group, and the number of channels that are output to the group. When a member of the group indicates a channel change selection from a first channel to a second channel, the router drops the first channel before outputting the second channel when the maximum number of channels and the number of channels are equal.

Abstract: A router is connected to a number of groups, such as xDSL modems, that each have a number of group members, such as set top boxes. When a member of the group identifies a new subscribed-to channel that is to be sent to the member, the router insures that multiple channels are not continuously sent to the same group member.

Abstract: A router stores a value that indicates the maximum number of channels that can be output to a group, and the number of channels that are output to the group. When a member of the group indicates a channel change selection from a first channel to a second channel, the router drops the first channel before outputting the second channel when the maximum number of channels and the number of channels are equal.

Abstract: A multicasting network includes a number of routers that are connected together to form a ring. The routers include a source router that identifies incoming multicasting data packets, and forwards the multicasting data packets in both directions on the ring. The routers also include forwarding routers that identify incoming multicasting data packets, and forwards the multicasting data packets in only one direction on the ring. Further, each ring has two terminating routers that receive forwarded data packets on two external nodes, and accept forwarded data packets from only a first external node and not from a second external node. When a fault condition is detected that prevents data packets from being forwarded in a first direction on the ring, the routers down stream of the fault condition reconfigure themselves to receive forwarded data packets from the second direction.