Abstract: A system and method are provided for generating a flag stream that is used to mark the half rate and quarter rate bytes in an enhanced vestigial sideband (eVSB) data stream. The flag generator includes a buffer, a counter, and an interleaver. The buffer receives map data from a map decoder. The map data indicates the number of half rate and quarter rate packets that are present in a given eVSB data frame. The map data also includes a multiplexer option bit that indicates how the half rate and quarter rate packets are multiplexed in the eVSB data frame. The flag generator uses the map data to generate a flag stream that marks the bytes of the eVSB data frame for accurately separating the half rate data and the quarter rate data.

Abstract: A system for using a low-level packet protocol to accelerate content delivery in a non-routable network is provided. The system includes a transport stream processor for receiving a multiple program transport stream (e.g., in MPEG-2 format) and extracting a data program stream from the transport stream. The data program stream includes audio/video content in a second format (e.g., in MPEG-4 format). A packet generator packetizes the content in the data program stream for delivery over an Internet protocol (IP)-based local area network. Further features, such as quality of service management, are also provided.

Abstract: A simulation system is provided for emulating media access control (MAC) messages that are exchanged between a headend controller and one or more set top boxes. The simulation system can be used to test the low-level functionality of the set top boxes. The system includes a headend simulator that includes a MAC emulator state machine. The MAC emulator state machine implements a cable MAC over an Ethernet network interface.