Set-top box for changing channels and system and method for use of same

A method for changing channels, the method comprising:

• communicating with a network interface controller through a programming interface, the network interface controller being interconnected to a plurality of receiving queues, each of the plurality of receiving queues having a respective buffer, a respective decryption device, and a respective decoder, the network interface controller including circuitry providing a full network protocol stack with network traffic processing capabilities;
• receiving, by the network interface controller, a source internet protocol television signal from an external source, the source internet protocol television signal including a plurality of channels, each of the plurality of channels having periodic, sequential signal access points that permit tuning initiation, the internet protocol television signal including an internet protocol suite over a packet-switched network;
• executing first processor-executable instructions stored in non-transitory memory accessible to a processor, the first processor-executable instructions causing the method to:
• receive a plurality of channels simultaneously, each of the plurality of channels of the source internet protocol television signal being assigned to one of the plurality of receiving queues,
• receive and at least partially prepare a first channel from the plurality of channels of the source internet protocol television signal,
• provide an at least partially prepared first channel signal,
• receive and at least partially prepare a second channel from the plurality of channels of the source internet protocol television signal, and
• provide an at least partially prepared second channel signal;
• and
• executing second processor-executable instructions stored in the non-transitory memory, the second processor-executable instructions causing the method to:
• buffer in the buffer the at least partially prepared second channel signal,
• track in the buffer the at least partially prepared second channel signal beginning at a recent periodic, sequential signal access point,
• in response a to receiving channel change instruction, access from the buffer the at least partially prepared second channel signal beginning at the recent periodic, sequential signal access point, and
• transform the partially prepared second channel signal to a fully prepared second channel signal.

A method for changing channels, the method comprising:

• communicating with a network interface controller through a programming interface, the network interface controller being interconnected to a plurality of receiving queues, each of the plurality of receiving queues having a respective buffer, a respective decryption device, and a respective decoder, the network interface controller including circuitry providing a full network protocol stack with network traffic processing capabilities;
• receiving, by the network interface controller, a source internet protocol television signal from an external source as video streaming media, the source internet protocol television signal including a plurality of channels, each of the plurality of channels having periodic, sequential signal access points that permit tuning initiation, the internet protocol television signal including an internet protocol suite over a packet-switched network;
• executing first processor-executable instructions stored in non-transitory memory accessible to a processor, the first processor-executable instructions causing the method to:
• receive a plurality of channels simultaneously, each of the plurality of channels of the source internet protocol television signal being assigned to one of the plurality of receiving queues,
• receive and at least partially prepare a first channel from the plurality of channels of the source internet protocol television signal,
• provide an at least partially prepared first channel signal,
• receive and at least partially prepare a second channel from the plurality of channels of the source internet protocol television signal, and
• provide an at least partially prepared second channel signal;
• and
• executing second processor-executable instructions stored in the non-transitory memory, the second processor-executable instructions causing the method to:
• buffer in the buffer the at least partially prepared second channel signal,
• track in the buffer the at least partially prepared second channel signal beginning at a recent periodic, sequential signal access point,
• in response to receiving a channel change instruction, access from the buffer the at least partially prepared second channel signal beginning at the recent periodic, sequential signal access point, and
• transform the partially prepared second channel signal to a fully prepared second channel signal.