Abstract: In one embodiment, a method comprises receiving a stream of transport packets encapsulating media packets, and generating a reference to the point-of-interest media packet relative to the location of the point-of-interest within the transport packet stream. The reference is generated for each media packet that is identified as a point-of-interest.

Abstract: A method is provided in one example and includes receiving a data stream that includes an error code probability; detecting an error in the data stream; and determining whether to generate an error signal for the error in the data stream based on the error code probability being compared to a threshold value. In more particular embodiments, the error code probability may be based on a total number of network elements that receive the data stream. In addition, more specific methodologies may include generating a number to be used as a basis for the threshold value; and generating the error signal if the error code probability is below the threshold value.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method comprises receiving a stream of transport packets encapsulating media packets, and generating a reference to the point-of-interest media packet relative to the location of the point-of-interest within the transport packet stream. The reference is generated for each media packet that is identified as a point-of-interest.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method comprises receiving a primary stream of encoded frames and a separate stream of redundant frames. The method further comprises decoding and reconstructing in parallel the frames in the primary stream and the separate stream of redundant frames, on a real-time basis, in accordance with a specified common clock reference. The method further comprises, upon determining that a frame in the primary stream exhibits an error or impairment, determining a decoded redundant frame in the separate stream that corresponds to the impaired frame, and substituting at least a portion of the information in the decoded redundant frame for a corresponding decoded version of the impaired frame.

Abstract: A method includes detecting a substitution signal at a device and inserting an advertisement into a media stream in response to detecting the substitution signal. The advertisement is selected based on an advertising fee associated with insertion of the advertisement into the media stream. The advertising fee is a first fee when the advertisement is a local advertisement for a provider of a product or service and the advertisement is to be inserted at a first location in the media stream that follows a national advertisement for the product or service. The first fee is distinct from a second fee that is associated with insertion of the local advertisement at a second location in the media stream.

Abstract: A method is provided in one example embodiment that includes receiving a request for a linear media service and determining that the linear media service is not available. An upstream server is provided with start-up content that is streamed in response to the linear media service not being available. The method also includes switching to the linear media service if the linear media service becomes available. In certain example implementations, the upstream server is an origin server, a residential gateway, an edge cache, an endpoint, etc.

Abstract: Methods and systems of handling channel changes in a digital home communication terminal are disclosed. An exemplary method comprises: receiving a channel change request; determining whether the channel change request is user-initiated; setting at least one channel change parameter to a value based on the determination; and performing a channel change using the at least channel change parameter having the set value. An exemplary system comprises: a channel acquisition component, memory, and a processor. The processor is programmed by code, stored in memory, to: receive a channel change request; determine whether the channel change request is user-initiated; and instruct the channel acquisition component to perform a channel change using at least channel change parameter. The channel change parameter has a value that is based on the determination.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method comprises identifying a plurality of frames of interest from a primary stream of encoded frames. The method further comprises selecting at least one of the frames of interest for inclusion in a separate redundant stream. The method further comprises producing another encoded instance of the at least one selected encoded frame. The method further comprises associating the another encoded instance of the at least one selected frame in the separate redundant stream with the corresponding selected encoded frame in the primary stream. The method further comprises providing the primary stream, the separate redundant stream, and a common clock reference to a decoder.

Abstract: Methods and systems of handling channel changes in a digital home communication terminal are disclosed. An exemplary method comprises: receiving a request for access to a downstream network connected to the DHCT; determining a source of the request for access; and setting at least one parameter to a value based on the determined source; and performing a channel change using the at least one parameter having the set value An exemplary system comprises: a channel acquisition component, memory, and a processor. The processor is programmed by code, stored in memory, to: receive a channel change request; determine whether the channel change request is user-initiated; and instruct the channel acquisition component to perform a channel change using at least one parameter. The parameter has a value that is based on the determination.

Abstract: A method includes detecting a substitution signal at a device and inserting an advertisement into a media stream in response to detecting the substitution signal. The advertisement is selected based on an advertising fee associated with insertion of the advertisement into the media stream. The advertising fee is a first fee when the advertisement is a local advertisement for a provider of a product or service and the advertisement is to be inserted at a first location in the media stream that follows a national advertisement for the product or service. The first fee is distinct from a second fee that is associated with insertion of the local advertisement at a second location in the media stream.

Abstract: A method includes detecting a substitution signal at a set top box device. The method includes inserting an advertisement into a media stream in response to detecting the substitution signal and determining an advertising fee associated with insertion of the advertisement into the media stream. A first advertising fee is determined when the advertisement is a local advertisement for a provider of a product or service and is to be inserted at a first location in the media stream that follows a national advertisement for the product or service. The first advertising fee is higher than a second advertising fee that is associated with insertion of the local advertisement for the provider of the product or service at a second location in the media stream.

Abstract: A method is provided in one example and includes receiving a data stream that includes an error code probability; detecting an error in the data stream; and determining whether to generate an error signal for the error in the data stream based on the error code probability being compared to a threshold value. In more particular embodiments, the error code probability may be based on a total number of network elements that receive the data stream. In addition, more specific methodologies may include generating a number to be used as a basis for the threshold value; and generating the error signal if the error code probability is below the threshold value.

Abstract: A method is provided in one example embodiment and includes determining that a network storage module has resources for buffering data currently being sent to a local storage module; determining if the local storage module should enter into a power saving mode; and buffering the configurable amount of data at the network storage module while the local storage module is in the power saving mode. In more particular embodiments, the method includes communicating the configurable amount of data to the local storage module after it resumes a normal operating mode. In addition, the method may include communicating at least a portion of the configurable amount of data to the local storage module using a unicast protocol or a multicast protocol.

Abstract: A method includes detecting a substitution signal at a set top box device. The method includes inserting an advertisement into a media stream in response to detecting the substitution signal and determining an advertising fee associated with insertion of the advertisement into the media stream. A first advertising fee is determined when the advertisement is a local advertisement for a provider of a product or service and is to be inserted at a first location in the media stream that follows a national advertisement for the product or service.

Abstract: A method and system for inserting television commercials that are selected according to the unique interests and purchasing habits of viewers in individual households, or the relative location of the household within a local broadcast area. The present system provides a cable or satellite television set top box that stores a plurality of television commercials for products or services that have been found to be of interest to viewers in a household that uses the set top box. At commercial breaks during the broadcast of network television programs, the television network indicates when the set top box is authorized to insert a stored television commercial instead of a broadcast commercial. If the set top box locates a locally stored commercial that is appropriate for the television program and the user, the commercial is inserted into the commercial break.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a program stream from a program source on a first channel. The method also includes detecting an unrecoverable error in the program stream, and receiving a standalone decodable repair stream from an error repair source on a second channel. The repair stream refers to a portion of the program stream, where the portion corresponds to the unrecoverable error. The method also includes combining the repair stream and the program stream to produce a presentable stream for user viewing.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes ingesting a program stream from a program source on a first channel. The method also includes storing the program stream, and receiving notification from a client of unrecoverable error in a stream received at the client. The unrecoverable error corresponds to at least a portion of the stored program stream. The method also includes distributing the corresponding portion of the stored program stream to the client on a second channel in response to the notification.

Abstract: Channel changes between services with differing bandwidth in a switched digital video system. A services map published by the headend and distributed to all of the edge devices, allows a bandwidth requirement to be correlated with each request from a device in the home. The bandwidth requirement is passed upstream along with the request for service and is subject to a system resource management validation.

Abstract: Systems and methods of assembling an elementary stream from an encapsulated multimedia transport stream are disclosed. An exemplary method includes: receiving a command from a user mode video playback component; in response, processing layer-2 packets received through a network interface driver binding to assemble, into an MPEG elementary stream, multimedia transport packets encapsulated within; and supplying the stream to a decoder. The receiving and processing steps are performed in kernel mode. Also disclosed is an exemplary digital home communication terminal that includes a network interface, memory, and a processor. The processor executes code to: receive a command from a user mode video playback component; process layer-2 packets received through a network interface driver binding, in order to assemble into an MPEG elementary stream multimedia transport packets encapsulated within the received layer-2 packets; and supply the elementary stream to a decoder.

Abstract: Expedited digital signal decoding. A multicast or unicast data stream is sent from a headend to a set-top box at a natural rate. A decoder buffer in the set-top box begins to fill. Once the buffer is partially full, a decoder begins to decode the data at a rate lower than the natural rate. Images are displayed to the user before the buffer is full, allowing for a faster channel change.