US 8,571,066 B2 · Methods and apparatus for RF channel switching in a multi-frequency network

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for RF channel switching in a multi-frequency network. In an aspect, a method includes identifying a multiplex set that comprises one or more content flows, wherein the multiplex set is one of a vertical multiplex (VM) set and a unified multiplex (UM) set, generating an overhead message that associates one or more RF carrier frequencies with the one or more content flows, and transmitting the overhead message over the multi-frequency network. An apparatus includes input logic configured to receive an overhead message that associates one or more content flows with one or more RF carrier frequencies, and processing logic configured to detect a channel switch event that identifies a selected content flow, determine a selected RF carrier frequency associated with the selected content flow based on the overhead message, and switch to the selected RF carrier frequency to receive the selected content flow.

Claims44

Dependent claims

A method for RF channel switching in a multi-frequency network, the method comprising:

identifying a multiplex set that comprises one or more content flows, wherein the multiplex set is one of a vertical multiplex (VM) set and a unified multiplex (UM) set carried by multiple RF channels;
generating at least one overhead message associated with the multiplex set that associates a location of each of the one or more content flows with respect to the multiple RF channels, respectively;
and
transmitting the at least one overhead message over the multi-frequency network,
wherein the VM set comprises a unique combination of contents carried in a local operation infrastructure (LOI) and the UM set is formed by combining overlapping VM sets until overlapping is eliminated.

2 more elements

An apparatus for RF channel switching in a multi-frequency network, the apparatus comprising:

a multiplex set generator configured to identify at least one multiplex set that comprises one or more content flows, wherein the multiplex set is one of a vertical multiplex (VM) and a unified multiplex (UM) set carried by multiple RF channels;
messaging logic configured to generate at least one overhead message associated with the multiplex set that associates a location of each of the one or more content flows with respect to the multiple RF channels, respectively;
and
output logic configured to transmit the at least one overhead message over the multi-frequency network,
wherein the VM set comprises a unique combination of contents carried in a local operation infrastructure (LOI) and the UM set is formed by combining overlapping VM sets until overlapping is eliminated.

2 more elements

An apparatus for RF channel switching in a multi-frequency network, the apparatus comprising:

means for identifying a multiplex set that comprises one or more content flows, wherein the multiplex set is one of a vertical multiplex (VM) set and a unified multiplex (UM) set carried by multiple RF channels;
means for generating at least one overhead message associated with the multiplex set that associates a location of each of the one or more content flows with respect to the multiple RF channels, respectively;
and
means for transmitting the at least one overhead message over the multi-frequency network,
wherein the VM set comprises a unique combination of contents carried in a local operation infrastructure (LOI) and the UM set is formed by combining overlapping VM sets until overlapping is eliminated.

2 more elements

A non-transitory machine-readable medium comprising instructions for RF channel switching in a multi-frequency network, the non-transitory machine-readable medium comprising:

a first set of codes for causing a computer to identify at least one multiplex set that comprises one or more content flows, wherein the multiplex set is one of a vertical multiplex (VM) set and a unified multiplex (UM) set carried by multiple RF channels;
a second set of codes for causing the computer to generate at least one overhead message associated with the multiplex set that associates a location of each of the one or more content flows with respect to the multiple RF channels, respectively;
and
a third set of codes for causing the computer to transmit the at least one overhead message over the multi-frequency network,
wherein the VM set comprises a unique combination of contents carried in a local operation infrastructure (LOI) and the UM set is formed by combining overlapping VM sets until overlapping is eliminated.

2 more elements

At least one integrated circuit configured to provide RF channel switching in a multi-frequency network, the at least one integrated circuit comprising:

a first module for identifying at least one multiplex set that comprises one or more content flows, wherein the multiplex set is one of a vertical multiplex (VM) set and a unified multiplex (UM) set carried by multiple RF channels;
a second module for generating at least one overhead message associated with the multiplex set that associates a location of each of the one or more content flows with respect to the multiple RF channels, respectively;
and
a third module for transmitting the at least one overhead message over the multi-frequency network,
wherein the VM set comprises a unique combination of contents carried in a local operation infrastructure (LOI) and the UM set is formed by combining overlapping VM sets until overlapping is eliminated.

2 more elements

A method for RF channel switching in a multi-frequency network, the method comprising:

identifying a multiplex set that comprises one or more content flows, wherein the multiplex set is one of a vertical multiplex (VM) set and a unified multiplex (UM) set carried by multiple RF channels;
generating at least one overhead message associated with the multiplex set that associates a location of each of the one or more content flows with respect to the multiple RF channels, respectively;
and
transmitting the at least one overhead message over the multi-frequency network,
wherein the UM set is formed by combining overlapping VM sets until overlapping is eliminated.

2 more elements

An apparatus for RF channel switching in a multi-frequency network, the apparatus comprising:

a multiplex set generator configured to identify at least one multiplex set that comprises one or more content flows, wherein the multiplex set is one of a vertical multiplex (VM) and a unified multiplex (UM) set carried by multiple RF channels;
messaging logic configured to generate at least one overhead message associated with the multiplex set that associates a location of each of the one or more content flows with respect to the multiple RF channels, respectively;
and
output logic configured to transmit the at least one overhead message over the multifrequency network,
wherein the UM set is formed by combining overlapping VM sets until overlapping is eliminated.

2 more elements

An apparatus for RF channel switching in a multi-frequency network, the apparatus comprising:

means for identifying a multiplex set that comprises one or more content flows, wherein the multiplex set is one of a vertical multiplex (VM) set and a unified multiplex (UM) set carried by multiple RF channels;
means for generating at least one overhead message associated with the multiplex set that associates a location of each of the one or more content flows with respect to the multiple RF channels, respectively;
and
means for transmitting the at least one overhead message over the multi- frequency network,
wherein the UM set is formed by combining overlapping VM sets until overlapping is eliminated.

2 more elements

A non-transitory machine-readable medium comprising instructions for RF channel switching in a multi-frequency network, the non-transitory machine readable medium comprising:

a first set of codes for causing a computer to identify at least one multiplex set that comprises one or more content flows, wherein the multiplex set is one of a vertical multiplex (VM) set and a unified multiplex (UM) set carried by multiple RF channels;
a second set of codes for causing the computer to generate at least one overhead message associated with the multiplex set that associates a location of each of the one or more content flows with respect to the multiple RF channels, respectively;
and a third set of codes for causing the computer to transmit the at least one overhead message over the multi-frequency network, wherein the UM set is formed by combining overlapping VM sets until overlapping is eliminated.

At least one integrated circuit configured to provide RF channel switching in a multi-frequency network, the at least one integrated circuit comprising:

a first module for identifying at least one multiplex set that comprises one or more content flows, wherein the multiplex set is one of a vertical multiplex (VM) set and a unified multiplex (UM) set carried by multiple RF channels;
a second module for generating at least one overhead message associated with the multiplex set that associates a location of each of the one or more content flows with respect to the multiple RF channels, respectively;
and
a third module for transmitting the at least one overhead message over the multifrequency network, wherein the UM set is formed by combining overlapping VM sets until overlapping is eliminated.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Methods and apparatus for RF channel switching in a multi-frequency network

Life of this patent

Methods and apparatus for RF channel switching in a multi-frequency network

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims44