Method and apparatus for providing low resolution images in a broadcast system

A method of broadcasting information comprising:

• receiving information streams;
• encoding the information streams to a plurality of full resolution encoded information streams;
• modulating the plurality of full resolution encoded information streams for transmission over a plurality of broadcast carriers such that at least one full resolution encoded information stream is receivable by a first tuner at a user device for demodulating by a first demodulator and decoding by a first decoder;
• transcoding the information streams to a plurality of low resolution information stream, such that each low resolution encoded information stream corresponds to a respective one of the plurality of full resolution encoded information streams, each low resolution stream having a lower bit rate than the corresponding full resolution encoded information stream,
• wherein the transmission of each low resolution stream is time aligned with the transmission of the corresponding full resolution encoded information stream;
• aggregating the plurality of low resolution encoded information streams corresponding to the full resolution encoded information streams for modulating onto a single carrier;
• modulating the aggregated set of low resolution encoded information streams onto the single carrier;
• transmitting the modulated streams downstream from a headend, wherein the full resolution encoded information streams are transmitted via the plurality of broadcast carriers;
• in parallel to transmissions over the plurality of broadcast carriers, transmitting the aggregated low resolution encoded information streams that correspond to the full resolution encoded information streams via the single carrier, the low resolution encoded information streams receivable by a second tuner at the user device for demodulating by a second demodulator and decoding by a second decoder, such that each of the aggregated low resolution encoded information streams are decoded in parallel to the at least one full resolution encoded information stream and is readily available for display,
• wherein the single carrier carrying the aggregated set of low resolution encoded information streams is distinct from the plurality of broadcast carriers carrying the corresponding full resolution encoded information streams.

An apparatus for providing information contained in a plurality of received information streams, comprising:

• a plurality of tuners configured to receive information streams,
• wherein at least a first one of the plurality of tuners is configured to receive at least one of a plurality of full resolution information streams transmitted over a plurality of broadcast carriers,
• wherein at least a second one of the plurality of tuners is configured to receive an aggregated plurality of low resolution information streams transmitted over a single carrier, each of the low resolution encoded information stream corresponding to a respective one of a plurality of full resolution encoded information streams transmitted over the plurality of broadcast carriers, and a transmission of each low resolution stream is time aligned with the transmission of the corresponding full resolution encoded information stream,
• wherein the low resolution information streams are received in parallel to a receipt by the at least first one of the plurality of tuners of the at least one of the plurality of full resolution information streams;
• a demodulator configured to demodulate received information streams, the low resolution information streams each having a lower bit rate than the corresponding full resolution encoded information stream,
• wherein the plurality of low resolution information streams are received on a single carrier distinct from the plurality of broadcast carriers carrying the full resolution information streams;
• and
• a controller configured, in response to the apparatus receiving a request for information from a channel of the at least a subset of channels, to provide a low resolution stream from the plurality of low resolution information streams from the single carrier for display,
• wherein the controller provides the low resolution streams for display until the full resolution stream is tuned to, decoded, and available to replace the display of the low resolution stream.

A method of displaying information comprising:

• receiving at a first tuner at least one of a plurality of full resolution information streams transmitted over a plurality of broadcast carriers;
• in parallel to a receipt of the at least one of the plurality of full resolution information streams transmitted over the plurality of broadcast carriers, receiving at a second tuner over a single carrier a plurality of low resolution information streams each corresponding to a respective one of the plurality of full resolution encoded information streams transmitted over the plurality of broadcast carriers, a transmission of each low resolution stream time aligned with the transmission of the corresponding full resolution encoded information stream, and the plurality of low resolution information streams having a lower bit rate than the full resolution encoded information streams,
• demodulating the plurality of low resolution information streams from the single carrier;
• receiving a request for information from a channel of at least a subset of channels;
• decoding at least one low resolution information stream from the plurality of low resolution information streams corresponding to the request;
• displaying the at least one low resolution information stream simultaneously;
• and
• decoding at least one full resolution encoded information stream corresponding to both the request and the displayed at least one low resolution information stream,
• wherein a controller provides the low resolution streams for display until the full resolution stream is tuned to, decoded, and available to replace the displayed at least one low resolution information stream.