System and method for distributing digital data services over existing network infrastructure

A digital data broadcasting system for providing digital data services to a large number of clients comprising:

• a data server operative to produce a client-generic multicast data stream including a plurality of multicast groups, each including at least one digital data program, wherein said plurality of multicast groups includes an EPG multicast group;
• a data distribution system operative to receive said client-generic multicast data stream and transmit said client-generic data stream in a fast transmission format to a data distribution node;
• wherein said data distribution node is operative to provide said EPG multicast group to at least one subscribing client, said EPG multicast group enabling a requesting client to select a multicast group corresponding to a desired digital data program, wherein said data distribution node is further operative to receive a client request to join said selected multicast group via at least one communications link;
• and
• wherein said data distribution node is operative to route said selected multicast group to said requesting client in response to said client request, enabling said requesting client to receive said multicast group and access said desired digital data program.

A digital broadcasting system for providing digital data services to a large number of clients comprising:

• a data server operative to produce a client-generic multicast data stream including a plurality of client-specific multicast groups, each including a plurality of digital data services;
• a data distribution system operative to receive said client-generic multicast data stream and transmit said data stream in a broadband transmission format to a data distribution node;
• wherein said data distribution node is operative to provide an EPG multicast group to at least one client, said EPG multicast group enabling a requesting client to select multicast groups corresponding to a selected digital data services, wherein said data distribution node is further operative to receive a client request for said selected multicast;
• and
• wherein said data distribution node is operative to route said selected multicast groups to said requesting client in response to said client request, enabling said requesting client to receive said multicast groups and access said desired digital data services.