Abstract: Devices, systems and methods for determining the amount of latency between a video core and a remote device by inserting null packets in a data stream between the video core and the remote device, the null packets including respective time stamps demarking respective times of departure from the video core.

Abstract: Methods and systems to manage narrowcast bandwidth are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving a channel tune request from a set top box associated with a service group, and determining whether current total bandwidth use by the service group is at or above a first predetermined threshold. The method additionally includes multicasting a high bitrate version of a requested channel to the set top boxes of the service group when the current total bandwidth use by the service group is below the first predetermined threshold. The requested channel corresponds to the received channel tune request. The method further includes multicasting a low bitrate version of the requested channel to the set top boxes of the service group when the current total bandwidth use by the service group is at or above the first predetermined threshold.

Abstract: Methods and systems to manage narrowcast bandwidth are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving a channel tune request from a set top box associated with a service group, and determining whether current total bandwidth use by the service group is at or above a first predetermined threshold. The method additionally includes multicasting a high bitrate version of a requested channel to the set top boxes of the service group when the current total bandwidth use by the service group is below the first predetermined threshold. The requested channel corresponds to the received channel tune request. The method further includes multicasting a low bitrate version of the requested channel to the set top boxes of the service group when the current total bandwidth use by the service group is at or above the first predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A system for delivering content is provided that uses switched digital video (SDV), adaptive bit rate (ABR) streaming techniques and an ABR to Legacy Transport Stream (ALTS) converter for converting the ABR streams to a QAM-based transport stream, all under control of the SDV session manager. In operation, the SDV system can be used to select an ABR profile for a service that is destined for a QAM set top terminal based on the currently available bandwidth. Moreover, the ABR profile may be changed upward (i.e., a profile requiring a greater bandwidth) or downward (i.e., a profile requiring less bandwidth) on a dynamic basis as the number of requested services changes.

Abstract: A system for delivering content is provided that uses switched digital video (SDV), adaptive bit rate (ABR) streaming techniques and an ABR to Legacy Transport Stream (ALTS) converter for converting the ABR streams to a QAM-based transport stream, all under control of the SDV session manager. In operation, the SDV system can be used to select an ABR profile for a service that is destined for a QAM set top terminal based on the currently available bandwidth. Moreover, the ABR profile may be changed upward (i.e., a profile requiring a greater bandwidth) or downward (i.e., a profile requiring less bandwidth) on a dynamic basis as the number of requested services changes.