Abstract: A system for providing multicast distribution of incrementally enhanced content is disclosed. The system may include encoding content by utilizing an incremental layer encoding algorithm to generate a low resolution base stream for content and one or more incremental streams for the content. The incremental streams may each have higher resolutions than the base stream. The system may provide the base streams and one or more of the incremental streams to a client device based on available bandwidth and based on the capabilities of the client device. Each of the streams of content may be provided to the client device by having the client device connect to one or more multicast sessions. As the streams are accessed by the client device, the client device may combine and decode the base streams, along with any accessed incremental streams, to obtain the content at an available resolution.

Abstract: A client system includes a processor configured to obtain multicast information for a content item, the multicast information including information about a multicast session for a base stream and additional multicast sessions for available incremental streams. The processor is also configured to determine an available bandwidth, and to join a set of initial multicast sessions based on the available bandwidth, the set of initial multicast sessions including the multicast session for the base stream and at least one of the additional multicast sessions for the incremental streams. The processor is also configured to monitor a network condition, and to perform an action based on the network condition, the action selected from the group consisting of joining another of the additional multicast sessions, leaving one of the initial multicast sessions, and a combination thereof.

Abstract: The subject telephone switching provides for the redirection of established data calls to remotely located digital terminals and the reservation of these digital terminals at the time a data call is originated. In particular, a user can originate a data call from a telephone station set, reserve a selected digital terminal which may or may not be colocated with the telephone station set, and at some point in the call, transfer the established data call to the selected digital terminal by operating a data button on the calling telephone station set.

Abstract: This data call transfer arrangement enables a calling party to originate a data call from a telephone station set and then transfer the data call to one of a number of predefined digital terminals. This is accomplished by operating the DATA button on the telephone station set corresponding to the selected digital terminal once the data call is established. This action causes the subject telephone switching system to replace the telephone station set on the call appearance with the selected digital terminal.