Source specific transcoding multicast
AssigneeCisco Technology, Inc.
InventorCheng-Jia LAI
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In an example embodiment, there is described herein an apparatus comprising an upstream communication interface configured to receive a multicast stream from a source encoded by a first codec, a downstream communication interface, and routing and transcoding logic coupled to the upstream communication interface and downstream communication interface. The routing and transcoding logic is configured to forward the multicast stream encoded by the first codec unchanged to a first downstream subscriber of the multicast stream. The routing and transcoding logic is configured to replicate the multicast steam and transcode the multicast stream to a second codec for a second downstream subscriber, the replicated, transcoded multicast stream is forwarded to the second downstream subscriber.
Claims20
An apparatus, comprising:
- an upstream communication interface configured to receive a multicast stream from a source encoded by a first codec;
- a downstream communication interface;
- routing and transcoding logic coupled to the upstream communication interface and downstream communication interface;
- wherein the routing and transcoding logic is configured to forward the multicast stream encoded by the first codec to a first downstream subscriber of the multicast stream;
- wherein the routing and transcoding logic is configured to replicate the multicast steam and transcode the multicast stream to a second codec for a second downstream subscriber;
- and
- wherein the routing and transcoding logic is configured to forward the replicated, transcoded multicast stream to the second downstream subscriber.
A method, comprising:
- receiving from an upstream source, a multicast stream formatted for a first codec;
- forwarding the multicast stream to at least one downstream subscriber employing the first codec;
- receiving a request from a second downstream subscriber for the multicast stream, wherein the second downstream subscriber requests that the multicast stream is formatted for a second codec;
- determining whether to continue receiving the multicast stream from the upstream source formatted for the first codec or to receive the multicast stream formatted for the second codec;
- requesting the upstream source provide the multicast stream formatted for the second codec responsive to determining to receive the multicast stream formatted for the second codec;
- forwarding the multicast stream formatted for the second codec to the second downstream subscriber responsive to determining to receive the multicast stream formatted for the second codec;
- and
- transcoding a copy of the multicast stream for the first codec and forwarding the transcoded copy of the multicast stream to the at least one downstream subscriber responsive to determining to receive the multicast stream formatted for the second codec.
An apparatus, comprising:
- an upstream communication interface configured to receive a multicast stream from a source encoded by a first codec;
- a downstream communication interface;
- and
- means for routing and transcoding operable to forward the multicast stream to a first downstream subscriber via the downstream interface employing the first codec;
- wherein the means for routing and transcoding is further operable to replicate and transcode the multicast stream for a second code, and forward the replicated, transcoded multicast stream to the second downstream subscriber via the downstream interface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.