Abstract: A method and apparatus enables legacy NSP and other networks which use ATM switches that lack multicasting capabilities to acquire and distribute IP multicast transmissions to content subscribers on ATM DSL networks. The method and apparatus further provides the ability for insertion of local advertising content into received IP streams for subsequent distribution over an ATM network. An IP ATM Multicaster (IAM) converts IP multicast signals to ATM protocol and replicates the converted IP multicast packets in response to IGMP join requests received from one or more prospective multicast content recipients. The IAM acts as a bridge between IP protocol and ATM protocol environments that handles conversions and encapsulation protocols between environments. An alternate embodiment utilizes an ATM IP Multicast Inserter (AIMI) that embodies similar functions as the IAM but without using multiple virtual circuits.

Abstract: A method and system is provided for inserting national, regional, and/or demographically targeted information content, such as commercial advertisements, into streaming IP multicast program content delivery streams, such as streaming audio, video or other multimedia content, provided to Internet users via a wide area multicast distribution network. One or more IP datagram/packet replication devices accept packets of streaming digital data content from a multicast content distribution network or other streaming digital content generation source to produce a plurality of multicast content streams. Content streams are provided to an advertisement insertion (AI) device that is capable of implementing per-stream insertion of predetermined advertisement content. Multicast content streams containing the inserted advertisement content are distributed to multicast recipients by one or more regional IP service provider networks.