Method and apparatus for identifying data streams as networks
AssigneeGeneral Instrument Corporation
InventorsRobert Edward Mack, Art Jost
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Abstract
Data received from a network can be routed to a datastream. One embodiment of the invention allows IP data to be transmitted via data packets that include a destination address for the data. The destination address can be used to identify a data stream, such as an MPEG PID stream which makes up part of a transport stream in a cable system. Thus, the MPEG PID stream/transport stream can be identified using an IP address and network mask, for example.
Claims24
A method of distributing data to a transport stream comprising at least one service, said method comprising:
- receiving a data packet comprising a network destination address;
- determining a network address from said destination address;
- identifying said transport stream by said network destination address;
- forwarding said data packet for use in said transport stream based upon said network destination address.
A method of distributing data, said method comprising:
- receiving a data packet comprising a network address;
- providing a transport stream;
- determining that said data packet should be routed to said transport stream based upon said network address of said data packet.
A method of routing data, said method comprising:
- providing an IP datagram having an IP destination address;
- providing a transport stream comprising an MPEG PID stream;
- designating said MPEG PID stream with said IP destination address;
- routing said IP datagram to said MPEG PID stream based upon said IP destination address.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.