Abstract: A system includes a processor and a memory. The memory stores instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations including sending, via a transmitter, a primary video stream corresponding to a particular channel to a media device. The operations further include sending a secondary video stream to the media device. The secondary video stream is associated with a lower quality level than the primary video stream. Transmission of a frame of the secondary video stream is delayed with respect to transmission of a corresponding frame of the primary video stream.

Abstract: A system includes a processor and a memory. The memory stores instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations including sending, via a transmitter, a primary video stream corresponding to a particular channel to a media device. The operations further include sending a secondary video stream to the media device. The secondary video stream is associated with a lower quality level than the primary video stream. Transmission of a frame of the secondary video stream is delayed with respect to transmission of a corresponding frame of the primary video stream.

Abstract: A system includes a processor and a memory. The memory stores instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations including sending a primary multicast video stream and a secondary multicast video stream to a media device. The secondary multicast video stream is limited to intra-coded frames (I-frames) extracted from the primary multicast video stream. Transmission of each intra-coded frame (I-frame) of the secondary multicast video stream is delayed with respect to transmission of a corresponding I-frame of the primary multicast video stream. The delay is based on an amount of writing time to satisfy a buffer threshold of a video content buffer at the media device to prevent a noticeable time shift of video displayed by the media device when the media device switches from outputting the secondary multicast video stream to outputting the primary multicast video stream.

Abstract: A system includes a processor and a memory. The memory stores instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations including sending a primary multicast video stream and a secondary multicast video stream to a media device. The secondary multicast video stream is limited to intra-coded frames (I-frames) extracted from the primary multicast video stream. Transmission of each intra-coded frame (I-frame) of the secondary multicast video stream is delayed with respect to transmission of a corresponding I-frame of the primary multicast video stream. The delay is based on an amount of writing time to satisfy a buffer threshold of a video content buffer at the media device to prevent a noticeable time shift of video displayed by the media device when the media device switches from outputting the secondary multicast video stream to outputting the primary multicast video stream.

Abstract: A method of providing video content is disclosed that includes receiving video content associated with a television stream from a video source at a server of a video distribution network. The method also includes sending a primary multicast video stream corresponding to the video content to a video distribution network entity via an Internet Protocol (IP) network. The primary multicast video stream is associated with a first bandwidth. Further, the method includes sending a secondary multicast video stream to the video distribution network entity via the IP network. The secondary multicast video stream is associated with a second bandwidth. The primary multicast video stream and the secondary multicast video stream are accessible to a set-top box device via the video distribution network entity in response to a channel change request that indicates the television stream.

Abstract: A method of providing video content is disclosed that includes receiving video content associated with a television stream from a video source at a server of a video distribution network. The method also includes sending a primary multicast video stream corresponding to the video content to a video distribution network entity via an Internet Protocol (IP) network. The primary multicast video stream is associated with a first bandwidth. Further, the method includes sending a secondary multicast video stream to the video distribution network entity via the IP network. The secondary multicast video stream is associated with a second bandwidth. The primary multicast video stream and the secondary multicast video stream are accessible to a set-top box device via the video distribution network entity in response to a channel change request that indicates the television stream.

Abstract: A method and system for rendering a plurality of multicast trees for presentation on a display. A multicast routing state may be accessed from a plurality of routers in a multicast group. The multicast routing state may include identification of at least one of an upstream router or a downstream router. A plurality of multicast trees may be identified from the multicast routing state of the plurality of routers. Each of the plurality of multicast trees may indicate a plurality of paths for a data packet from an originating router to selected routers among the plurality of routers. At least two of the plurality of multicast trees may be rendered on a display as an overlapping multicast tree. The overlapping multicast tree may include the plurality of paths for the data packet from the originating router to the selected routers for each of the at least two of the plurality of multicast trees.