# US 11,445,253 B2 · Failover with redundant multicasts for switched digital video > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,445,253 B2 - Document ID: US11445253B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/923,628 - Filed: 2020-07-08 - Published: 2020-12-10 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2009-11-06 - Assignees: Comcast Cable Communications, LLC - Applicants: Comcast Cable Communications, LLC - Inventors: Weidong Mao; Phillip Gabler - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11445253B2 ## CPC - H04N 21/4622: {Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet (web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859)} - H04L 45/22: {Alternate routing} - H04L 45/24: Multipath - H04L 45/302: Route determination based on requested QoS - H04L 65/611: for multicast or broadcast (systems for broadcast or conference H04L12/18; arrangements for broadcast or distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/00; arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time H04H60/00; selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS], H04W4/06) - H04N 21/44209: {Monitoring of downstream path of the transmission network originating from a server, e.g. bandwidth variations of a wireless network (arrangements for maintenance or administration in data switching networks involving bandwidth and capacity management H04L41/0896)} - H04N 21/6118: {involving cable transmission, e.g. using a cable modem} - H04N 21/6405: Multicasting {(data broadcast and multicast in packet switching networks H04L12/18)} - H04N 21/6581: {Reference data, e.g. a movie identifier for ordering a movie or a product identifier in a home shopping application} - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract A method and system for delivering content is provided. In one example, responsive to a request by a client device identifying a video program, the system is configured to determine different first and second network paths for delivery of the video program from a content source; deliver the video program via the first network path to the client device; and responsive to a change in status of the video program being delivered via the first network path, deliver the video program via the second network path to the client device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: receiving, by a computing device and from a plurality of user devices, requests for content items, wherein the plurality of user devices are associated with different service levels that comprise: a first service level in which a requested content item is received via a plurality of physical network paths; and a second service level in which a requested content item is received via a single physical network path; determining, for each of the requests and based on a corresponding service level for each of the requests, a quantity of physical network paths for receiving a corresponding requested content item; receiving, for each of the requests and via a corresponding quantity of physical network paths, a corresponding requested content item, wherein based on determining that a first request, for a first content item, corresponds to the first service level, receiving a portion of the first content item via a first physical network path of the plurality of physical network paths while receiving the portion of the first content item via a second physical network path of the plurality of physical network paths; and sending the requested content items to corresponding requesting user devices. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: based on determining that a second request, for a second content item, corresponds to the second service level, receiving a portion of the second content item via the first physical network path, of the plurality of physical network paths, without receiving the portion of the second content item via the second physical network path of the plurality of physical network paths. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first service level comprises responding to a failure along the first physical network path of the plurality of physical network paths by sending a portion of a requested content item that was received, before the failure occurred, via the second physical network path of the plurality of physical network paths. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the second service level comprises responding to a failure along the first physical network path of the plurality of physical network paths by using the second physical network path of the plurality of physical network paths. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein the failure comprises one or more of the following: a failure to receive a portion of a requested content item via the first physical network path, or a reduction in quality of a portion of the requested content item received via the first physical network path. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: configuring a first video interface input to receive a first requested content item via the first physical network path of the plurality of physical network paths, and configuring a second video interface input to receive the first requested content item via the second physical network path of the plurality of physical network paths. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the computing device comprises a quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) device. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of physical network paths correspond to a plurality of different multicasts. ### Claim 9 A method comprising: determining, by a computing device, a plurality of different service levels, wherein the service levels correspond to using different quantities of physical network paths for receiving content items; receiving, by the computing device and from a user device, a request for a requested content item; receiving, from one or more content sources and using a corresponding quantity of physical network paths selected based on a service level, of the plurality of different service levels, associated with the user device, the requested content item, wherein the receiving the requested content item comprises receiving a portion of the requested content item via a second physical network path while receiving the portion of the requested content item via a first physical network path; and sending the requested content item to the user device. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising: receiving, from the one or more content sources, a portion of an additional requested content item via the first physical network path without receiving the portion of the additional requested content item via the second physical network path. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein one of the plurality of different service levels comprises responding to a failure along the first physical network path by using the second physical network path. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the failure comprises one or more of the following: a failure to receive a portion of the requested content item via the first physical network path, or a reduction in quality of a portion of the requested content item received via the first physical network path. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein different physical network paths correspond to different multicasts. ### Claim 14 A method comprising: receiving, by a computing device and from a plurality of user devices, requests for content items; determining, for each of the requests, a different quantity of connections for receiving a corresponding requested content item; receiving, for each of the requests and via a corresponding quantity of connections, a corresponding requested content item, wherein a portion of a first content item, of the content items, is received via a first connection while receiving the portion via a second connection; and sending the requested content items to corresponding requesting user devices. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, further comprising: receiving a portion of a second content item, of the content items, via the first connection, without receiving the portion via another connection. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, further comprising responding to a failure along the first connection by sending a portion of the first content item, of the content items, that was received, before the failure occurs, via the second connection. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, further comprising responding to a failure along the first connection by using the second connection.